I'm usually a lurker, but I thought I'd share today.

I rode in for the first time since before Thanksgiving. I had taken my commuter down to the basement and bolted it up to the trainer for the winter. But I got a little stir crazy down there. So I ordered up some 27 in knobby tires and took the old green monster off the garage wall. Its a five speed Chicago-built Schwinn Suburban with drop bars that I bought as a city bike, when I actually lived in the city.

So I put the knobby tires on to deal with the snow and slush, but my fenders won't fit with the knobbies. Too bad, I guess. Today's ride in was a blast most of the way. A big heavy tank like that on big tires-super smooth compared to the 700C-23 I spent most of the summer on. I had forgotten how much I liked that bike. Anyway, the first 10 miles were great, just a dusting of light snow. The last five were on Halsted in Chicago. You have no idea how much salt Chicago puts on its streets until you try to ride a bike through it. Come on, I've ridden on crushed limestone paths that were easier rolling that that.

Walter