Random musings on recommended cheap winter biking stuff & Clybourn and Ashland Avenues.
I decided to restock my winter biking clothes and accessories given that I am pretty much carless these days. I commute from Lincoln Square to Merchandise Mart every weekday so I need clothes that will keep me warm and hopefully dry. In past years I did not do the layers thing but instead wore a heavy coat and an Underarmour base layer. I stayed warm but sweated to much so got to work damp.
So this year I'm determined to do the layers thing. I ldon't want to wear "biking" clothes both because I think they are overpriced and I go to events where I need to look semi polished (not like I biked in). So for what it's worth I offer few clothes/accessories reviews below. The Amazon links are not affiliate links; I don't get paid. I just like shopping at Amazon for cost and convenience reasons. Much of this stuff I found recommended on various biking sites.
Gloves - These Wells Lamont Gloves are great for winter riding down to 26 degrees for me. My hands get hold easily. I have been using them for two weeks and am extremely happy with them. They appear to be very well made and are only $17.00
Mittens - I am incredibly happy with these Gordini Gore Tex mittens. I needed something for cold weather biking - for example on Sunday my hands were starting to get cold in the Wells Lamont gloves. I switched to the Gordini's and what a great product! They are waterproof and appear to be exceptionally well made. So far my hands are toasty warm and I am hoping these will carry me down to zero degrees. Often I had to pull over last winter when the temp. got below 5. I did not want to spend $85 for lobster gloves..these are only $34 plus shipping.
Thermal Jersey - I bought this Pearl Izumi thermal jersey for $50 2 weeks ago but now I see it is up to $100. The interesting thing is it was shipped from the UK. Bought off Amazon. It's almost two warm..you can't wear it indoors but should be great as a cold winter base layer. I was wearing it in the upper thirties weather we had in recent weeks and it was fine. I would not pay $100 for it though...nothing to do with the shirt just not what I spend.
I am very big on the Underarmor cold weather gear. I have two cold weather compression shirts and they are only $50 each. They are a tight, thin fit so you can actually wear them under a casual shirt if you are going to a place that isn't too warm. For example I am writing this at Whole Foods and I am not overheated.
For my outer layer I got the Mountain Hard Android II. I was luck enough to get this half off for $75 as my friend's friend is a distributor. The jacket is waterproof and a good, lightweight outer layer. It looks really sharp and fits well. It is very breathable and I actually still feel the cold through it. I believe this will let me sweat less on my rides. If you can spare the $ it's a great jacket. The sleeves fit really fight as does the neck area. It has a very elegant fit.
Now for a few observations.
About a year I switched my morning route from Lincoln Square to the Merchandise Mart. I switched from Lincoln Avenue, which I find rather dangerous and confining, to Damen/Diversey/Clybourn. I just want to state what a joy it is riding on Clybourn. I know there was a death on the lower end of Clybourn (I understand he was hit after the driver hit another car) but I must say I find Clybourn extremely safe and pleasant to bike on, at least in the am. Starting at Diversey around 7-8 am, you pretty much have a very easy ride in the dedicated bike lane south bound. Because Clybourn on the West side has a huge number of big box stores - almost all that aren't open before 10 - I rarely have to stop on this ride for cars entering/exiting. Really the only stops are at a couple of big intersections and the timing is such that often i missed those.
So unlike Lincoln - and Clark for that matter - I find Clybourn a total delight to bike on. The street is in great shape (recently repaved?), the bike lane is very wide, and very few stops or cross traffic. I am surprised how few other bikers I encounter on Clybourn. Any ideas why?
I did try a ride home on Ashland from Divison (to Wilson) a few weeks ago. I avoid Ashland because I never felt it was so safe to ride on. I rode it at around 7:30 pm. I would not call it terrifying but it was uncomfortable. The cars are not going to give an inch and there is very little room between the parked cars on your right and the cars on one's left. So I would not recommend it or do it again but it can be done. Curious if any of you bike Ashland.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Michelle S on
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I don't use Clybourn for my commute but I agree it's a pretty nice ride now that they re-paved and added buffered bike lanes. I wrote up a full review of the lanes with pictures on Bike Walk Lincoln Park and then I posted a video of it as well, if anyone's interested.
Bonus: On Twitter today it was reported that a cop pulled over a driver on Clybourn for driving in the bike lane. Progress!
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Permalink Reply by Alex Z on
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Ashland and Western are no-nos for me and I expect for most here.
You are correct that Clybourn was just recently re-paved. Interesting analysis about drivers not needing to turn into the big box stores before 10am and that making it a nicer morning ride; probably right!
I agree that Lincoln is uncomfortably tight. Glad you've found a nice alternative.
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Permalink Reply by Jenny on
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I cringe whenever I see cyclists on Ashland. I have never ridden on Ashland and have no plans to. There are other streets that are easy alternatives and much more suited to biking.
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Permalink Reply by David Altenburg on
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Ashland, Western, and Fullerton are streets I avoid at all costs. You would think that additional lanes would make drivers ok with you taking the lane, but in my experience, the opposite is true, on those streets anyway.
Thanks for the reviews of stuff. I find that sort of thing really helpful.
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David Altenburg said:
You would think that additional lanes would make drivers ok with you taking the lane, but in my experience, the opposite is true
In mine as well!
Though doesn't Fullerton have a bike lane, at least on part of it? I could've sworn I saw one in the Lincoln Park area. Maybe you mean west of the river. Do you find Fullerton worse, though, than, say, Belmont?
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Permalink Reply by Rich S on
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Fullerton has a bike lane and is good from Ashland/Clybourn east to Halsted. It's quite frustrating that the city still hasn't painted a bike lane connecting Ashland/Clybourn to Damen/Elston on Fullerton. Those are 4 high traffic bike routes and Fullerton is more than wide enough. I know Webster is 2 blocks over but it's not as fast to ride because of all the stop signs.
I personally prefer Belmont over Fullerton when riding west of the river. Either that or Armitage if I'm further south.
Alex Z said:David Altenburg said:
You would think that additional lanes would make drivers ok with you taking the lane, but in my experience, the opposite is true
In mine as well!
Though doesn't Fullerton have a bike lane, at least on part of it? I could've sworn I saw one in the Lincoln Park area. Maybe you mean west of the river. Do you find Fullerton worse, though, than, say, Belmont?
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The only part of Clybourn that ever bothers me is the Clybourn/North/Halstead clusterfuck. Otherwise, its a fine street.
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Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on
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Avoid Ashland, Western, and North Ave at all costs. They are terrible to ride a bike on.
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Permalink Reply by Josh L. on
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North is painful..especially where it narrows under the bridge past the Apple store. You pretty much have to ride the sidewalk on that stretch unless you want to get killed.
Adam Herstein (5.5 mi) said:Avoid Ashland, Western, and North Ave at all costs. They are terrible to ride a bike on.
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Yes I agree but it's a nice shot down to division once you clear the North intersection.
envane (69 furlongs) said:The only part of Clybourn that ever bothers me is the Clybourn/North/Halstead clusterfuck. Otherwise, its a fine street.
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nice to hear......I see these yahoos all the time driving in the bike lane. Want to yell at them but dont' want to mix it up.
Michelle Stenzel said:I don't use Clybourn for my commute but I agree it's a pretty nice ride now that they re-paved and added buffered bike lanes. I wrote up a full review of the lanes with pictures on Bike Walk Lincoln Park and then I posted a video of it as well, if anyone's interested.
Bonus: On Twitter today it was reported that a cop pulled over a driver on Clybourn for driving in the bike lane. Progress!
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Yes, just to build on it there are relatively few exits onto Clybourn and the buildings with no parking seem to take up a huge percentage of the frontage. For example starting at Diversey southbound you have all this commercial property on the right with no parking..I think I go a quarter mile without even hitting a car entrance/exit.
Alex Z said:Ashland and Western are no-nos for me and I expect for most here.
You are correct that Clybourn was just recently re-paved. Interesting analysis about drivers not needing to turn into the big box stores before 10am and that making it a nicer morning ride; probably right!
I agree that Lincoln is uncomfortably tight. Glad you've found a nice alternative.
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