The Chainlink

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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The winds were stiff from the north, the path salted and clear with more snow up north that is not sticking as of 5:30.

Andrew said:

Does anyone have any idea what the condition of the LFP will be tonight?

Not looking forward to the ride home.

I also got a bit soaked on the way home last night, which is rare for me (somehow the rain always seems to let up long enough for me to get to work or back home.)  Having a washer/dryer is on my short list of things I'm consciously thankful for on a frequent basis.

Call me an old fart... I never commute without rain-proof jacket and pants. The jacket has an attached hood that can be worn under my helmet. At this time of year, I wear Pearl Izumi "lobster mitts", which are not waterproof but, strangely, are as warm when soaking wet as they are when they're dry. (Actually they were too warm yesterday.) Usually the only part of me that gets wet is my feet. I've got so-called "waterproof" socks, but don't carry them because my relatively short commute means I *rarely* get too wet. Yesterday was an exception. :-(

Hey... back into studded tire weather! It was good to have traction up north where there was more snow than in the city. We'll have to agree to disagree about the relative merits of studded tires. However, there is one thing that can *only* be experienced with studs: out-accelerating a car. In Mundelein, where I get off the train, there is a road that climbs out of the parking lot. Over the years I've been commuting, there has evolved a sort of good-natured competition to see who can reach the stop sign at the top of the hill. In the summer, the cars always get there first. But... in the winter, I can almost always beat the cars. It's a bit of a thrill to hear a couple cars spinning their wheels trying to get moving while I zip up the hill.

Call me a kid at heart! ;-)

Steve

I have those same lobster globes and they are waterproof.

Steve Weeks, DDS said:

At this time of year, I wear Pearl Izumi "lobster mitts", which are not waterproof but, strangely, are as warm when soaking wet as they are when they're dry.

For rain/very wet snow I use kayak gloves.  Kind of like neoprene dive gloves.  They keep my hands warm in downpours, and (since they're knobby) stay grippy when wet.  If it's really cold, they work with silk glove liners, too. 

ShooWing!!

Steve Weeks, DDS said:

Call me an old fart... I never commute without rain-proof jacket and pants. The jacket has an attached hood that can be worn under my helmet. At this time of year, I wear Pearl Izumi "lobster mitts", which are not waterproof but, strangely, are as warm when soaking wet as they are when they're dry. (Actually they were too warm yesterday.) Usually the only part of me that gets wet is my feet. I've got so-called "waterproof" socks, but don't carry them because my relatively short commute means I *rarely* get too wet. Yesterday was an exception. :-(

Hey... back into studded tire weather! It was good to have traction up north where there was more snow than in the city. We'll have to agree to disagree about the relative merits of studded tires. However, there is one thing that can *only* be experienced with studs: out-accelerating a car. In Mundelein, where I get off the train, there is a road that climbs out of the parking lot. Over the years I've been commuting, there has evolved a sort of good-natured competition to see who can reach the stop sign at the top of the hill. In the summer, the cars always get there first. But... in the winter, I can almost always beat the cars. It's a bit of a thrill to hear a couple cars spinning their wheels trying to get moving while I zip up the hill.

Call me a kid at heart! ;-)

Steve

Mine get soaked through... maybe the inside wetness is sweat, but the gloves seem thoroughly wet all the way through. Interestingly, because these gloves are several years old and will eventually wear out, I bought a new pair at a Pearl Izumi outlet store. These were on sale (the reason I bought them)...because they were "defective". The defect was that they were claimed to be waterproof, but are actually only "water-resistant". Half off... works for me!

Steve

Adam Herstein (5.5 mi) said:

I have those same lobster globes and they are waterproof.

The Tribune says tonight could be the coldest night of the winter at -3 degrees.  Wind chills -20.  Another layer perhaps?

No idea where they got that from. My forecast says it will be around 15°F for this evening's commute.

Lisa Curcio 4.0 mi said:

The Tribune says tonight could be the coldest night of the winter at -3 degrees.  Wind chills -20.  Another layer perhaps?

Not going home--overnight.  So it will be that cold in the morning.
 
Adam Herstein (5.5 mi) said:

No idea where they got that from. My forecast says it will be around 15°F for this evening's commute.

Lisa Curcio 4.0 mi said:

The Tribune says tonight could be the coldest night of the winter at -3 degrees.  Wind chills -20.  Another layer perhaps?

Gotcha. Still only looks like it will only reach 5°F. 

Lisa Curcio 4.0 mi said:

Not going home--overnight.  So it will be that cold in the morning.
 
Adam Herstein (5.5 mi) said:

No idea where they got that from. My forecast says it will be around 15°F for this evening's commute.

Lisa Curcio 4.0 mi said:

The Tribune says tonight could be the coldest night of the winter at -3 degrees.  Wind chills -20.  Another layer perhaps?

I made it home last night, but only because the roads were pretty much plowed. See, there *is* something automobile traffic is good for. ;-) Snow was about 5"-6" deep in Mundelein. Out of a mile's ride, I had to foot-dab three times and walk about 50 feet.

This morning the roads from the Western Avenue station were slick but not too thick with packed snow, so I had no problems keeping up my normal cruising speed. I saw a guy on a mountain bike making a turn at a fairly high rate of speed. His obvious confidence made me think he was riding on studded tires, and so he was.

You guys stay safe!

Steve

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