I rode today. Did you?

Nice first ride in the COLD.

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Permalink Reply by Jeff on January 20, 2012 at 7:45pm

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Permalink Reply by Gerry G on January 20, 2012 at 8:55pm

Put me down for 1/4 commute.

The plan when I left the house was to bike from 6000 North to the Brownline @ Lincoln, Lawrence and Western and lock up there. But I was having such nice ride, I blew off the station. Man, my mind was really working me over. The farther South I got, the worse the thoughts of the P.M. commute ate at me.

So I locked up @ Fullerton. Redline, Fullerton to work and back. Took the bike on the Brownline, from Fullerton to Western. The ride from the Western station home was a sloppy, slippery, soupy mess.

I'M GRATEFUL WE CAN BRING BIKES ON TRAINS IN THIS TOWN.

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Permalink Reply by skipton on January 20, 2012 at 10:41pm

Made it home with out too much of a struggle. But I'm tired.

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Permalink Reply by Kyle on January 21, 2012 at 9:38am

I rode a few blocks after work for practice on my mountain bike. It was definitely fun but hard work on the unplowed streets. One pedestrian said "I have guts" for riding. My wife (who hates SNOW) said I looked like the village idiot for being out there, but it was FUN, and a confidence builder for my commute.

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Permalink Reply by the Turtle on January 21, 2012 at 10:56am

I'll say this much.

This was my first ride home from work in a LONG time that i wasn't passed by a speedier cyclist.

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Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on January 21, 2012 at 11:25am

In Uptown the main streets are plowed and salted. Side streeets are still iffy with slush. The lakefront main path is plowed and salted, but there are not-so-good areas with slush. I tried the side paths around Montrose and followed plowed paths that ended in drifts. Gloomy day, but it is still gorgeous to see trees capped in the white stuff.

And the ever-curious blue snow. Avatars?

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Permalink Reply by Ash L. on January 21, 2012 at 1:04pm

I rode today on Wells and Lasalle just to test ride the Civia Halsted Jon Lind has at his shop for the next couple of weeks. It was super fun in the slush but without fenders, the insides of my pant legs were soaked to the bone.

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Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on January 21, 2012 at 2:25pm

And the ever-curious blue snow. Avatars?

The salt I've seen the City using this year is blue, so I'm guessing that is where the blue is coming from.

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Permalink Reply by djm on January 21, 2012 at 3:37pm

The blue tint may be from a common anti-caking agent added to the salt. Tinting is also added so salt application can be better monitored.

Tony Adams said:

And the ever-curious blue snow. Avatars?

The salt I've seen the City using this year is blue, so I'm guessing that is where the blue is coming from.

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Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on January 21, 2012 at 4:33pm

Those are a great bike, my roommate has one.

Ash L. said:

I rode today on Wells and Lasalle just to test ride the Civia Halsted Jon Lind has at his shop for the next couple of weeks. It was super fun in the slush but without fenders, the insides of my pant legs were soaked to the bone.

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Permalink Reply by Gerry G on January 21, 2012 at 8:43pm

Lincoln to Wells, fine going on the A.M. commute. Lincoln gets plowed curb to curb.

Wells was passable with pinch points because of piled snow, (Moody Bible).

P.M. commute was not nearly as fun.

I can handle the air temps, whatever they maybe, wind too most of the time. But traction, maneuverability and braking all suffer when precipitation interferes with the contact patch of the tires. Nothing new here.

Like you, I really enjoy riding year round. Thanks for letting me share my limitations with ya.

BTW, if you're ever at a stop light and the fool next to shouts 'Bikes away!' when the light turns green, that's me. ; )