Warm Spring day brings out the fair weather commuters
03-26-17, 08:04 AM
#26
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When I bike to work in the morning, it's rare to see commuters. Although I'm out very early to get to work by 630, so that may have something to do with it. If I see any cyclists, they are recreational. Rich north shore folk riding their ultra light weight $3000 bikes. They only come out in the spring/summer/early fall.
On my way home, though, I see many more practical cyclists, going home from school or work. While it's a little annoying to deal with all the fair weather folk, I have to figure that if they didn't exist, there wouldn't be as many bicycle accommodations as there are currently. (I'm on the north side of Chicago and work in the north suburbs.)
On my way home, though, I see many more practical cyclists, going home from school or work. While it's a little annoying to deal with all the fair weather folk, I have to figure that if they didn't exist, there wouldn't be as many bicycle accommodations as there are currently. (I'm on the north side of Chicago and work in the north suburbs.)
03-26-17, 08:17 AM
#27
Senior Member
We're in a cold snap, and it's likely the last of the year. I skipped it yesterday but I braved it today. The wind was still, but it felt like I had a headwind. I stopped a few times to see if it was an illusion, and it was. It was just so cold on my face.
Do cold temperatures make the effort harder? I felt like I was pedaling hard, but my readouts told me otherwise.
I took the hard route with a tiny bit more distance but a ton more climbing. I see one of my grades is 12.9%, though not for long. Man, the Bronx is a hilly place. I did manage to keep moving and not stop on any of the climbs, so that's something. Steep climbs are at least as much a balancing challenge as they are a power challenge.
My tracks and pictures this morning
The bike commuters I saw were wearing clothes that showed they put a lot of thought into them, as I had with mine.
Do cold temperatures make the effort harder? I felt like I was pedaling hard, but my readouts told me otherwise.
I took the hard route with a tiny bit more distance but a ton more climbing. I see one of my grades is 12.9%, though not for long. Man, the Bronx is a hilly place. I did manage to keep moving and not stop on any of the climbs, so that's something. Steep climbs are at least as much a balancing challenge as they are a power challenge.
My tracks and pictures this morning
The bike commuters I saw were wearing clothes that showed they put a lot of thought into them, as I had with mine.
03-26-17, 08:39 AM
#28
aka Tom Reingold
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That makes some sense, but it doesn't add up for me with this week's rides in the cold. I pushed myself pretty hard, and my results weren't very good. Maybe the little bit of resistance that clothing adds to the joints adds up?
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
