Crash on my morning ride - scared now

[chicagogal]

I bike the NBT a lot and love it. I take Lawrence to elston to the NBT and also feel safer on Lawrence than on the LFP. But before work, there just isn't time for that ride. I live just off LSD, and before work the lakefront is really the only feasible option. Really early in the morning on week days when the tourists and kids haven't come out yet, the ride is usually doable, and especially pleasant south of the shedd aquarium. (This is unlike weekends when I wouldn't dare venture onto the LFP.) But now, I just don't know. . .

[tab123]

Chicagogal,

I have seen many collisions and near collisions on the path. Like you I live on the lakefront and this is really the only place to ride.

I did my morning ride along the Chicago lakefront path today. As usual I left my house at 5 a.m. and was back a little after 7:00 a.m. To be on the path any later is no fun on a summer weekend. Friends from New York City have said that biking in Central Park is like being in the country compared to the Chicago lakefront path.

The source of most of my frustration is the ever-expanding running groups training for the marathon. These groups are oblivious to anyone around them, and the individuals act like sheep, following their leader without looking and running three or four abreast. (I am finished riding before most of the fun runs, charity walks, etc. start so those do not usually affect me.)

To really enjoy biking in Chicago, you have to be willing to ride in the winter. Despite the awards Chicago is not a bike friendly city.

[chicagogal]

Winter riding in Chicago is so amazingly hard-core! How do you not freeze to death? Or skid on black ice? (seriously, I'm asking.) I just couldn't do it, although I wish I could. I miss riding so much in the winter, but since I am the type to dread running through the cold from the car to the grocery store in the winter, and thereby put off shopping until it is clear I will starve to death, winter riding just so wouldn't work for me!

Oh, and if you were out there on the lakefront today at 5am, I know you "chose" to cycle in the rain, so again, hard-core. I, on the other hand, decided to forgo riding in the rain, and went to spinning class instead. Tomorrow, even though it will be hot as heck, it at least won't be raining, so I'll get a ride in then - maybe on the north branch trail . . .

[tongue_tied]

The Lakeshore path is just jammed with people - most not paying attention. Lots of tourists, too, sightseers and the like, tiny dogs on those ridiculous retractable leashes. It seems like 90% of people on the Lakeshore are wearing headphones, running totally oblivious to their surroundings. I totally understand your reluctance to bike the Lake. It's really prettyI feel much more safe biking down Lawrence than I do at the Lakeshore.

Is there any way you can get out to the North Branch Trail for your morning ride? I ride all the Chicago trails and the NBT is by far my favorite. It's nicely paved, quiet, and not crowded. Or even the North Shore Channel Trail? It's usually pretty quiet during the week, especially in the early morning.

I concur!

[Andrea]

What are the roads like in your area? I generally stay off of MUTs (or just use them as a connector between roads) for that very reason.

[alpinerabbit]

I don't know how well they'll work on a smooth path, but for MTBing, a bear bell has been recommended to me.

http://kanyonkris.blogspot.com/2008/...gle-bears.html
or
http://www.coghlans.com/images/productBig/481.jpg

This was designed to keep away the furry creatures with an option of being silenced with an attached magnet, but it works with pedestrians too.

[Geonz]

Hmmm... if pedestrians ignore or turn left... I would change what I say. 'Round here I *know* people don't have the "on your left" cultural training -- many are English as second or ninth language (lots of students), so I'm about "good mornign!" or singing something.... but basically , I avoid paths if I want to ride steadily. If that's the way I've gotta go, then I figure I"ll average 7 mph.

I have an airzounds horn and need to replace my bear bell... the latter does work reasonably well with pedestrians and I jus thave it on my top tube and knock it about with my knees. I've long planned to hook up an MP3 player with speakers and do sound effects (when my brakes were uber-squeaky I had *no* trouble getting people or squirrels to pay attention).

Winter riding is about gear (and gradually getting it and gradually trying colder and colder) and layers and studded tyres. There are sites devoted to it and some great www.bikejournal.com forum threads about it.

[OakLeaf]

Sue, how does the airzounds horn work? Is it easy to pump up, does it hold a charge from one day to the next or need re-inflated every day, how many blasts is it good for?