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09-13-09, 07:54 PM
So, last year I began commuting 35" each way to work. We have showers and a bike rack out front. Here are some observations that I thought I would share:
Within 1 month of riding, my brand new KHS Urban XL was stolen from in front of my office building in downtown Chicago
Within three months I had dropped an enormous amount of weight and bulked up my legs
By winter, I was seriously looking forward to my first snowstorm; I got several
The scariest thing that has happened did not involve a cab/other car, etc. The lakefront path was frozen over from crashing waves and I seriously thought I was going into the drink and not coming back
When I left my house at 6:30am in sub zero weather, I began questioning myself; each and every ride was worth it
Chains need to be replaced every month or so in winter (I do not have a heated garage; no maintenance was done by me all winter save chain replacement)
Amber lenses on safety glasses were my best mood-affector; warm gloves the second. My thumbs regularly went numb
I wore tennis shoes all winter (yes, the runner type with mesh); I sprayed the fronts with silicone sealant to cut down on the wind; still had frozen toes
I wore two Patagonia zipper shirts, one Arcteryx outer shell and an extra outer shell on every cold day; I sweated so much I was drenched-this year I wear less
I wore a balaclava; it was a mess
I miss that first snowstorm riding back along the lakefront; I cannot wait to do it again
See you all on the paths next year.
Signed,
A former mountain biking fanatic-turned city slicker on bike commuter in Chicago
Within 1 month of riding, my brand new KHS Urban XL was stolen from in front of my office building in downtown Chicago
Within three months I had dropped an enormous amount of weight and bulked up my legs
By winter, I was seriously looking forward to my first snowstorm; I got several
The scariest thing that has happened did not involve a cab/other car, etc. The lakefront path was frozen over from crashing waves and I seriously thought I was going into the drink and not coming back
When I left my house at 6:30am in sub zero weather, I began questioning myself; each and every ride was worth it
Chains need to be replaced every month or so in winter (I do not have a heated garage; no maintenance was done by me all winter save chain replacement)
Amber lenses on safety glasses were my best mood-affector; warm gloves the second. My thumbs regularly went numb
I wore tennis shoes all winter (yes, the runner type with mesh); I sprayed the fronts with silicone sealant to cut down on the wind; still had frozen toes
I wore two Patagonia zipper shirts, one Arcteryx outer shell and an extra outer shell on every cold day; I sweated so much I was drenched-this year I wear less
I wore a balaclava; it was a mess
I miss that first snowstorm riding back along the lakefront; I cannot wait to do it again
See you all on the paths next year.
Signed,
A former mountain biking fanatic-turned city slicker on bike commuter in Chicago