Holly and IITWI,
Don't beat yourself up for not riding. Tonight's commute was without a doubt the worst commute in a long while.
And today started out so nice...
After having used my 'I'm lazy' and my "I'm hungover' excuses recently I rode in this morning. A nice layer of light fluff and easy traffic made for a great commute.
What a difference on may way back. Snow and slush were everywhere and drivers were maniacal. On top of that my feet got soaking wet. I might have to cash in that REI gift card I planned to save for who-knows-what and buy a new pair of winter boots.
I'm glad to be home.
Holly said:
No biking today...yet another carring day for me. I'm still not 100% and I don't want to hurt myself by slipping in the snow. It sure looks pretty, though!
In it to win--hope you don't have what I have. It seems to be a 2 week malady.
No biking today...yet another carring day for me. I'm still not 100% and I don't want to hurt myself by slipping in the snow. It sure looks pretty, though!
In it to win--hope you don't have what I have. It seems to be a 2 week malady.
Since I'm not currently employed, I took the opportunity to go on a midday snow ride of my own, my first while it was actively snowing and accumulating. Some random partygoer left an entry level mountain bike in my basement back in the summer, and since repeated calls for that person to pick up his bike were ignored, it was my temporary winter ride today. I started out slowly riding through the back alleys of Logan Square, building my confidence before hitting the side streets. There were a few slips and slides, but I managed not to wipe out completely. I took Palmer and Belden west to Long and Palmer before turning around and heading back, 6 miles by Google Maps. Then I went to Palmer Square and did a few laps inside the park to add some terrain to my snow ride.
The bike was fine, and the knobby tires did okay, but the canti brakes were borderline useless. I can definitely see where disc brakes or riding fixed would be an advantage over rim brakes in this weather.
Yes I did ride and it was my first "official" rush hour snow ride. Now before you go calling me newb and such this is my 3rd in Chicago by bike and 5+ overall but last year I took the lake front trail to work, the year before I was in Evanston and getting out of work at any hour sometimes up to midnight so...no real rush hour then.
Side note that road tire is coming off and I'm putting the Mt. Bike tire back on, no need for a slippery front end!
Large sections of LFP still unplowed this AM. Managed to get from Montrose to North Ave on it but that was just for big snow fun. Took me forever.
The bad part of riding through the slush is all the salt getting kicked up in my face.
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