Great Lakes - Holiday Rides

OK, got a couple desperately needed rides. We've hosted far too many parties this holiday season and I've officially entered blimpdom. :(

Went for a ride yesterday and thought of taking a Cervelo. Wise choice not to as I fell pretty hard on my commuter trying to cross an iced area. Then a little further in the ride I come across this.

http://www.pbase.com/image/107561988/original.jpg


Then, on the way into work this morning I come across a flooded area. Thought the ice could hold me. Thought wrong!


http://www.pbase.com/image/107562087/original.jpg


It started OK and then 5 feet or so in I started hearing cracks so I gently accelerated. Then ... crunch and I broke through. It was about 6" deep and I was standing straight up, but not moving. I put my feet down to try to pull the bike out and ... crunch ... sploosh. Two soaked feet and I wasn't wearing my warm waterproof boots but my North Face apres ski "sneakers".

Soaked and cold, and only 2 miles into a 6.4 mile commute. Feet were real cold but no frostbite by the time I finally got to work.

Hope you find it more entertaining than I did. :bang:

Wow that blows. I don't know what I would have done. Can't win any way you look at it. Walk the bike to the road maybe?

Not to be a wise guy as I enjoy a good adventure as much as the next ... but just how thick did you think the ice was?

:innocent:

You should of walked the bike or backtracked to the nearest dry spot and got on the road til you've cleared the hazard.

After the big flooding we had last summer, I looked at the high water marks left on bushes next to the then flooded road I was going to ride through ... FOUR FEET !! :eek:

Knowing now, after watching the 'crossers ride through the river at Whitewater, WI, anything near hub deep is a no-go. :p

You are not going to believe this (or sadly you might).


I DID IT AGAIN ON THE WAY HOME!


So it's warm all day. On the way home I get to the same point and it's now 3x bigger. I can't ride around it and get by anymore so I take a closer look. Ahhhh it looks melted so I can just ride through. (yea right!)

So off I go, ride through water, then thin ice ... getting thicker. Uh oh, I'm not even 1/4 the way through. Big time sprint acceleration (for me anyway :(), and the ice is getting very thick. Starting to slow a lot no matter how hard I am pedaling. Oh no ... stopping and almost fell on my side in over 8" of water.

How could I be anymore stupider???


The bright side, I was only a mile or so from home and only put 1 leg down so I'm learning something ... I think.

Patester, the road I would have to ride on is Barrington Road at night during rush hour. If you have ever been on it, you wouldn't want to do that.

PS,

I drove today.

:cry:

How could I be anymore stupider???

:deadhorse: