Commuting - ABORT! ABORT!!!! Had to bail out this morning.

OK, I live in Chicago (NW suburbs) and we got about 8" of snow on Friday and then it got real cold. The snow plowing was terrible and even on Monday when I thought I might try to ride in, it was only 9F and I thought the combination of lousy plowing and single digit temps too much for me. OK, so Tuesday morning the plowing is a little better but there is still ice and ruts all over the place but now the temp was 3F. Yes, that's not a typo, 3F or -16C, before windchill. Fine, I winp out but this morning it's a nice 32F and I can't wait to get back on my winter bike to get some riding in, equipped with Nokian snows.

I get down my neighborhood roads without much difficulty but have quite a bit of trouble going down the highway (4 lane divided 65 mph) because the snow/slush (2-4") on the shoulder is semi frozen. Sometimes I can ride above it and sometimes my tires crash through and slide all over because there is usually ice underneath. The front tire is usually OK but the back tire is all over the place and I am very near the white line and uncomfortable. Well ... I trudge on.

After a mile or two, I get to my forest preserve MUP. After hopping the snow bank, I try to ride on the MUP. This is confusing me as it is sometimes fine, but I am often being thrown all over the place. The footprints and tracks are tossing me all over the place. I fall and eat a handlebar right in the ribs ... ouch. Yes, I have my speedplay zeros and this is not great as you don't have enough time to clip out when you are going down. Here is a picture of the situation.

http://ct.pbase.com/o6/34/656134/1/71280276.iSx913v3.one.jpg


Here is what happened. The people who traveled on the MUP before it got cold stomped through the deep snow and slush. Then it got cold. Now there are freakin mini ice craters everywhere. They stick up about 2-3" and have sharp frozen edges. It's like hitting 2-3" rocks that you can't see very well. Here is a close-up shot.

http://ct.pbase.com/o6/34/656134/1/71280280.B0Tpl3KI.two.jpg


So, I still don't want to give up even though I can't clip in on one of my shoes anymore due to the ice packed in it. I drop to the granny gear and try to ride around the mini mines. No chance. There are too many and some are hidden. I fall again! So, let's try riding off the mup over on the side of the grass. This doesn't work either, the same issue exists over there with footprints and cross country ski tracks. After my third fall ... banging and pulling my knee, I throw in the towel. Except I have to get back home.

I walk the bike back to the road (Feeling like a loser:() I get back on the highway (with both shoes fouled now) and head for home, reassesing if I can take busy roads to get to work but looking at fantastic plowing like this ... I say no way, live to fight again another day.

http://ct.pbase.com/o6/34/656134/1/71280283.buODpnJp.three.jpg

If I try to ride on exposed pavement, I'm in the highway. If I try to ride on the shoulder, I'm in deep snow/slush/ice hell. Worse yet, it's supposed to get cold again tomorrow. The whole episode took close to an hour.

I am going to scout different routes and maybe even drive my car on the shoulder to make a narrow lane for myself tomorrow morning. This blows as I really want to get some cardio in and really dislike indoor training but I will use a Nordic Track if I have to. I have been doing more weightlifting the past few days.

Any thoughts or suggestions from you experienced guys?

That "highway" (arterial?) looked feasible, if you were careful. Assuming it's legal for bikes, it looked like a reasonable alternative to the MUP...not much traffic (in your photo), good sight lines, and 2 lanes for the cars. If you use a mirror, you could ride the shoulder where it was plowed, and get out in the lane where it wasn't plowed.

I'd also complain to the city about their plowing on the highway, and ask the parks department if they could plow the MUP (some cities do this routinely).

I'd also recommend a good tail light, like the Planet Bike Superflash (http://www.biketiresdirect.com/productdetail.asp?p=PBBSF&tnum=4527919&c=6033715). I have two on my commuter (one on the seatpost, and one on the left seat stay). I run them on flash mode during my commutes, regardless of whether it's dark outside (they're daylight visible). Since I've mounted them, I've noticed cars give me a wider berth when passing and seem to notice me earlier.

There's no real answer to conditions that variable. I'd had some success on ice-footprint-covered MUPs on big mountain bikes with wide studded tires and soft suspension, but of course they are incredibly slow-moving everywhere else.

Which Nokian tires are those?

I did not ride in today, since I thought I'd face a similar situation. However, I noticed on my drive that they had plowed the MUP! So, I missed out. I still need winter tires, though.

I'd ask your parks department about that--it should be plowed. People need to walk dogs every day.

They are Nokian Hikkepelitta W106 700cc x 35. Unfortunately the highway is pretty busy and everytime I tried to bail out to the right I was fighting to stay upright. I really didn't want to fall out into the road in traffic (yikes).

Hah, it looks like you had a better excuse than I did. Here it was sunny and clear this morning. But I had a slight twinge in my left knee that was bothering me. So I decided to wimp out, or at least save my legs for another day and take the train. I am regretting it now a bit, since I am feeling a bit fidgety in front of the computer.

I did not ride in today, since I thought I'd face a similar situation. However, I noticed on my drive that they had plowed the MUP! So, I missed out. I still need winter tires, though.

I was surprised to see that the Cleveland Metroparks was right on clearing the MUPs, much better than the Cleveland road crews were on clearing side streets. Streets and paths this morning were pretty much clear except for some side streets. The snow yesterday however caught the crews off-guard and the ride in was tricky. Snow churned up by cars is very difficult to ride in as it provides very little traction. The Pugs did admirable though.
As for that unplowed frozen MUP. I think I could handle it with my Pugs. A wide agressive knobbie would have been better. And probably the best solution would have been an agressive studded knobbie. A 35mm studded tire just is not going to work in those conditions. I know I've tried.
Craig

Color, where is that? I go from Wauconda to Waukegan . Is that the libertyville path?

2) For those not in IL, I tried to call about the plowing and got a laughing response. I was told to get a 4 wheel drive car etc. I was kind of mad. If that's their attitude about the road I know and will bet you bike pink slips that there's no way in heck they will p;ow a MUP. This isn't MN.

Lots of people around here ride on arterials with narrow lanes and no shoulder every day. Sometimes it's not even too bad if traffic is light or so heavy it's at standstill or you're just used to it. Roads are almost always narrower in winter because of snow so you'll have to be out in the lane more often. It's perfectly legal and on the road in the picture there is a whole wide open left lane for the impatient ones to pass you, so I would've ridden on the pavement. But if you're not ready to do it, it may end up feeling worse than the worst nightmare you've ever had. Snow-covered and possibly slippery roads are far from ideal confidence-building traffic-riding ground.

I wouldn't have ridden on the shoulder. It just looks too dangerous, too easy to slip and fall into the traffic lane...

I may have tried x-country skiing on the MUP. :)

Now there are freakin mini ice craters everywhere. They stick up about 2-3" and have sharp frozen edges.

Sharp is right!
This happened in January on the same type of frozen/rutted footpath.

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/3884/kneekf4.jpg

They are Nokian Hikkepelitta W106 700cc x 35. Unfortunately the highway is pretty busy and everytime I tried to bail out to the right I was fighting to stay upright. I really didn't want to fall out into the road in traffic (yikes).

I would not bother trying to ride in snow/slush next to 65mph traffic. If I had to ride that road (i.e. no other alternatives with slower speed), I'd take my place in the middle of the lane and watch my back. If there are traffic lights at the intersection, you'd generally be dealing with packs of cars which is good and bad. It's good because if you can get the first car in right lane to slow, then the rest are forced to slow down as well. It's bad because packs will often drive fast and tight and if the first guy waits until the last second to change lanes at full speed, the guy behind him may not see you up ahead. I'd want to be standing on the pedals giving everyone the biggest view of me possible so that they know there is a slow moving vehicle to pass up ahead. What you need to convey to the motorists as they approach is that you have no intentions of moving over so they must slow down. It won't be peaceful but it's not impossible. It's still better than driving in my opinion :)

That's why I avoid MUP like the plague. Frozen mini craters from peds and horses are teh suk.

Wonk, South Barrington to Streamwood. Yes, they would laugh there arses off if I asked to have the MUP plowed.

Chephy - Normal roads, 45 and lower I don't mind too much, but 65 mph with little shoulders in dark and icy conditions ... not my cup of tea. I have two young daughters. When I can use the shoulders I do it all the time, but not without.

Packer ... Ouch. Man am I glad I didn't fall on one of those! Damn am I glad I bailed.

Joe - yea, it would probably work but I'm just not comfortable on the high speed roads.

Wonk, South Barrington to Streamwood. Yes, they would laugh there arses off if I asked to have the MUP plowed.

Sounds like you need a fat-tired mtb- with wide tires & a low gear, that path should be manageable.

If you go off to the side (away from the frozen footprints), things often get a lot easier.

I tried that but there was the similar crap even in the grass. Even the damn ski tracks were killing me.

Even the damn ski tracks were killing me.

That could explain why your MUP isn't plowed. I'm told that around here they're not plowed specifically because of the cross-country skiers.

Whenever they plow the MUPs around here they heavily salt them as well. Since these paths are in river valleys with numerous iron bridges, I've found that I've come out against any kind of winter maintanence. I'd rather detour until the snow is better packed than have bridges rust through (they are bad enough already) or have piles of rock salt in parks in the spring.

If they could stand to just plow them, that would be fine.

I'm riding the same tires in identical conditions, and I sympathize with the "keeping upright" challenge. The MUP to downtown Milwaukee is plowed religiously, a perk for paying one of the highest property taxes in the nation. Unfortunately, I don't work downtown.

The road is your best bet, unfortunately. The safest way to do the road you show is to get out in the right lane. My experience with Illinois drivers says that's not going to be an enjoyable ride. Are there some alternate routes that can get you there? Routes that would take twice as long in a car are often no difference on a bicycle. You might want to study a map of the area and see if residential roads connect you.

Good luck.

Chephy - Normal roads, 45 and lower I don't mind too much, but 65 mph with little shoulders in dark and icy conditions ... not my cup of tea. 65 mph??!! :eek: Jesus, I agree with you, I would've stayed off that road too, especially when one takes into account how fast the cars are really going there... There does come a point when people just overdrive their reaction time so to speak. I think the only roads in Ontario with a 65 mph limit (a little lower, in fact) are restricted-access highways. Outside of those, the limit is 50 mph tops. Sometimes less, even in the country.

I'd look for other routes if I were you. Since I started cycling seriously, I started making mental notes whenever I was on ANY road (this one would be great to ride on.. and this one - ugh, what a nightmare!..). Whenever I have a destination to which I go with some regularity, I really study the maps and try different routes noting traffic, hills, pavement condition, stop lights etc. Some routes I only ride once and forget like a bad dream, others become my favourite. :)

65 mph traffic with the possibility of black ice - yeah I wouldn't attempt that. IMHO it's asking for a problem...

They don't do any snow removal at all on the MUP trails where I live. They usually look like the picture you show for pretty much the whole winter. Better find a route to work on roads.

Constructive idea: Swap out the clipless pedals for platforms for the winter. When the bike goes down, you can land on your feet like a cat instead of crashing hard on the ground.

Pipe dream: My ultimate bad weather dream bike would be a Surly Pugsly. Float over all that crap.

This is why I avoid mups in the winter...too many damn ruts & craters, especially on onpaved MUPs like the O&E towpath. You need wider tires, running low pressure and with more studs...like the 240s with studs on the sides. As far as pedals, the winter bikes always run either M324's (spd on one side, platform on the other) or platforms with power grips.

Chephy, I really have a problem. I have to cross that highway somewhere and it is a mile or so either way to cross into the forest preserve MUP. If I have to avoid the MUP :(, I am on pretty busy highways for about 5 miles. Not great at all. My house is surrounded on the southern end by forest preserves and highways. :(

Squeeky + Chipcom, I hate switching to platforms as it completely destroys my stroke but I think you're right and I really should on my winter bike. I have a hard enough time forcing myself to push over the top and pull through the bottom and I hate having to retrain myself.

Sounds like the best answer is stick with the MUP. Use the fattest low pressure tires you can use. Swap the pedals for platforms.

PowerGrips are a little easier to get out of quick than clipless as long as you don't have too much of your foot through the strap. Last winter I used just platforms. I used PowerGrips this summer and am planning to stick with them through the winter on my bad weather bike.

Squeeky + Chipcom, I hate switching to platforms as it completely destroys my stroke but I think you're right and I really should on my winter bike. I have a hard enough time forcing myself to push over the top and pull through the bottom and I hate having to retrain myself.

powergrips on BMX platforms are great for the winter- they hold your feet securely in the pedals even for the pulling back portion of the stroke, but you can still flip them over and ride on the platforms alone when you think you might want to bail.

edit- squeakywheel beat me to it.

I'd suggest switching to platforms and learning how to slide one of your feet along the ground when needed. Sometimes, on a bumpy, icy downhill, I'll have both feet skimming over the surface. Lowering your saddle a bit helps with this.

It is counterintutive, but I have found that chewed-up MUP surfaces are easier to deal with if you try to keep your speed up. You go WHAP WHAP WHAP and may worry about shedding parts, but stability is much improved. I started using this technique toward the end of last winter, and am looking forward to conditions that will allow me to continue with it.

Paul

C
Squeeky + Chipcom, I hate switching to platforms as it completely destroys my stroke but I think you're right and I really should on my winter bike. I have a hard enough time forcing myself to push over the top and pull through the bottom and I hate having to retrain myself.

M324s have spds clips on one side and are platforms on the other. You can ride clipped in when the going is smooth and sure, then unclip and use the platforms when the going gets sketchy. I have M424s on a couple of my other bikes, which are double-sided spds with resin cages...the clips compress enough where I can use them fairly comfortably unclipped as well...though you sometimes end up clipped in unintentionally, which is why I prefer the 324s on the winter bike - nothing worse than thinking you are unclipped, only to find out otherwise at the most inoportune times!

M324s have spds clips on one side and are platforms on the other. You can ride clipped in when the going is smooth and sure, then unclip and use the platforms when the going gets sketchy. I have M424s on a couple of my other bikes, which are double-sided spds with resin cages...the clips compress enough where I can use them fairly comfortably unclipped as well...though you sometimes end up clipped in unintentionally, which is why I prefer the 324s on the winter bike - nothing worse than thinking you are unclipped, only to find out otherwise at the most inoportune times!

Your LBS might be able to provide you with some "clip in platforms". I think these were provided to bike shops to allow customers to test ride bikes with clipless pedals, when they're not wearing shoes with cleats.

Basically, it's just a plastic platform pedal that has a plastic cleat in the middle. You click the platform into your pedal, allowing for a platform on one side of your 424's.

The ones I've seen were for Shimano MTB pedals, but I would assume that other manufacturer's have similar systems.

maybe get some xc skis?

I really would rather not have to get another pair of shoes or to have to switch my cleats and I love my speedplays. I think the powergrips might be the ticket on my winter beater. Thanks guys.

ahpook ... I thought of that but I still have to cross a bunch of streets (like 20) and that would be a pain in the ...

I walk the bike back to the road (Feeling like a loser:() I get back on the highway (with both shoes fouled now) and head for home, reassesing if I can take busy roads to get to work but looking at fantastic plowing like this ... I say no way, live to fight again another day.

Any thoughts or suggestions from you experienced guys?

I'd like to mention something I learned in flying - you have to support a No-Go decision. You've got dependents and people counting on you, and you made an excellent call. Never second-guess a No-Go decision. You were adventurous to set out, you were wise to abort.

The old quote is: Superior pilots use their superior judgement to avoid using their superior skills.

you make me feel better. i had the same kind of terrain last week, with the differences of it not being quite that cold, and my scariest part was about 1600m of bridge with guardrails not-as-high-as-they-could-be instead of a highway. i 'rode' on the days that i went to work in the sense that i took my bike, but i felt like a wimp for the amount of trouble i had staying upright for three or four days, the amount of time i spent walking my bike, and the number of falls or near-falls i had. i guess i had the impression snow/studded tires were supposed to make all things possible, so i thought the problem was me. it wasn't easy, that's for sure.

Thanks for the support guys. I think I found another passable highway route but it is supposed to be 8F tomorrow. I have only ridden in the mid 20's so far and want to test my cold weather gear in progression (low 20's, teens, then single digits) and that is too big of a leap. Weather that cold can be dangerous and while I know how to dress for skiing in it, I don't have the cycling experience ... yet. (http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1728956)

You're wise to ease into the temp ranges. Today was 7F with -9F wind chill, and it is very dangerous. A day like that requires a bomb-proof ride, route, and gear IMO. You could get frost bite just waiting for help.

I think this kind of riding is hard, which makes it rewarding, very very rewarding! :)

Stay motivated, you'll find a way.

That's a typical MUP condition. The smaller tires won't do the job for the ice craters. I use studded Nokian 296's and 25 psi for that condition. Even wider and lower psi would be better. Frozen ice craters with no snow on top are not too bad if you go slow. But with deep powder it's hard to stay up for very long. That's just the reality of life. Platform pedals are a big help. They even let you control the traction better as less power is transmitted to the wheel.

When the ice is rutted and there is snow on top it can toss you five feet sideways into traffic in a fraction of a second. Especially with those small tires. Don't ride next to traffic of any kind.

If you are really determined to ride that condition on the MUP get double wide snow rims run 10 psi and Freddy's revenge Nokians. In other words, get a new bike start from scratch.

I predrove the route I intended to take tomorrow (my only option besides the MUP) and it is lousy. No shoulder to work with and a curb to boot so I can't even bail out (without taking a dive) if needed. I think I'm screwed until we get a thaw.

I will just ride around my neighborhood in order to try to get some miles.

I'd also complain to the city about their plowing on the highway, and ask the parks department if they could plow the MUP (some cities do this routinely).
+1. I have asked authorities to clean shoulders for me, and with good results. You just need to be persistent, don't take "No" for an answer.

With one road, I called the county and asked them to clean the shoulder of a road that had a lot of gravel on it. They told me it wasn't their responsibility, and I should talk to the state highway authority. I called the state people, and they took me seriously until I told them I was riding a bike and wanted the SHOULDER cleaned. They said the shoulder/bike lane was a "low priority." I told them I rode on it twice every day and conditions were unsafe, and that I lived nearby and paid my taxes. They said they'd try to get it swept within a couple of weeks, and I got the guy's name who I talked to. A week later, the road was swept :)

It might be a bit harder in the winter around here, since they never have enough snowplows. But in Chicago, that shouldn't be an excuse and they should be able to tell the plow drivers to take an extra pass to clean the shoulder.

The fact is that you're a first-class user of the roads and the road authorities should make the snowplows work for you as well as motorists. Good luck!

They have now (finally ... almost a week later) cleaned the shoulders on the main highway but the other highway has a curb on it and I really don't want to take the risk.

Chephy, I really have a problem. I have to cross that highway somewhere and it is a mile or so either way to cross into the forest preserve MUP. If I have to avoid the MUP :(, I am on pretty busy highways for about 5 miles. Not great at all. My house is surrounded on the southern end by forest preserves and highways. :( Crap. :( Maybe you could phone to whoever's responsible for snow removal and ask them to plow the shoulders as well. As someone else mentioned, even if they think it's not worth doing for one winter cyclist, people have to walk too. And, you know, vehicles pull over there sometimes if they have to stop, and emergency vehicles use shoulders to get places. Shoulders are functional and are part of the roadway.

You could team up with an advocacy group if they exist in your area. If you're lucky, maybe there is even a cycling division in the municipality planning depratment. You'll make a stronger case if you can get more people and/or some (semi-)official body to support you.

Or you could try the MUP with superwide underinflated tires, if you would enjoy that sort of challenge. :)

Or just don't ride at all. Gotta be wise about the choices you make. And don't feel bad about being wise. Feel good. :)

Given that it's Chicago, the OP has two possible courses of action:

1) The High Road
Call the appropriate authorities, write a letter to the editor, etc. The shoulder might get plowed in time for the spring thaw.

2) Chicago Style
Slip your local alderman $100 (and imply there's more where that came from). The shoulder will get plowed within 24 hours. :D

These would be best for the MUP in those conditions.



http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/918/snowcat1pm9.jpg
http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/8562/snowcat2zk0.jpg
http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/9051/customwheelsxs6.jpg

2many OMG!!! I've never seen that. It's like a fricken tractor! Wow. :)

Hell, if you pedal fast enough I'll bet you can cross small lakes.

2many OMG!!! I've never seen that. It's like a fricken tractor! Wow. :)

Hell, if you pedal fast enough I'll bet you can forde small lakes.

:lol: I think I would be tempted to try !

5 to 12 psi helps it spread out too. It really does help the handling on ice and snow. Go to "Icebike" for lots of good winter riding tips. More about these wheels, tires, clothing, etc. etc.

Here are tires like mine and a normal MTB rim like mine, compared to the same size tire mounted on the wide rim. You can see the shoulders pushed out to make better contact and the outside studs more on the ice.

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/720/nonsnowcatslp3.jpg
http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/8562/snowcat2zk0.jpg

A little late to the party but, the same thing happened to me last Thursday. I got about 3km out and then I hit the deep snow. I couldn't go any further unless I was on the highway(80kph). The only option I had was to turn around, go home and wake up the family (2 kids, 7yrs and 2yrs). There was nothing else I could do.

I did call my city councillor when I got to work and complained about the plowing. It was done by the next morning but it was probably just a coincidence.

Stay upright
Winnipeg, Canada
+3C Friday (35F) WOOHOO!

Given that it's Chicago, the OP has two possible courses of action:

1) The High Road
Call the appropriate authorities, write a letter to the editor, etc. The shoulder might get plowed in time for the spring thaw.

2) Chicago Style
Slip your local alderman $100 (and imply there's more where that came from). The shoulder will get plowed within 24 hours. :D It's kind of a shame. The city is famous for its broad shoulders and they won't plow them.

The people who traveled on the MUP before it got cold stomped through the deep snow and slush. Then it got cold. Now there are freakin mini ice craters everywhere.


:D I love the "freaking mini ice craters" - I've had the same problem on a smaller scale twice.

Well yesterday our MUP was idealy suited to your 700c studded tires while my extra wide knobbies made for a tricky ride.
It seems the Metroparks decided to plow the paths yesterday during the lake effect snow. The ground was still a little warm so the light snow that followed just melted. By the time I left work the temp had dropped to 23F and the path was a sheet of ice from edge to edge. I didn't realize this until I attempted to turn on to the clear path and immediately went down. Luckily there is a small amount of grass covered in 4" of snow bordering the path that provided great traction. However if I had been riding with studded tires the path would have been much quicker.
Craig

^^ Studded endomorphs, perhaps?




At the end of this process we're going to have bikes that can't be ridden on dry pavement.

This is why I avoid mups in the winter...too many damn ruts & craters, especially on onpaved MUPs like the O&E towpath. You need wider tires, running low pressure and with more studs...like the 240s with studs on the sides. As far as pedals, the winter bikes always run either M324's (spd on one side, platform on the other) or platforms with power grips.

+1 on the M324's. they're great.

ColorChange, I really admire you bicycling despite the really terrible conditions. You are a bicycle hero. Bicycling on a 65 MPH highway, riding on absolutely crappy ice roads - Man!

Anybody in LA who says they can't bicycle for some pansy reason needs to see what a tough Chicagoan is willing to go through to bicycle commute.