Congratulations!

It always takes a while to get the optimum route figured out. Many of the best bike routes may not even be on the map. Keep going.

I didn't see this post before.

Anyway, I'm home now. I tried to go straight from Adams to Wells but, much to my chagrin, Wells is a one-way street in the wrong direction at Adams. I doubled back and took La Salle for a mile or so, including a nice nerve-racking ride across the metal grating of the bridge while sandwiched directly between 2 cars. Eventually I crossed over a cul-de-sac in a very sloppy fashion and got on Wells, took that to Lincoln, and then to Damen. Observations from the return:

•Loose khakis and knit boxers aren't very good biking clothes.

•I really need a rack ASAP. My lower back was very upset.

•The commute seems to go faster when you spend half of it tailgating a pretty young lass.

•I can't jump curbs very well. Front wheel is no problem, rear wheel takes a brutal beating.

And a question for the Chicagoans: at what intersection does Wells become a 2-way street?

[QUOTE=destro713;5466487]•The commute seems to go faster when you spend half of it tailgating a pretty young lass.QUOTE]

Posts with statements such as this are really not acceptable...without pics!

Seriously, sounds like you're completely converted to cycle-commuting. Your posts re the process you've gone through have been enlightening, funny and thoughtful. Thanks alot. Would like to help w/your routing as I started out cycle-commuting in Chicago, but it's been years. I DO remember using Lincoln during high-traffic times(rush hour) and Clark at night. I remember my flat-rate decreased substantially when going from a road bike to an mtb, so you may want to keep that in mind. Mtb's are more nimble in traffic situations than roadies, too. Also, a Delta Universal Rack is sturdy and around 30-35.00. Keep going!

Nice to see that you didn't go down Wells the wrong way. My number one pet peeve is cyclists ignoring traffic laws.
I obviously forgot to mention that Wells is a one-way street. It turns two-way north of Erie. I wouldn't take Lasalle (for all the reasons you describe). Better alternatives maybe Dearborn or Franklin. But as other people have mentioned, in a week or so you will have found a better route. And while doing it, you learn to see your city in a whole new way

For a rack, look at Performance on Halsted and Diversey. They have a Transit rack. Currently sale for $19.99. They also tend to have a good selection of affordable gloves. Before you throw down any money, make sure your bike has eyelets on the frame near the rear hub as well as eyelets on the seatstay. That makes installation a breeze

Duppie

destro,

I'm not trying to be jerk here, but google maps, https://maps.google.com/, will show you all the streets and if they are one-way or not. I used it a lot to map out my routes. Another real cool tool I use to map distance is https://runningmap.com/. It allows you plot out your path to see the exact distance. Good luck on your commuting. How about the weather we're having here in mid-October ?!? It's wonderful.

that was funny!!

the OP seriously makes me wish i lived in chicago. one of my favorite all time cities.

Today I took Damen to Lincoln to Wells to Monroe to Michigan. Way, way better. On the back I'll probably start out on Dearborn and cross over to Wells at Chicago.

This back sweat stuff is getting annoying. I'll probably swing by Performance tonight, if I can make it while they're still open, to get that $20 rack.

Sure, the mid-October weather is amazing, but we're going to pay for it when we have sub-zero temperatures in late April.

+1! Same sh1t happened to me. Now I commute on a fixie year 'round!

Welcome and cheers!

I don't see myself going fixed anytime soon. I'm a city boy with no interest in track riding, and being able to coast is a huge help when you're splitting traffic and such. I might consider a single-speed for my third bike but a geared utilitarian bike and a geared speed bike come first. So far I only have one of those two, and it isn't complete yet, so I have a way's to go.

I picked up one of those racks and a pair of half-finger gloves for cheapo prices at Performance, and it was raining when I left the store. I fishtailed at a stoplight on the way home, popped the chain off the cog in the process, and nearly ate asphalt. Fun. I took the rest of the ride at a molasses pace.

Woohoo! Sounds like you are having all the fun! You keep at it. Your mind and body will adapt. You will shed fat, gain muscle, and your cardiovascular system will improve. Be prepared to buy smaller pants! I've got a stack of them that are too big now.

You are educating yourself and making great decisions. It won't be long before you have your gear, clothing & bicycle(s) set up just right. You will be a veteran, bad ass bicycle commuter.

Of course, unpleasant things will happen. Automotive idiots, moronic pedestrians, things that will scare you and/or even hurt you. Like bike2math got freaked when brainless teenagers drove right at him. Maybe that is why some of us ride so hard. It is harder to be scared when you are sucking wind and pushing yourself to ride faster.

You rock man.

Congratulations. Don't worry it gets a lot easier. On my first commute I had to get off the bike and push it up one hill.

I think that's because you missed Bunny Hopping 101, which kids usually learn at around age 12.

What about the width of handlebars and filtering?

Do messengers prefer MTBs? I prefer a MTB on all roads but I'm a noob.

Well.... that is completely contrary to the majority of opinions in my experience. However, this question tends to degenerate into bickering and what not.
Oh and 95% of the messengers around here ride old road bikes setup as fixies.

Unless you learned to ride on Stingrays in the 60s and early 70s.

Kinda true, although I think my Roadmaster still had ape hangers and a banana seat when I started trying to launch myself.

Sure got easier after switching to BMX bars & seat, though.

Today I made my first nonstop Damen>Lincoln>Wells>Monroe>Michigan run during actual rush hour. It was faster, flatter and much nicer than Elston but MAN, I hate drivers. I almost lost my traction coming to an emergency skidding halt in the middle of an intersection when some mouthbreather blew through a stop sign. I gave him the evil eye.

And I got honked at by a car that was a good 2 feet to the left of me, when we were moving at about 3MPH through an intersection after a red light. Bunch of dickheads in this town.

I carried my laptop in a relatively unpadded Eagle Creek daybag strapped to my rack. It did the job but I should probably get something more secure.

Also, I hate cab drivers and the lazy saps who give them money.

And then there are the bikers, who do things like smile at me and wave me through to pass them.

Two things about cars: be careful of them, especially at intersections and learn to use them, particularly at intersections. Learn to read peds too, both the ones jaywalking in front of you and the ones jaywalking with you. They alert you to when the coast is clear.

Sorry if I missed this, but why aren't you riding on the Lake? (Insert joke about riding on water here)

I used to ride from Chicago downtown to Diversey all the time this way. It gets crazy busy during the summer, sure, but this time of year it is less congested. Plus you'll be out there with all the beautiful people. Plenty to look at.

I live far enough west that it's a slight hassle to actually get over to the lake. Plus, the lake is so obvious. It's the "path" of least resistance. I'm trying to make the most of what's left of the biking season so getting adept at actual street routes is more beneficial to me at this point, I think.

Also, the lake path is filled with people in superhero costumes on 10 pound bikes trying to pass me at 100MPH. In a way those people are even more nerve-racking than drivers. On the streets, the bikers are all people like me, not biking so aggressively.

Huh. My experience is that polyester does not breathe, and makes a person reek. I have avoided it like the plague for a long time. Wool is itchy, and probably way too warm. Of course, I don't like either fabric so I have not used them in decades.

I guess that would be the case if you were considering Elston. I was focused on Damen and Argyle. We lived a few blocks from Diversey and Halsted.

As for the lake, I was riding back and forth, chugging along on a hybrid in decidedly non-superhero attire. Actually, I was just wearing what I wore to work. I would think it would be too crowded, curvy, and irregularly surfaced for the hammerheads.

First, let me say that many new polyesters are designed to be breathable and are for the most part. The cheap ones are not, but the better ones are. All polyesters I've tried, even the anti-microbial treated ones, do get stinkier than natural fibers like wool, silk, cotton or hemp though.

But wool! Itchy? Too warm? A thin wool t-shirt is my favorite warm weather bike shirt unless the temperature rises above 80 degrees in which case I move to a polyester mesh. In fall, wool is great and layering a few wool items that can be tossed in a bar bag or pannier can allow for riding in conditions from just above freezing up to 80 or so if you have rain gear to use for a top layer in rain or sleet.

Wool rocks. Merino Wool! Do not use a heavier weight directly on the skin. Shetland for example, is great for a second layer but not on the skin. Wool shirt. Wool sweater. Wool socks. It's the miracle material. Stinks less than anything, Wicks better than cotton. Feels good on the skin.