Winter 2015- who's still riding?

Traffic 'round these parts dropped off pretty dramatically a few weeks ago... hard to tell from the "I rode today" thread who's still riding, as one would have to conclude that Gene is the only one out there most days by reading it....

Who's sticking it out and plans to continue to ride pretty much every day regardless of weather?

(Was winter 2013;   2014 starts on p. 36;   2015 starts on p. 61)

 

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Permalink Reply by Joe Guzzardo on January 25, 2013 at 3:57pm

Well, if a bicyclist wins a Darwinian award, that's certainly an unfortunate thing but the attention and heightened safety awareness makes the world a better place for the rest of us. Cynical but true. 

Permalink Reply by Joe Guzzardo on January 25, 2013 at 4:07pm

On a brighter note, I hope to get back on my horse next week. I purchased a pair of Smart Wool Merino socks and wore them for the first time today. All the raves that people shower upon Smart Wool are probably true. The socks were incredibly comfortable and warm. I got 'em at Marshall's, downtown, for just a few bucks. They were the last ones they had on the rack at the time. I love the bright reindeer. When I'm pedaling those reindeer are gonna catch people'e eye. I just wish the reindeer were on both sides of the sock, but I guess you can't have everything.

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Permalink Reply by Rob Hernandez on January 25, 2013 at 5:37pm
Been riding to and from work 5 days a week since last winter and today I experienced my first wipeout due to my chain breaking. Luckily I got the weekend to rest the bumps and bruises. Back at it on Monday :)
Happy Friday!
Permalink Reply by Erin Rensink on January 26, 2013 at 2:50am

I'm still riding and loving it!  And I we finished the Madsen cover - so now I can ride with my three year old too without him getting frostbite.  That was my biggest deterrent before.  Of course I would just run to daycare with the jogging stroller instead of driving ; ). 

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on January 26, 2013 at 6:25am

You are a moron and I feel sorry you live in such a scary and dangerous world.

I enjoyed the hours I spent out on a bike in the snow the other day; sorry you missed out on the fun.

David crZven 10.6 said:



notoriousDUG said:

First off there is the fact that if you are going to stay off a bike today because of all the things that *could* happen you should also probably not leave your house ever because of all the things that *could* happen if you do so; in fact you may want to have the gas service disconnected because I heard that sometimes that stuff blows up...
My Comment:
That's a bogus reply.    The  fact is that, with the idiots on the road today, the chances of a serious accident are far far higher than normal.   You can pretend that it isn't the case, but that doesn't make it so. The fact is that today, at least this morning, the traction on the road was bad.  Many cars and drivers have serious problems with traction -- even if a particularly bicyclist does not.   Cars were sliding through stopsigns and into intersections.   Pretending that this isn't the case doesn't make it so.

Not to mention that your alternatives are not all that great; CTA costs money I do not want to spend and is not a good option to get where I need to be today.  It's to far to walk and I need to carry more than is easy when on foot.  I made a commitment to be there and need to fulfill that commitment so bike it is.

My Comment:   You are free to make that commitment.  And when a lave flow is heading in your direction from a major volcanic eruption, you can choose to ignore that as well.    

Now, I am the last person to give somebody guff over choosing not to ride.  We all have our own personal limits and that's fine.  However, telling people not to ride because of what *could* happen and exagerate the dangers is pretty much exactly the opposite of advocating cycling.

My Comment:  Bullshit.   The worst thing that cycling advocates can do is advocate riding in highly dangerous conditions and getting a number of people killed or badly hurt.   All this does is reinforce the perceptions that cycling, as a whole, is dangerous.  Sensible people know when to come in out of the rain.  Turkey's look up and drown.  Were my comments emphatic?  You bet.  This morning was very very dangerous even for pedestrians.  On the one mile work by 4 lights, I saw multiple cars skid though intersections on red lights.   Out of control skids.   

David crZven 10.6 said:

CTA, Walk or don't go.   A broken leg, or hip or bicycle or worse is not worth one day of riding in rather rotten conditions.  I wouldn't drive either today.  

h' 1.0 said:

I agree that drivers are set to an idiocy setting of 11 today, but "stay off the street with a bike?"

That's how we get to the places we need to go, David.

Permalink Reply by Paul Michael Ignacio on January 26, 2013 at 9:33am



David crZven 10.6 said:

Go ride.  Someone will scrape you off the pavement in the next five years

Wow, people get really mad sometimes.  Wholly unnecessary, David.  I'd like to think you would retract this if you could.  Makes no sense to wish this on anyone on a bike, ever.  At the very least, on a bike commuter's forum, statements like this make you sound irrational at best and cruel at worst.

Anyhow, anybody out there eyeing the ice storm blowing in all-day Sunday?  I'm an everyday, year-round biker, but I can't think of worse conditions to ride in.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-chicago-weath...

Looks pretty nasty.



Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on January 26, 2013 at 10:22am

I am hoping that ice storm holds off until after noon so I can ride over to my uncle's.  Then I can have my husband take me and the bike home later if it actually does turn into an ice storm. ;-)

Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on January 26, 2013 at 10:28am

Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night, stays this courier from the swift completion of her appointed rounds.


Lisa Curcio 4.0 mi said:

I am hoping that ice storm holds off until after noon so I can ride over to my uncle's.  Then I can have my husband take me and the bike home later if it actually does turn into an ice storm. ;-)

Permalink Reply by Paul Michael Ignacio on January 26, 2013 at 11:37am

I've done it before - rolling along a perfectly glazed street, straddling the top tube with one foot out, hands clenched into fists on the bar because even gentle feathering of the brakes would instantly dump you on the icy ground - but I'd just like to not have to do it again, thankyouverymuch.

I'll ride into work, and if the whole north side ices over I'll just throw the bike onto the Red Line.

Permalink Reply by Melissa on January 26, 2013 at 12:36pm

Today was a great day for riding!  Yesterday's snow has receded from the streets and after this week's outrageously low temps, 27° with sunshine feels like 'no excuses' for playing outside. 

Permalink Reply by Steve Weeks on January 26, 2013 at 12:53pm

It's amazing how many posts like this there are, along with people who are battered ad bruised, or staying in because it'e too slippery to ride. Folks, all you need is **STUDDED TIRES**. Then if the whole north side ices over, it's business as usual! I got down to work and back yesterday without any problems. I expect to ride into work Monday regardless of the weather. Yet I am not risking serious injury, especially to my hands which are necessary for my work.

However, calling someone a "moron" for expressing anxiety over riding in winter conditions seems a bit over-the-top hostile. The risks are definitely higher when the bicyclist has better traction than the cars. But with your defensive riding skills set to "high", I think these risks can be managed. In almost 11 years of year-round riding (about 15,000 miles), I have never been hit by a car or injured in any way except for being "doored" once last May (my fault for riding too close to the parked cars). FWIW, I've never seen cars sliding through intersections, though I've sure seen a lot of cars not stop for signs. On the other hand, if you feel conditions aren't safe, don't feel bad about not riding.

I don't buy into this philosophy that riding in bad weather gives car drivers a negative image of cyclists. By following the rules (at least not violating them too flagrantly ^_^ ) and riding with consideration for other road users (including cyclists, BTW), I believe we set a good example that enhances others' respect for our being on the street.

Steve

Paul Michael Ignacio said:

I've done it before - rolling along a perfectly glazed street, straddling the top tube with one foot out, hands clenched into fists on the bar because even gentle feathering of the brakes would instantly dump you on the icy ground - but I'd just like to not have to do it again, thankyouverymuch.

I'll ride into work, and if the whole north side ices over I'll just throw the bike onto the Red Line.

Permalink Reply by Rich Evans on January 26, 2013 at 1:05pm

Hey Steve-

What brand/model tire are you using?  How are they on dry pavement?

 

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