OMG I Biked to Work Today!
I just got back from a beautiful ride from the Loop to Uptown via Wells, Clark, Broadway, Halsted and back to Broadway post a Whole Foods stop. There was virtually no wind; the streets clear; and traffic was light.
This morning's ride in on the LFP from Wilson to Fullerton was beautiful. The path was clear of any snow and ice, the wind was just about non existent, and the zoo parking lot - running from Fullerton to LaSalle - was so clean you couldn't find a spec of snow. They must have been plowing since 4 am (I saw all the trucks!).
Riding home tonight I saw two cyclists total. One at Grand and a second at Montrose. On the morning ride I didn't hit my first rider until Division and ended up seeing two other riders.
The hysteria and media created frenzy about the weather today was unbelievable. You would have thought it was snowmageddon revisited.
Yes, I get that it's colder than normal for this time of year but when you are on a bike the difference between 25 and zero is maybe just a layer. As folks on this site have taught me,when you are biking your body produces so much heat that it's actually disposing of the heat that can be a problem.
I understand that it's dangerous to bike when it's windy and the roads are covered with snow and ice. I don't blame anybody for not biking then. But weather like today -when the roads are clear (at least those that I took) and wind is minimal - can make for lovely riding.
So please excuse my rant.
My issue is more with the media and their revenue generating weather hysteria than it is with those of you who didn't ride today. My suggestion is that for those cold winter days you decide for yourself whether or not you want to ride based on what you see and feel outside (don't rely on the media reports!). And if you have the proper gear to ride in sub freezing temperatures - in my case it's "technical" cold weather clothes - go for it! You may like it.
And btw, I am not one of those hardcore dudes I pass on the LFP in mid November running in shorts. I get cold hands and feet just like you all.
Views: 1116
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on
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Switch to Fahrenheit. It does not seem so cold when it is only -10 wind chill.
Serge Lubomudrov said:Wimped out this morning, after seeing -25 degrees Celcius wind chill on my weather app.
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Permalink Reply by Josh L. on
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I have the winter marathon's and for city riding they are fine.Where are you encountering ice? I ride only on major city streets and rarely if ever encounter ice (I'm limited to north side, clark, clybourn, wells).
Joe Guzzardo said:
Thanks Jo, I need a kick in the derriere. This is also very encouraging: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dBcefxQm24 I think I've got the winter clothing problem solved, as long as it's not too windy. It's ice that freaks me out. Can anyone offer some advice on studded tires? I'm riding a 2008 KHS Brentwood hybrid with fenders (and I'm not giving up the fenders). I've read about Schwalbe studded tires. The Ice Spiker looks like it might be overkill and I don't think they'll fit on my bike. They also have the Winter Marathon, which might be more appropriate. Studded tires are a real investment and I'd hate to make an expensive mistake. Then again, losing control and falling into the path of an oncoming vehicle could be much more expensive.
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h'-It is not important that I have my "very own thread." I wanted to reach a larger audience with this thread - those than don't read the dedicated winter biking threads which are narrow in their focus (who I saw, temp today, etc.).
thx.
h' 1.0 said:
If it's important to Jo to have his very own thread we can see about closing the identical threads.
Jo, thoughts?
jolondon30 said:It's not "nother winter biking thread." It is winter, the site is about biking, so you should not be surprised amidst threads about lost dogs and Mariano's if people write about biking in a new threat.
I wanted to reach a larger audience with this post hence I didn't want to bury it in the two threads you reference.
One of the main points of the post is to encourage non winter bikers to get out there. Those folks probably aren't reading the threads you mention.
It is not intended to serve as a general interest winter biking thread - nor will it be.
thx.
JeffB (7+ miles) said:Nice post, but do we really need another winter biking thread? Use "I rode today. Did you?" or "Winter 2014- who's still riding?". Or better yet, let's close two of these and all post under one.
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Permalink Reply by Wolf-Pup on
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Hmm...I ride yesterday and today. I wouldn't say that Milwaukee/Damen and other bike lanes are clear. However, they are clearer. I don't mess with snow and ice. I don't mind the cold as long as I can keep my hands warm. It's the only part that still makes my otherwise wonderful rides awful.
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Permalink Reply by djm on
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Another vote for Marathon Winters for commuting. Secure riding on icy roads but note that they arent knobbies and dont work well in packed snow. I have them on spare set of wheels so I can easily swap them in depending on conditions. I expect them to last though many winters so the amortized cost is small, extremely so in comparison with an injury.
Joe Guzzardo said:Can anyone offer some advice on studded tires? I'm riding a 2008 KHS Brentwood hybrid with fenders (and I'm not giving up the fenders). I've read about Schwalbe studded tires. The Ice Spiker looks like it might be overkill and I don't think they'll fit on my bike. They also have the Winter Marathon, which might be more appropriate. Studded tires are a real investment and I'd hate to make an expensive mistake. Then again, losing control and falling into the path of an oncoming vehicle could be much more expensive.
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Permalink Reply by Nancy L. Fagin on
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I call it "picking my battles". If the weather is really awful and dangerous, then I do use the car to haul stuff, otherwise, once the city plows the main streets and it's not too sloppy - I use the bike. There's always another day or even, for a better window of opportunity.
Just yesterday I had an inspiration:
I have a photograph of my father in a "great coat" and helmet (1944-1945) in northern France and Germany. Geeze - he was fighting in a nasty winter, so how hard can delivering mail to the post office using a bike lane be?
Nancy
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"The Media" (bywhich I assume you mean local TV news) has to hype it because if they don't and it is a big snow, no one will watch that station and we'll be out of jobs (I turn the lights on for a morning news show).
Plus there isn't a lot of local news right now and it is a ratings period, so viewers translate to $$ because more eyeballs means higher ad fees. New York (the font of all knowledge) insists that $ get sent to them and to make the $ you do your local news they way NY wants it done.
There are 2 of us on the AM shift at our station who ride to work a lot...no bad weather, just bad clothes, although I draw the line at 10 degrees windchill. The past 3 weeks I've been dealing with MAJOR dental issues and the cold drops me to my knees with pain. By the beginning of the 2014 all should be right and my wheels will be rolling again and my mind can get its required endorphine rush at 230AM.
In the real cold, the first 3 blocks makes me question what I am doing, the next 5 miles reminds me why I do it. When I don't ride, my Zeitgeist is tunnel vision, morally, emotionally, physically, appetitedly, intellectually.
Keep riding in this WX! Keep the faith for me, ladels and jellyspoons, until I'm back in the fold.
BikeBoy5
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that's a great way to put our "battles" in perspective Nancy.
Nancy L. Fagin said:I call it "picking my battles". If the weather is really awful and dangerous, then I do use the car to haul stuff, otherwise, once the city plows the main streets and it's not too sloppy - I use the bike. There's always another day or even, for a better window of opportunity.
Just yesterday I had an inspiration:
I have a photograph of my father in a "great coat" and helmet (1944-1945) in northern France and Germany. Geeze - he was fighting in a nasty winter, so how hard can delivering mail to the post office using a bike lane be?
Nancy
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Well Bike Boy not sure what to make about your comment. I certainly can understand your concern for your job but not sure as a society we can justify everything just on a "it creates job basis." So for example I think the health of Americans and others around the world would be much better without McDonald's but of course that would mean fewer jobs.Call me old fashioned but I think that the media, including local news shoes, have a responsibility to report information accurately. While I understand that there needs to be appropriate information for large snowstorms and cold periods, the local media - as you yourself acknowledge - hypes inclement weather as a way to boost ratings. That's unfortunate and this kind of think has led to the dumbing down of local news.
BikeBoy5 said:
"The Media" (bywhich I assume you mean local TV news) has to hype it because if they don't and it is a big snow, no one will watch that station and we'll be out of jobs (I turn the lights on for a morning news show).
Plus there isn't a lot of local news right now and it is a ratings period, so viewers translate to $$ because more eyeballs means higher ad fees. New York (the font of all knowledge) insists that $ get sent to them and to make the $ you do your local news they way NY wants it done.
There are 2 of us on the AM shift at our station who ride to work a lot...no bad weather, just bad clothes, although I draw the line at 10 degrees windchill. The past 3 weeks I've been dealing with MAJOR dental issues and the cold drops me to my knees with pain. By the beginning of the 2014 all should be right and my wheels will be rolling again and my mind can get its required endorphine rush at 230AM.
In the real cold, the first 3 blocks makes me question what I am doing, the next 5 miles reminds me why I do it. When I don't ride, my Zeitgeist is tunnel vision, morally, emotionally, physically, appetitedly, intellectually.
Keep riding in this WX! Keep the faith for me, ladels and jellyspoons, until I'm back in the fold.
BikeBoy5
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BikeBoy5 is having some personal health issues that have caused difficulty on the bike regardless of the employment stuff. He likes riding and he wants to keep doing it. Good thoughts to get back to the "fold".
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jolondon30 said:
Well Bike Boy not sure what to make about your comment. I certainly can understand your concern for your job but not sure as a society we can justify everything just on a "it creates job basis." So for example I think the health of Americans and others around the world would be much better without McDonald's but of course that would mean fewer jobs.Call me old fashioned but I think that the media, including local news shoes, have a responsibility to report information accurately. While I understand that there needs to be appropriate information for large snowstorms and cold periods, the local media - as you yourself acknowledge - hypes inclement weather as a way to boost ratings. That's unfortunate and this kind of think has led to the dumbing down of local news.
BikeBoy5 said:
"The Media" (bywhich I assume you mean local TV news) has to hype it because if they don't and it is a big snow, no one will watch that station and we'll be out of jobs (I turn the lights on for a morning news show).
Plus there isn't a lot of local news right now and it is a ratings period, so viewers translate to $$ because more eyeballs means higher ad fees. New York (the font of all knowledge) insists that $ get sent to them and to make the $ you do your local news they way NY wants it done.
There are 2 of us on the AM shift at our station who ride to work a lot...no bad weather, just bad clothes, although I draw the line at 10 degrees windchill. The past 3 weeks I've been dealing with MAJOR dental issues and the cold drops me to my knees with pain. By the beginning of the 2014 all should be right and my wheels will be rolling again and my mind can get its required endorphine rush at 230AM.
In the real cold, the first 3 blocks makes me question what I am doing, the next 5 miles reminds me why I do it. When I don't ride, my Zeitgeist is tunnel vision, morally, emotionally, physically, appetitedly, intellectually.
Keep riding in this WX! Keep the faith for me, ladels and jellyspoons, until I'm back in the fold.
BikeBoy5
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jolondon30 said:
Well Bike Boy not sure what to make about your comment. I certainly can understand your concern for your job but not sure as a society we can justify everything just on a "it creates job basis." So for example I think the health of Americans and others around the world would be much better without McDonald's but of course that would mean fewer jobs.Call me old fashioned but I think that the media, including local news shoes, have a responsibility to report information accurately. While I understand that there needs to be appropriate information for large snowstorms and cold periods, the local media - as you yourself acknowledge - hypes inclement weather as a way to boost ratings. That's unfortunate and this kind of think has led to the dumbing down of local news.
BikeBoy5 said:
"The Media" (bywhich I assume you mean local TV news) has to hype it because if they don't and it is a big snow, no one will watch that station and we'll be out of jobs (I turn the lights on for a morning news show).
Plus there isn't a lot of local news right now and it is a ratings period, so viewers translate to $$ because more eyeballs means higher ad fees. New York (the font of all knowledge) insists that $ get sent to them and to make the $ you do your local news they way NY wants it done.
There are 2 of us on the AM shift at our station who ride to work a lot...no bad weather, just bad clothes, although I draw the line at 10 degrees windchill. The past 3 weeks I've been dealing with MAJOR dental issues and the cold drops me to my knees with pain. By the beginning of the 2014 all should be right and my wheels will be rolling again and my mind can get its required endorphine rush at 230AM.
In the real cold, the first 3 blocks makes me question what I am doing, the next 5 miles reminds me why I do it. When I don't ride, my Zeitgeist is tunnel vision, morally, emotionally, physically, appetitedly, intellectually.
Keep riding in this WX! Keep the faith for me, ladels and jellyspoons, until I'm back in the fold.
BikeBoy5
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