Chicagoans
 

One day's worth of biking throughout Chicago and I've got two questions:
Is it always this damn windy? Seriously?
Also, how do you deal with all the **** flying around. I was blinking like crazy trying not to go blind.
Thanks in advance!

yes and no

googles/glasses

welcome to the windy city. today, though, was a bit on the extreme side. 45 mph winds. high wind advisory: http://murl.se/25561

headwinds: get low into the drops
tailwinds: enjoy
side winds: be careful

I rode 60 miles in that **** today (messenger). With all the wind and my frame breaking (long story) it was not a good day.

i heard if you have an aerospoke you might fly away when a wind blows.

The whole deal with going through an intersection and getting a 30mph blast towards either traffic or a parked cab was quite a good time. The headwinds weren't horrible, as in I could at least do something. The crosswinds were killing me though.

Crosswinds are more difficult for me than headwinds. I am but a lowly commuter and I took side streets on the way home from work to get away from some of today's hot onslaught.

Earlier this year, I remember flying north on Damen then turning onto Milwaukee going NW during a windy rainstorm. As I entered the intersection, I was blown sideways so hard I ended up on the sidewalk and nearly taking out someone about to cross the street. It was an amazing feeling.

Twas pretty rough here today too, btw. hot and windy.

Ah, those were the days (former Chicagoan). It's not enough of a challenge riding around Chi-town, so the wind just dials it up a notch. All part of the experience. :D

this is very un-chicago weather. the wind is due to a storm that's just about to pounce. we're expecting 80-90mph winds, thunder, rain, hail, and isolated tornados.

it's often more still than it is windy.

In all seriousness, growing up I never understood why chicago was the windy city, as it seemed like Minnesota, and the twin cities, were windier.

Who knows though, right?

chicago's windy city myth link

come ride wyoming if you like wind. roadies do not go out after 8:30 a.m. in the summer. murderers have pled the wind drove me crazy insanity pleas here.

Today was nasty. My headwind commute (morning) was the worst, but in the evening I was pushin 40 on the flats and about shat myself sans break...good times...

Why would anyone want to go to wyoming?
Not trying to be a dick, but seriously.

I've been to montana, and despite beutiful land and great fly fishing/mountains, I couldn't stand to live there.

I understand your question. I've lived in New York, Tokyo, Boston, Madison, San Francisco. People drive through the high plains and get the impression that there's nothing out here. After you've been here a while you realize how far from the truth that is.

I wouldn't say nothing, but for my interests, and even as much as I love "outdoorsy" type things, I'm way too into being in the city for that.

Maybe when(if) I'm old, I'll buy a ranch somewhere in the middle of nowhere, grow a bunch of pot, and fly fish all day.

Better start saving.

By the way -

'outdoorsy' is to wyoming as 'artsy fartsy' is to manhattan.

Start there if you really want to wrap your head around it.

to bring derailled thread slightly back on topic, i am going to chicago on the 22nd through the 24th, anything i should check out?

i am talking more like sweet restaurants, bars, neighborhoods, events going on that weekend, not so much bike stuff really

velo city is on the 22 and 23. da ali g cat on the evening of the 22nd meet @ lower grand under michigan @ 6:30. bus takes us up to kenosha all day on the 23. rush and canal st be there @ 8:30 sharp. (it's all free).

http://cyclehawk.com/velocity/

http://myspace.com/velocitychicago07

ooh thanks. do you know if the velodrome has rentals?

i dont think so. the velodromes around here are all part of the local park districts. i believe turn bicycles in chicago does rentals though. you might consider making an account over at chifg.com and asking if anyone would have an extra bike you could borrow.