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 Simon Phearson on February 2, 2014 at 7:01am

Or think, "Good, I won't overheat."

I hope and expect that after my first winter riding in Chicago, I'll be much less likely to bail when it just rains in the summer.

Lisa Curcio 4.1 mi said:

You know you have adjusted to the winter when you look at tomorrow's forecast that for sunshine and temperature that starts at about 0 with very little wind and goes up to about 20 with very little wind and think "what a great day for riding".

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Permalink Reply by Jon M on February 2, 2014 at 7:39am

Been running all the way through, but for the subzero days... Yesterday, the 1st, went to Montrose to sled... Standing on top of the hill in the driving snow, I saw a hearty person on what I assume was a cross bike, pushing through the deep snow near the street - had to be at least 8" deep in parts... Major props to whomever that was!

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Permalink Reply by Joe Guzzardo on February 4, 2014 at 7:56pm

Yet another round of snow and extreme cold. It's like deja vu all over again. So what's the bounty on Phil's head at now?

Joe Guzzardo said:

Groan.... http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-groundhog-day-20140202,0,625...
Adam Herstein (5.5 mi) said:

Punxsutawney Phil!

Lisa Curcio 4.1 mi said:
I am usually in the animal rights camp, but under the circumstances I might be willing to help out here.

Crazy David 84 Furlongs said:

I am too busy issuing the following death threat to ride.

Dear Mr. Groundhog:

Your day is coming up in 9 days. If you see your shadow and claim that we are going to have six more weeks of winter, I am going to hunt you down, kill you and serve you as stew. You had better not see your shadow, and if you do, you had better pretend that you did not. And if we have six more weeks of winter as bad as the past several weeks, not only are you going to be stew, I am going to make a fur hat and gloves out of your family.

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Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on February 5, 2014 at 1:29am

Having just shoveled, I have decided that the best place for the next six weeks might be in that hole with Phil.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on February 5, 2014 at 3:12am

+1

Lisa Curcio 4.1 mi said:

Having just shoveled, I have decided that the best place for the next six weeks might be in that hole with Phil.

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Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on February 5, 2014 at 6:30am

Yeah exactly. I've never used studded tires, rode through every winter in Chicago since like 1990 and have only fallen due to slippery conditions twice - both times were harmless falls onto nice deep snow - not a big deal.

h' 1.0 said:

Yes, I know, been using 'em all winter, thanks.
For the record I went years without falling in winter before the studded tires, riding pretty much daily.

I would hope those that don't have studded tires could set their expectations a bit higher than "a few falls each winter."

Steve Weeks said:

Yes, you can. But falls are **MUCH** less likely. Common sense is required, and there is a learning curve to explore the limits of traction. But riding in the winter with studded tires means that instead of expecting to fall a few times each winter, you can expect *not* to fall. I haven't fallen in 4 or 5 years of regular street riding in the winter. I have fallen during recreational-type riding, usually trying to ride through deep snow drifts. Frozen lakes are fun, but don't take corners too fast!

Steve

h' 1.0 said:

Careful with that- you can absolutely still fall.

The Grizz said:

I finally got some studded tires. Slower going but the stability is sooo nice. Can't believe I didn't have them before. No more falls.

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Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on February 11, 2014 at 2:24pm

I am riding my bike tomorrow. The last two days going home on the subway I have had people offer me their seats. I am glad to know that young people still have manners. I am really not happy that I look like I need to sit down. Nobody will be stopping me on my bike to offer me a chance to sit down!

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Permalink Reply by Steve Weeks on February 18, 2014 at 4:21pm

What a difference a day makes! It was a bit of an effort getting from Union Station to the West Side UIC campus... see the attached image.

By day's end, this street was clear, and I was riding with my jacket open!

Steve

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Permalink Reply by Thomas Bruzan on February 18, 2014 at 4:32pm

Lookin' good there Doc. Folding Thunder wears studded tires too.

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Permalink Reply by Thunder Snow on February 18, 2014 at 8:50pm

I just Divvied down Hubbard Street from near Western Avenue to Ogilvie Metra Station. The streets were very clear of snow, though wet, but a lot of the pot holes on Hubbard that had been packed with ice are now big drops in the pavement, making for a bumpy ride. The Kinzie Street protected lanes from Milwaukee to Clinton were clear enough to ride, for the first time in weeks, though there are plenty of puddles to splash through. After all the snow on the ground last night, tonight felt like spring had finally arrived.