Road report

Wet. Not "cold" (like earlier this week) nor icy/frozen, but thoroughly slushy. I rode south on Lincoln, south on Wells into the loop. There were crosswinds around Lincoln & Wells, strong enough that I had to correct for them.

There was at least 1 motorist of questionable integrity: too fast for conditions, I got a good dousing of muck. By and large the cars were giving me room.

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Permalink Reply by E A on December 19, 2008 at 4:20am
What's your ride set-up? You follow the same route I'll be using today. Just worried about all the slush out there, but I've got a mountain bike that rides like a tank that I think should plow right through the nasty stuff.
Permalink Reply by terryg on December 19, 2008 at 4:28am
I think that setup would be fine - at the worst it was like riding through a few inches of mud. I spent most of my time to the left of "the line," and at that point it was a lot like really thick pea soup. I'm on a Long Haul Trucker with Schwalbe Marathons. Reliable eye protection and rain gear will really improve things too.

E A said:
What's your ride set-up? You follow the same route I'll be using today. Just worried about all the slush out there, but I've got a mountain bike that rides like a tank that I think should plow right through the nasty stuff.
Permalink Reply by RodimusPrime on December 19, 2008 at 4:54am
so wells is fine-ish?
Permalink Reply by terryg on December 19, 2008 at 4:56am
Yes, quite. Just messy. Not very slippery at all. I even rode across the bridge, which I'm somewhate paranoid about after face-planting on it in the rain one stupid day....
Permalink Reply by mindfrieze on December 19, 2008 at 5:07am
I definitely wouldn't touch the open metal grating on a day like today, but how're the plates on Wells looking/riding?

terryg said:
Yes, quite. Just messy. Not very slippery at all. I even rode across the bridge, which I'm somewhate paranoid about after face-planting on it in the rain one stupid day....
Permalink Reply by Chi Tour de Cure on December 19, 2008 at 5:13am
Totally hardcore...

However I have to say I also wouldn't go near the grated bridges. I've seen first hand the dental reconstruction that was required after a friend landed face-first on one of those bridges. It's fine if you want a new gold grill, but otherwise.... I'm walkin' it.

terryg said:
I even rode across the bridge, which I'm somewhate paranoid about after face-planting on it in the rain one stupid day....
Permalink Reply by terryg on December 19, 2008 at 5:33am
When I crossed the river over Wells the plates had about an inch of powder. I slipped my rear wheel slightly crossing the "threshold" where the street meets the bridge, but I was a bit fast in my approach (passing a car turning into the mart). Slow and steady got me across just fine. I saw 3 previous bike tracks, which was reassuring. No indication of any ice, like those frozen bumps that squirrel your wheels enough to pucker but don't actually do anything serious.

The grated part *just* south of Wacker on Wells was passable - I sometimes skate a foot across it, which I did today (see "paranoia" above).

I hate the grated bridges, I won't go near them if it's remotely wet now. Depending on what south part of the loop I'm coming from I reroute over Wabash or Franklin since they're paved/filled in. I don't know of any paved/filled in bridges going west, unfortunately. I'm not shy about going up on the sidewalk to cross a bridge either. Ditto walking - no shame there.
Permalink Reply by RodimusPrime on December 19, 2008 at 5:40am
washington's bridge across canal is filled in, i take that going to work. but that's going east, randolph isn't .

terryg said:
When I crossed the river over Wells the plates had about an inch of powder. I slipped my rear wheel slightly crossing the "threshold" where the street meets the bridge, but I was a bit fast in my approach (passing a car turning into the mart). Slow and steady got me across just fine. I saw 3 previous bike tracks, which was reassuring. No indication of any ice, like those frozen bumps that squirrel your wheels enough to pucker but don't actually do anything serious.
The grated part *just* south of Wacker on Wells was passable - I sometimes skate a foot across it, which I did today (see "paranoia" above).
I hate the grated bridges, I won't go near them if it's remotely wet now. Depending on what south part of the loop I'm coming from I reroute over Wabash or Franklin since they're paved/filled in. I don't know of any paved/filled in bridges going west, unfortunately. I'm not shy about going up on the sidewalk to cross a bridge either. Ditto walking - no shame there.
Permalink Reply by mindfrieze on December 19, 2008 at 5:43am
East/west, I use Lake St., which is two way. It has concrete infill and is fine to ride on, but the very top of the metal grate pokes through, so you need to be carefull not to stop too fast when it's wet.

(Eastbound, I bypass stopped traffic by riding just slightly in the opposing lanes, since the only westbound traffic is a slow trickle of right turners off of Wacker.)

terryg said:
I don't know of any paved/filled in bridges going west, unfortunately.
Permalink Reply by terryg on December 19, 2008 at 6:57am
I'm currently taking the Randolph bridge sidewalk when I'm going west, but I've seen it freeze and have had to walk it. The Lake suggestion is good, thanks - that also puts me closer to the end of Milwaukee.

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