I rode today. Did you?

Nice first ride in the COLD.

 

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Permalink Reply by Simon Phearson on March 26, 2014 at 3:46am

There's one taxi-heavy intersection I use every evening where I sit in the left turn lane, waiting to turn like I might in a car. Taxi drivers regularly honk at me for not taking opportunities that I, as a bike rider, probably could pull off. It is, indeed, a kind of "you can't win" situation. I wish there were some way to communicate to drivers that they can't expect us to follow the traffic rules and then get miffed at us when our observance of such rules makes it impossible for them to opportunistically violate the same rules.

Robert Underwood said:

nice ride in except a taxi that thought me making a left turn was totally rude.  I mean, he had to go around me... like, what was I thinking? honked, sped up and swerved within inches of me.  Still, lovey day for cycling.

Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on March 26, 2014 at 3:48am

It was about the same temp for me. I probably dressed a bit light for the 18-20 temps, but that motivated me to ride a little faster. My legs have a pleasant soreness to them.

I'm expecting a tailwind going home today. We're moving soon and I need to get some more bubble wrap home from the office, so I'm going to try strapping a roll of the stuff to my backpack. Hopefully it will improve my sail-like properties. :-)

Permalink Reply by grayn8 on March 26, 2014 at 3:58am
I though we were done with the teens and expecting low 30s. So I also rode a little bit faster than usual and had the thighs cold, core overheated phenomenon. BUT, to my surprise, there were four other riders I haven't seen all winter, maybe because their commute time is just that wee bit earlier. So done with this masters class of what to pack and wear for chiberia 2013/14.
Permalink Reply by John Wilson 6.0 on March 26, 2014 at 4:02am

The groundhog was delicious.

Kris Hendry said:

I thought it gets warmer in the month of May? I guess the ground hog was right.

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on March 26, 2014 at 4:04am


Have tried to figure out what this is, but can't.  What is it?


Gene Tenner said:

 

Permalink Reply by JMinHP on March 26, 2014 at 4:20am

I rode. I cursed at the continued cold.  Then, I wryly smiled when I remembered that, yes, this is literally one of the most miserable Chicago winters, and I continue to ride through it all most of it.

Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on March 26, 2014 at 4:37am

This is a view of the ice at Belmont Harbor, Lisa. It is the same spot as the bottom photo but looking almost straight down. I think the footprints are from ducks. The dark spots are collections of dirt, methinks.

Lisa Curcio 4.1 mi said:


Have tried to figure out what this is, but can't.  What is it?

Permalink Reply by Matt M. 18.5KM on March 26, 2014 at 6:47am
18F but I did the commute.
Permalink Reply by Simon Phearson on March 26, 2014 at 7:56am

I rode, of course. I'm surprised by the complaining I keep hearing about the cold (not necessarily here). I mean, I get it - it's supposed to be warmer than this. But I loved this weather, when it rarely happened back in January and February, and that continues to be my honest-to-goodness reaction - loving that it'll be mid-thirties for the evening commute. Any day it doesn't dip into the single-digits is a no-complaining-allowed day, for me. 

I mean, it's sunny, and the snow is mostly gone. We're getting more than 12 hours of daylight now. You can bike through Oak on the LFP. Season's on, as far as I'm concerned. I can't help but laugh at the racers I only see when it hits 50. 

Permalink Reply by grayn8 on March 26, 2014 at 8:10am
@simon_phearson : I gotta agree now, it's ridiculously nice out. I was just caught totally stupidly my fault off guard by this am's ride and was a cold then overheated mess. It got warm quickly after 7:30 or so.

Then again, I was just informed that there is a group of swimmers that swim all year long outside in Lake Michigan. Foxtrot no. You Tri folks way crazier than winter bike commuting.

http://openwaterchicago.com
Permalink Reply by Simon Phearson on March 26, 2014 at 9:57am

The sun makes a world of difference, too, I've noticed. I'm so used to biking in the dark that I had to learn to plan my gear based on where the sun will be. 

What's the layering difference between 18 and 35, for you? In that range I'll drop a pair of socks and a balaclava, but I tend to want to keep my warm middle layer on the core, and I'm still rocking the tights. I'll also prefer my lobster gloves to my thin gloves, which don't really seem suitable until the mid-40s. Overall my gear doesn't change that much; I'll just sweat a bit more. 

grayn8 (5.3 - 36) said:

@simon_phearson : I gotta agree now, it's ridiculously nice out. I was just caught totally stupidly my fault off guard by this am's ride and was a cold then overheated mess. It got warm quickly after 7:30 or so.

Then again, I was just informed that there is a group of swimmers that swim all year long outside in Lake Michigan. Foxtrot no. You Tri folks way crazier than winter bike commuting.

http://openwaterchicago.com
Permalink Reply by Michelle Milham on March 26, 2014 at 10:32am

For me it's about the packing. 

I have to figure out what I have to wear to work, what I'll wear at work, and what I'll need to fit in my backpack WITH what I wore at work after work so that I'm not sweaty, plus carry boots instead of shoes. 

I also despise shivering. I LOVE being outdoors with all of my heart and would never come inside if I didnt' have to... until I start shivering. Then seriously... I don't care what's outside, I just want to be under a blanket. It's not got to do with how tough a cyclist I am. It's got to do with DESPISING winter. 

The sun does help and I've started riding a bit JUST for that... but I still can't bring myself to say "Oh. It's 18. Great lets go!" I think my limit is low of 35 ish. Then I can feasibly be comfortable all day with what fits in my backpack. On the weekends I'll ride at like 30 ish because I don't have to deal with changes of clothes. 

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