I've hit the metaphorical wall with snow. I am so tired of biking in snow. On Sunday a couple of fresh inches fell on top of last week's 20 inches. Yesterday I biked to work, as usual, and while the total lack of bike lanes (filled with more parked cars than snow now) was annoying, the morning commute was okay.
But the commute home was a bear. It was not supposed to snow yesterday evening! Not. Snow. No. More. Once I noticed the heavy flakes falling fast outside the office window, I actually go...
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Yesterday I posted pictures I took while playing in the blizzard and I mentioned my bike ride the day after the storm. Here is a detailed account of that ride and a look at the blizzard's not-so-pretty aftermath.
After pulling Oma out of the garage and into the alley, I began doubting my decision to ride my bike one day after 20 inches of snow poured down on Chicago.
The condition of the first street I came upon did not increase my self-confidence.
However, I had a plan to take arterial streets that...
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Starting Tuesday evening, 20 inches of snow fell in 24 hours. Here's what it looked like yesterday:
My work closed yesterday and today - I didn't know Chicago ever had snow days! By this afternoon, I was itching to get out of the house and do something. This was my agenda:
Movie theater to watch Blue Valentine
Thrift store where I scored a beige jersey dress with two big horses printed on the skirt
Record store to look for the new Decembrists on vinyl (no luck)
Bookstore ...
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My Hyggelig, one of my favorite blogs that is celebrating its 4th birthday today, has been publishing a series on creative female bike bloggers in the month of January, and yesterday featured an interview with me. I suggest that you head over there and check out the other features on Kara of Knitting Lemonade, LC of Naturally Cycling: Manchester, and Meli of Bikes and the City, a truly inspirational group!
Commuting update: Yesterday I biked to work wearing a pinstripe pants suit with a white puffy down ve...
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My love for Chicago is largely based on bike-ability and access to culture. I try to take advantage of these as much as possible and, as a result, my favorite activity is cycling to see a play at the Shakespeare Theater at Navy Pier. This always makes for a lovely Saturday: 12 miles of bicycling, a stop at the bar for a bourbon, and an imaginative and original Shakespeare production.
On this particular Saturday, going to see As You Like It, the Chicago weather was on my side: a temperature of 32 de...
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On a winter night, cycling along Chicago's Lakefront Trail feels like embarking on a strange expedition, a la Labyrinth. Some areas are totally blocked off due to overwhelming ice accumulation, forcing bikes onto nearby dirt paths or streets; some areas have massive chunks of pavement missing, pulled out by the force of lake waves; some areas are especially dark and foggy, eerie as you look out to the blackness of the horizon. If I listen to David Bowie on my iPod as I ride along, the only effects missing are grote...
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Because of the icy weather, I have not been riding Coco, my Velorbis Studine Balloon, as much as I desperately want to, choosing instead my studded-tire bike. I can count the substantial rides I've taken with her on one hand - not enough for a real review, but enough to talk a bit here and there as I get to know her better.
After my first work commute with Coco a couple of weeks ago, I talked about her ride. In that post, I mentioned how Coco's geometry is different from Oma's, even though the two look like si...
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I did it! I biked to work 10 miles roundtrip with temperatures as low as -4F and a windchill as low as -20F. As far as I'm concerned, any of you could do the same - and I know some of you have already. All it takes is a positive attitude, an adventurous spirit and a few extra accessories. If you put the time into preparation and hype yourself up enough to pull your bike out, everything else should be a piece of cake.
My ride felt similar to any other cold winter ride I've experienced this winter. The...
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The ride home today was cold, a dry and bitter 15 degrees. Nothing compared to the cold expected for tomorrow morning, though. -4 to be exact. That's -4 fahrenheit, -20 celsius.
The headline on the Chicago Tribune today:
An arctic cold blast from Siberia will barrel through the Chicago area tonight, driving temperatures below zero for the first time in a year and creating dangerous wind chills that could hit nearly 30 below.
Alright, team - who's gonna ride their bikes with me tomorrow? ...
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As winter glides along, I continue to enjoy the beauty of the snow and the invigorating freshness of the cold air. One thing that begins to feel oppressive about the season, however, is the heft of my usual winter wear. As I wrap the same wool scarf around my neck, pull the same clomping snow boots on, and zip the same puffy vest up for the hundredth time, I heave a bitter sigh. That's when I know it's time to get creative.
If you're getting tired of all the bulky accessories that go with winter ...
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