A nice day in January that is even more exciting than a nice day in June. And two days of 50+ degrees=one very happy bike commuter here in Nashville.
I had also forgotten what a great song “Dance Apocalyptic” was to bike to. Belmont-area peds were treated to some bike dancing this morning (tell me I’m not the only one who does this?).
can’t have a shadow without the sun!
Anyone else enjoying the unseasonably warm winter weather?
My last post was filled with autumn leaves and musings about approaching winter due to temps in the 30s. Um, yeah, I must have forgotten what Chicago winters are really like – 30s would be lovely right about now!
This week the temps plunged to the teens with a mean wind brining in the cold air. I said, “Forget this,” and took the L earlier in the week (when the windchill was 0). But I knew I had to embrace my new reality eventually, so yesterday I pulled out my hand and toe warmers, winter Bern helmet, wool leggings, ridiculously huge mittens, and got on my bike.
(Ridiculously huge mittens)
As long as there’s no snow and ice on the ground, I’ll be riding my Betty Foy. Oma is ready and waiting with her studded tires, when her time comes.
Once I got back out there, I remembered how lovely biking in the winter can be.
Is anyone new to winter cycling or just looking for some new tips? Here are some oldies but goodies from our archives:
The LGRAB Guide to Winter Cycling
How to Dress for Winter Bike Commuting
My Defiant Defense of Winter Cycling
Looking Back at My First Winter Cycling
Also, I highly recommend checking out this Bike Commuter’s Guide to Winter Cycling from one of my favorite blogs, Frugalwoods.
Okay, I’m off for my 9 mile ride in 17 degrees (f) now! Happy Friday!
Fall, I fear, is quickly coming to a close in Chicago. The temps are dropping into the 30’s and we had our first snow on Halloween evening.
With this in mind, I’m reminding myself to be extra-appreciative of the autumn beauty that surrounds me during my bike commutes. Soon enough, I’ll be surrounded by wintry beauty.
P.S. A bit more about that Halloween weather. The wind was so strong that crashing waves tore chunks of asphalt from the Lakefront Trail, forcing me to bike on city streets this week. Happily, I hear that crews have fixed all the damage now, less than a week later.
My intrepid friend Dan biked home that evening. He stopped to record this video of Divvy bikes blowing in the wind! Dan said, “I had put my omafiets (Dutch bike) down on its side to keep it from blowing away and then hunkered down to shoot these videos.”
Hope everyone is having fun and staying safe this autumn!
The beautiful fall continues, making my daily bike commutes an absolute pleasure. I’m not a natural morning person, but once I eat my breakfast and drink my coffee, kiss Mr. Dottie goodbye, and head out on my bicycle, I’m in a wonderful mood. This lifted mood carries me through at least part of my work day.
How can one not feel happy when surrounded by such beauty?
The commute home this evening was not as beautiful. Instead, it was dark, chilly (temps dropped to 50 degrees) and WINDY. The headwind was wretched, slowing my commute and forcing me off the lakefront trail to take city streets the rest of the way home.
On the plus side, I got an intense workout while listening to a full This American Life podcast and saving money. Not a bad deal.
I’m already looking forward to tomorrow morning’s bike commute. :)
Hello! A beautiful autumn bike commute today inspired me to check in and share here. As I’m sure many would agree, autumn is the absolute best time for cycling. The temps are cool enough to avoid sweating, but not yet freezing. Despite the perfect conditions, the paths and bike lanes are relatively empty.
This morning, I set out with a cardigan and light gloves, but shed those as I heated up during my 9 mile ride.
My commute includes the beautiful Buckingham Fountain every morning. Lucky me!
Chicago still looks like summer, but there is a definite chill in the air, with morning temps hovering in the mid-high 50’s.
I suppose this friendly city guy is saving up nuts and cigarette butts for the winter.
I hope everyone is enjoying the cooler weather! I plan to be around here more often, so feel free to check in every now and then.
p.s. We are working on the technical issues (such as broken pic links) of our current web home; bear with us.
Earlier this week, I took Divvy bikeshare to work, since it was supposed to rain in the evening. Divvy is a very useful tool, and I’m lucky to have the option. I had to stop and re-dock my bike twice along the route to keep from going over 30 minutes and being charged for the extra time. That was not too much of a hassle, but I wish the max time were 45 minutes.
I took the Lakefront Trail to work. With the nice tailwind, it was smooth sailing, although Divvy is noticeably slower than my bikes (even my Dutch bike) because even its highest gear does not provide that much power.
Here is where I tried to cross Lakeshore Drive at a pedestrian sign and gave up after the walk sign never appeared in five minutes. I continued down the path and crossed at a car crossing.
My final 9 mile trip was one hour of cycling, plus extra time for walking to and from the nearby Divvy stations. Not the best option if I’m in a rush, but not too much slower than more regular bikes.
If the rainy and cold weather sticks around, I expect to be using Divvy quite often this spring.
Right now – late March through early April – is the most refreshing time to ride a bike in Chicago. The visible signs of fading winter and approaching spring make me so grateful, I could weep. The chill in the air is enough to make my cheeks rosy, not to cause frost bite. The sun is still up and slowly setting as I make my way home. And the Lakefront Trail is calm and peaceful, not yet overcrowded.
I hope you all are enjoying your bike rides just as much!
My wish for bright spring colors came true today, at least a little bit. The amazing 50 degree temperature combined with the bright, lingering sun made the city feel like a springtime paradise. The sidewalks and lakefront were filled with Chicagoans basking in the glory of the weather.
The photos below look cold, but the mere fact that I was able to bike on the Lakefront Trail is a sign of the thaw. Most of the snow has melted, leaving behind mounds of dirt, salt and debris.
I even warmed up enough to remove my scarf, which looked quite lovely on Oma.
Unbelievably, I heard on the evening news that Chicago may get over a foot of snow mid-week. All the more reason to appreciate days like today, I suppose.
Lots of this…
…means lots of this.
Maybe the snow will stop by April, but I’m not getting my hopes up!
How is one to survive this winter, one of the coldest, greyest and snowiest in history?
As you can see, I chose to lighten my hair, buy a new red overcoat and bicycle on – except honestly I have not been bicycling a lot, certainly not everyday, as with previous winters. All I ask for is a morning with temps at least 10 F and no falling snow, but such mornings are rare. (As I type this, it’s 9 F and snowing.) When I manage to ride my bike, I feel so much better, physically and mentally.
My plan for combatting winter also includes appreciating the (indoor) culture that Chicago offers: going to ballets, plays, symphonies and art exhibits. If it were not for the Joffrey Ballet, the Goodman and Steppenwolf and Shakespeare Theatres, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Art Institute (and, of course, my wonderful friends!), I would question daily why I choose to live in this crowded, frozen tundra.
This time last year, I was already enjoying the sights and sounds of spring with Betty Foy.
How are you dealing with this winter? How much have you been bicycling?
{P.S. Our friend Elizabeth will be reporting on the National Bike Summit / Women’s Bike Forum here on LGRAB and our Twitter feed this week, so stay tuned!}
Perhaps a flowing white skirt was not the smartest outfit choice for a wet and windy day, but sometimes fashion trumps function, and this morning I wanted to wear a flowing white skirt, dammit.
I began second-guessing my choice as the lake winds whipped the skirt against Betty’s grimy rack and fender, but by that time there was no turning back.
In a nod to function, here is my head and eye protective gear that rarely makes it into photos.
By the end of the day, the hem of my skirt was lightly soiled here and there, but nothing terribly noticeable from a distance. The real danger was the chocolate cake I enjoyed with lunch, crumbs of which inevitably got smushed on my lap.
Regardless, riding my bike, eating chocolate cake and wearing a flowing white skirt all made me happy, so I consider the dry cleaning bill worth it. :-)
Score one for fashion.
{I picked this skirt up from a Paris thrift store for 2 euros. See it styled for summer here.}
This evening I had a dark ride home in light rain. I was caught without my raincoat or any other special rain accessories, but my normal outfit worked well.
My wool trench coat kept me warm and dry.
My leather boots served the same purpose for my feet, plus sported a reflective strap for extra visibility.
My beloved bag was unfazed by the wet weather, thanks to dark leather and pre-treatment with Cadillac Shield Spray.
My Brooks saddle was protected by me for the ride, but got a bit wet while I took pictures. I know some people baby their leather saddles, but mine is holding up well, so I’m not too worried.
For the most part, light rain does not bother me much. And soon rain will be replaced by snow!
P.S. Really hard for me to avoid a November Rain reference in this post. :)
Hello there!
My focus lately has not been on blogging, but I have some renewed energy now. In three wteeks, I start a new job (an exciting step up in my career!) that will bring me a longer and more scenic bike commute. And to reward myself I bought a beautiful digital camera that has me eager to document my rides.
This morning I enjoyed my regular bike ride to work in the sunshine and crisp air.
Betty has been my constant companion for the last month, although I expect to swap her out for Oma as soon as the snow starts.
And here’s what I wore on my bike, although this was in the middle of the day and Betty, unfortunately, was not around to pose with me. A cashmere sweater and scarf with a leather jacket kept me plenty warm in the low-30 temps.
That’s about all I have to share for now. :-)
I hope everyone is doing well!
Time to break out the tweed and cashmere – fall is here!
I have a habit of writing every year about how much I love fall, and this year will be more of the same. It’s such a perfect time for bike riding, especially for riding in full work clothes without arriving sweaty.
I enthusiastically pulled out from under my bed the two containers of cold-weather clothes and suddenly I have a whole new wardrobe. This week I will replenish my supply of black and brown tights, then I’ll be good to go through early spring. :-)
The sun is setting earlier and earlier now – a clear sign of the shift in seasons. While I am not crazy about bicycling in the dark, I appreciate changes that mark the passing of time and keep life from feeling too routine. And I can now watch the transition from day to night during my evening commute.
I hope all of you are enjoying October so far. Just remember to carry your bike lights with you at all times! :-)
As I mentioned last month, I’m back to riding Oma almost daily. And I’m reminded that Oma is not just a bike style, but a lifestyle.
I slow way down with her and relax into the ride. I coast up to yellow lights instead of accelerating to beat the red. I enjoy the city sights from my high perch.
It’s all about opting out of the commute-as-race by sheer force of will. Even as SUVs speed past me too closely and I breath in truck exhaust, I think happy thoughts and continue slowly pedaling. Riding Oma helps me maintain a bit of serenity, as the city buzzes around.
When I first wrote about Divvy, I listed reasons that I anticipated using the bike share system, even though I have three bikes of my own. On Friday, one of those reasons popped up.
Leaving for work in the morning in the pouring rain, I did not even consider biking. By the early evening, the sun was out and I was itching to ride a bike. Lo and behold, there was a brand new Divvy station right by me.
Using the bike was super easy. I had no problems riding in my trousers, thanks to the covered chain. The fenders protected me from being splashed by leftover rain puddles.
The front rack held my legal file and bag remarkably well. I was worried about the file slipping out, but everything felt perfectly secure.
I rode Divvy as far north as possible, before switching to the L to get all the way to my destination in Lincoln Square, where I was meeting friends for dinner. I can’t wait for the day when Divvy stations cover the city – which should be by the end of the summer!
I look forward to many more rides with Divvy in the future!
Dusk is day’s most beautiful time. If I can manage to bike home in the aftermath of the setting sun, I’m a happy woman, a calmer woman.
For comparison, here’s a look at my wintry dusk commute on the Lakefront Trail from a few months ago. Of course, during winter the dusk arrives a few hours earlier! The photos above were taken around 8:30 p.m., while the winter ones must have been closer to 4:30 p.m.
For a melancholy take on dusk, I leave you with Carl Sandburg’s “Dreams in the Dusk.”
Dreams in the dusk,
Only dreams closing the day
And with the day’s close going back
To the gray things, the dark things,
The far, deep things of dreamland.
Dreams, only dreams in the dusk,
Only the old remembered pictures
Of lost days when the day’s loss
Wrote in tears the heart’s loss.
Tears and loss and broken dreams
May find your heart at dusk.
Last week I shared the story of getting caught in the rain on the way home. Here is a little photo story of the rose garden I came upon right before the rain began.
I believe my discovery of this beautiful rose garden goes nicely with Bikeyface’s idea that riding a bike is a great way to connect with the real world.
Happy Biking!
I was rained on during my bike commute today, and I did not mind at all.
Heading home, I took a different route than usual and soon happened upon a garden. I pulled over to walk the paths and enjoy the thousands of roses. As I said goodbye to the flowers and set out toward the lakefront trail for my 7-mile ride home, rain started falling. I briefly considered ducking into a cafe, but the heady smell of fresh summer rain urged me on. While tourists and beach-goers hustled for cover, I cycled on with a smile.
The shower was short-lived and by the time I got home, my light summer dress had completely dried. No rain gear necessary.
Let's Go Ride a Bike 
