I rode today. Did you?

Nice first ride in the COLD.

 

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Permalink Reply by Joe Studer 8.0 mi on February 6, 2014 at 12:31pm

I have been riding pretty consistently this winter as well, and while the plowing has been sketchy sometimes, generally it has been very good.  And, generally, it has been consistent.  Which is why yesterday was so weird.  I've never seen a stretch that was just completely ignored, when the adjacent stretch was cleaned so well.  Usually if a stretch is bad, it's because the snow just fell, and no plowing has occurred yet, or for a while, or whatever.  Last night was odd.

Honestly, I speculate that someone just said, "yeah, OK, quitting time."  And perhaps legitimately.  I don't know.


Robert Underwood said:

I take the LFT on the northernmost stretch from Ardmore to Montrose every evening, and its been plowed/ride-able every time this winter (don't take it on weekends, but i've only missed two weekdays so far so I know they plow it consistently).  Too bad they don't do that all the way south.  All the rich yuppie hippsters can move south as far as I care if that would help things.  I'm not a yuppie or rich, but some might call me an aging hipster... because sometimes I wear skinny jeans. but I don't have a beard.    

Permalink Reply by Josh L. on February 6, 2014 at 5:09pm

Tonight's ride home was the roughest I've been in this winter. I did not go out on those two polar vortex days but for me it was just not fun tonight. Even my core was a little home on my ride from the Loop to uptown.  I am thinking of taking a break for a week..this is just too much.

Permalink Reply by Joe Studer 8.0 mi on February 6, 2014 at 5:37pm

Particularly considering the warm winters we've had the last several years, this year has been brutal.  Two things I love more and more on these cold days:  Bar Mitts (oh my god I love the Bar Mitts) and by Turtle Fur Balaclava (full face coverage that does not lead to fogged up glasses).  Now, if they only made Pedal Mitts.  The toes definitely get chilly on these cold, cold days.

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on February 6, 2014 at 6:26pm

If only someone had told you about Bar Mitts sooner... :-)

Reply by Kevin C on September 13, 2010 at 7:21am

Some people call them pogies, some call them moose mitts, or overmitts, but they are the solution for cold hands. I got a relatively cheap pair from Cabela's last year and loved them. Wear a thin glove on even the coldest days, stick your hands into the overmitts and you'll be toasty warm with no loss of dexterity and no bulkiness.
Reply by Kevin C on October 17, 2011 at 11:36pm

I always post this response to this question, and everyone cheerfully ignores it. When it's really cold, I use pogies, moose mitts, overmitts, and they're magnificent! I first discovered them snowmobiling, and for bicycling, they are not to be believed. When it's really cold, I wear a liner glove, or no gloves at all. 

Reply by Kevin C on November 21, 2013 at 11:48am

For about the last five years, I have been trying to get the Chicagoans to use pogies/bar mitts/moose mitts on colder winter days, and with only a few exceptions, I just can't convince them.

Joe Studer 8.0 mi said:

[snip]  Bar Mitts (oh my god I love the Bar Mitts) and by Turtle Fur Balaclava (full face coverage that does not lead to fogged up glasses).  Now, if they only made Pedal Mitts.  The toes definitely get chilly on these cold, cold days.

Permalink Reply by The Grizz on February 7, 2014 at 2:26am
At one point this morning when I blinked my eyes froze shut. I couldn't see where I was going for a moment until I fumbled my glasses off with mittened hand.
Permalink Reply by EssFresh on February 7, 2014 at 3:02am
Was oddly comfortable this morning. May the sunshine and lack of wind? Pretty sure once we get above freezing I will only be comfortable in salacious jorts and a tank top.
Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on February 7, 2014 at 3:18am

EssFresh said:

... salacious jorts and a tank top.
Old fart that I am, I had never seen the word "jorts" before, so naturally, I Googled it. The Urban Dictionary suggests that, lack of a smiley in your post notwithstanding, you probably wouldn't actually wear them, opting instead for spandex cycling shorts:
Jean shorts. Worn mostly by children and douchebags. Jorts are perhaps the easiest way to recognize people you will not like.
Still, I hear ya. The warm weather (if it ever gets here) will probably take some getting used to.
<wink obligatory="True"/>
Permalink Reply by Robert Underwood on February 7, 2014 at 4:03am

And what I noticed last night that I didn't know when I posted below, was that the entire sidewalk along Sheridan and the graveyard was closed/unplowed with a sign "sidewalk closed" or something.  so I took the street.  I don't take sidewalks except that one when the roads are skinny from plowing.  In the mornings I don't take that route so I didn't notice it yesterday.  wondering if itll be closed still this evening.  Ya, maybe they were just like, "ok, done plowing."  
 
Joe Studer 8.0 mi said:

I have been riding pretty consistently this winter as well, and while the plowing has been sketchy sometimes, generally it has been very good.  And, generally, it has been consistent.  Which is why yesterday was so weird.  I've never seen a stretch that was just completely ignored, when the adjacent stretch was cleaned so well.  Usually if a stretch is bad, it's because the snow just fell, and no plowing has occurred yet, or for a while, or whatever.  Last night was odd.

Honestly, I speculate that someone just said, "yeah, OK, quitting time."  And perhaps legitimately.  I don't know.


Robert Underwood said:

I take the LFT on the northernmost stretch from Ardmore to Montrose every evening, and its been plowed/ride-able every time this winter (don't take it on weekends, but i've only missed two weekdays so far so I know they plow it consistently).  Too bad they don't do that all the way south.  All the rich yuppie hippsters can move south as far as I care if that would help things.  I'm not a yuppie or rich, but some might call me an aging hipster... because sometimes I wear skinny jeans. but I don't have a beard.    

Permalink Reply by Robert Underwood on February 7, 2014 at 4:04am

The Grizz, use the force.  you should wear a blind fold next time.  Glad you didn't wreck though. Maybe were ski goggles like I do?  they work BEAUTIFULLY.
 
The Grizz said:

At one point this morning when I blinked my eyes froze shut. I couldn't see where I was going for a moment until I fumbled my glasses off with mittened hand.
Permalink Reply by Robert Underwood on February 7, 2014 at 4:38am

Kevin and Joe, I'm taking serious note of Bar Mitts and Turtle fur Balaclava... noted.  want those for sure.  And yes, why cant there be some fix for cold toes, like a heated toe cover or, boot that is warm enough to hold in the heat in the negatives.  I saw some dude with bar mitts last night...  I always notice them because they catch my attention.  They always catch my attention because I notice them.  whatever.  Added to my list.
 
Joe Studer 8.0 mi said:

Particularly considering the warm winters we've had the last several years, this year has been brutal.  Two things I love more and more on these cold days:  Bar Mitts (oh my god I love the Bar Mitts) and by Turtle Fur Balaclava (full face coverage that does not lead to fogged up glasses).  Now, if they only made Pedal Mitts.  The toes definitely get chilly on these cold, cold days.

Permalink Reply by The Grizz on February 7, 2014 at 4:46am

   The same sort of things are said about people wearing bike shorts (which I do). Not that I'm advocating jorts, mind you.

Skip Montanaro 12mi said:

EssFresh said:

... salacious jorts and a tank top.
Old fart that I am, I had never seen the word "jorts" before, so naturally, I Googled it. The Urban Dictionary suggests that, lack of a smiley in your post notwithstanding, you probably wouldn't actually wear them, opting instead for spandex cycling shorts:
Jean shorts. Worn mostly by children and douchebags. Jorts are perhaps the easiest way to recognize people you will not like.
Still, I hear ya. The warm weather (if it ever gets here) will probably take some getting used to.
<wink obligatory="True"/>
Permalink Reply by Joe Studer 8.0 mi on February 7, 2014 at 4:56am

This was not a besotted blurting following a short-time dalliance, but a proud declaration of love as part of a long and beautiful marriage.  I've been rocking bar mitts for several seasons now.  

(The search function must not work well for messages prior to 2010, because you were spreading the Bar Mitts / Pogies message well before then.) I'm just giving a well-deserved bump to the ode of love to Bar Mitts, an ode that many have sung over the years, and that many will continue to sing.

Man I love my Bar Mitts.  In fact, I just this morning was giving them a rave review to a fellow commuter that crossed my path.  They are among the best Christmas presents I've ever received.  Every year I thank my secretary anew for this present.


Kevin C said:

If only someone had told you about Bar Mitts sooner... :-)

Reply by Kevin C on September 13, 2010 at 7:21am

Some people call them pogies, some call them moose mitts, or overmitts, but they are the solution for cold hands. I got a relatively cheap pair from Cabela's last year and loved them. Wear a thin glove on even the coldest days, stick your hands into the overmitts and you'll be toasty warm with no loss of dexterity and no bulkiness.
Reply by Kevin C on October 17, 2011 at 11:36pm

I always post this response to this question, and everyone cheerfully ignores it. When it's really cold, I use pogies, moose mitts, overmitts, and they're magnificent! I first discovered them snowmobiling, and for bicycling, they are not to be believed. When it's really cold, I wear a liner glove, or no gloves at all. 

Reply by Kevin C on November 21, 2013 at 11:48am

For about the last five years, I have been trying to get the Chicagoans to use pogies/bar mitts/moose mitts on colder winter days, and with only a few exceptions, I just can't convince them.

Joe Studer 8.0 mi said:

[snip]  Bar Mitts (oh my god I love the Bar Mitts) and by Turtle Fur Balaclava (full face coverage that does not lead to fogged up glasses).  Now, if they only made Pedal Mitts.  The toes definitely get chilly on these cold, cold days.

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