Now that O'Hare Airport security officials in Terminal 1 are officially using radiological body scanning as part of their screening process, it got me to thinking... what might this technology see in the anatomy of a bike commuter?

Photo: AP

Firstly, the skull would give almost no reading at all.  This is because we bike commuters are all stubborn and hard-headed; nearly-idiotic in our devotion to this transportation method.  For most of us, the time spent on the bike is the only time when our thoughts make sense, and where we do our best brainstorming.  It takes more than a few inches of snow/sleet to force us to bust out our 10-ride Metra pass.

If the scan had the ability to retreive data from our circulatory and cardio vascular systems, it might be suitably impressed.  That's because cycling to work automatically wedges into your schedule 2 major cardio sessions per day.  It's common sense that this routine decreases ones chance of a stroke/heart attack, and it also keeps cholesterol, blood clots and high blood pressure at bay.  All I know is that during my most recent physical, after biking to work for 6 months, my blood pressure registered so low it was borderline corpse-like.

The scan may also register countless scars, bruises, and other unsightly dermal relics from the daily routine.  My left elbow will never be the same after one particularly humiliating topple in front of the yipsters at the Lincoln Park Whole Foods (dang you vintage streetcar tracks!@!!).  In addition to some very legit wipeouts, like the time in Wisconsin when I was mashing up a hill and somehow the derailer popped off my retro (read = rickety) Bianchi; I have bruises and bumps from losing my balance while leaving my condo's driveway.  Freak accidents, and God forbid, more serious ones, happen all the time on the bike.

Guess that's why you've got to have a hard head and a lot of heart. 

About two months ago, Chicago's Very Own (at least for the rest of this season) Oprah Winfrey recently devoted an episode to safety, or the lack-there-of when it comes to Americans and our cell phone habits while behind the wheel.  My Aunt Shirley was one of O's viewers who were impacted by this episode, and she told me she has signed a virtual pledge with herself to make her car a "No Phone Zone."  (You can actually sign a digital petition here, via Oprah's web site). 

Now, my Aunt is not one to take on a cause without researching its validity or impact on society pretty extensively.  This is a woman, who not only did her time in the Peace Corps, and has spent a career working for non-profit health research organizations, but organized an improptu trash-pickup day at a struggling elementary school in the village that borders her vacation property.  

So I  logged on to Oprah's site to watch the clips from the show on this topic.  Winfrey featured experts with scientific credentials, people whose family members had died in accidents related to texting/talking while driving, and a woman whose distracted driving caused a crash that killed her own mother.  These personal stories back up statistics like the following, gleaned from the National Safety Council (based in Itasca, IL):

-  25% of all crashes in the U.S. can be attributed to cell phone use.

- That's about 1.6 million crashes a year.

Also, it may be worth noting that the Insurance Institue for Highway Safety has come out with a study that finds hands-free devices DO NOT make a difference in the brain's level of distraction.  The IIHS recommends a total ban on mobile while 'mobile.'

Aunt Shirley mentioned to me in an e-mail that she is designing a simple placard to put in her car that reads something to the effect of, "Engine On, Phone Off," and she'll be handing it out to her friends and family members.  Now, my Aunt lives in California, which is one of six states where hand-held anything (voice/text) is illegal (go to this website for a useful state-by-state law decoder).  

Here in Chicagoland, the laws are still sort-of patchwork.  It's 'be hands-free' or risk a ticket in the 'burb of Evanston, and statewide, that same policy goes for work zones and school zones.  Texting/surfing of any kind is banned across Illinois, no matter where you are driving.  Does anyone have a personal story to share on this issue?  Are the laws too lenient?  Too strict?  Have you been cited by law enforcement regarding these relatively new restrictions?  I'm interested in your feedback.  

This past week, I had the opportunity to squeeze into the middle seat on a Southwest jet down to Wrigley Field West, in Mesa, AZ... my first foray into the heralded tradition of Spring Training Fandom.  The experience overall did not dissapoint.  Despite the fact that is rained two of the four days we were in the Phoenix Metro Area, (and I heard from solid sources that the Valley gets only about a total of eight days of precipitation all year) the beer was still cold, the other tailgaters still super-friendly, and the access to members of Cubs lore still incredible.

Now, because I was traveling with someone whose Cubs Addiction stems from gestation, I knew that the prospect of autograph hunting around Hohokam Park was very real.  Now, I've never been much of an autograph hound (unless you count the time when I was 11, and got the scrawl of Bob Blackburn, onetime play-by-play announcer for the now-defunct NBAers, the Seattle Sonics...) but  I can appreciate how cool it is to make some sort of interpersonal connection with the guys who make millions of bucks doing most every dude's dream job.

One thing that is a benefit for Mr. Cubs Addict, is that I have no shame.  That's right, none.  This, we decided, made me the perfect candidate for the role of signature hunter.  We started slow, purchasing a ball already signed by, and shaking hands with, Fergie Jenkins.  The righthander won the Cy Young in '71, is a Hall of Famer, and is generally considered a legit Cubs scrawl to score.  After that, fine-tipped Sharpie in hand, we figured we'd see which other players we could get on the same ball. 

I headed over to the home dugout before the match-up against the Giants, hanging over the rail next to the other fans/seekers.  Before long I picked up the routine.  It's a lot of good-natured shouting at different guys, with more respectful looks shot your way for using the players' nicknames.  For example, "Sutcliffe!  Rick Sutcliffe!" is fine, but, "Red Baron!" is freaking awesome.  Now Sam Fuld is cool and I like his hustle and all, but I was biding my time.  I was waiting for a really notorious player to turn up on the railing.  Sure enough, Ryne Sandberg, the Cubs Triple-A Skipper was shooting the breeze with The Red Baron, and likely assisting in the evaluation of this year's prospects.  "Ryno! Ryno!" I called out, trying not to seem desperate, yet still draw attention to myself (a fine line, I can assure you).  Eventually, he glanced up, and motioned to me to toss him my ball... I was flustered, threw him the pen first, then the ball.  He faded away underneath the dugout, and I held my breath, my heart racing at my first "get."  He popped back out, tossed me back the ball and pen, and I checked the sig:  Totally unintelligible, totally sweet.

Back in my seat, I felt like a junkie.  Wow... how was I going to recreate that feeling?  Turns out, I would have another opportunity soon.  Being that the Giants were today's foe, it seemed like kismet that Ryno's former double-play partner, former Cubs shortstop Shawon Dunston was in the Park, working as an Assistant Coach for SF.  Hmmm... he's not in Cooperstown, but we decided I would go for it, because the unique combination is part of the Cubs Mystique.

Knowing that having his nickname was key, I used my handheld mobile device to discover it... Thunder Pup!  Armed with this strange trivia, I leaned over the Giants dugout after the seventh inning, when the game breaks so that all of the star players can head to the showers... "Thunder Pup!   Thunder Pup!"  Did it feel weird to be shouting this at a middle-aged man?  Yes, it did.... but remember the part about having no shame??  Dunston seemed surprised to hear the moniker, and motioned with a smile that I could toss him the ball... when I added, "I've got Ryno on here too, man"... his smile grew.  He threw the ball back, and my adrenaline spiked... the game was soon over, and the smell of the slightly soggy ballpark soon just a memory, but I'm still feeling the warm glow of my Spring Training brush with celebrity.                             Myself and Mr. Cubs Addict at Hohokam Park, Mesa, AZ  

I've kept silent about this one, drivers, because I understand your point of view.  I was a vehicle-commuter for a year-and-a-half, spending about 3 hours in the car, every day.  This has given me a lot of sympathy for the singular type of stress of of sitting behind the wheel, and so I've let one thing slide.

But no longer.  Something you do (and I've probably done as well) is not only an inconvenience to cyclists, but downright unsafe.  Here's the scenario:  there are two lanes heading northbound on a surface street, but the right lane is technically ONLY designated for a right turn (and often is marked as such, with a right turn arrow).  However, during rush hour, to try and gain a minute or two, drivers who intend on going straight as well, line up in this right-turn-only lane, and they try to essentially "shoot-the-gap" in between the law-abiding drivers in the lane just to the left of them.... firing their vehicle right through the bike lane, and where a cyclist is headed northbound.

Now, I don't have a death wish, so I've been anticipating this move nearly every commute.  I basically figure out who's trying to shoot-the-gap, and try to get to the right of them, brake, do whatever I have to do to not end up in the middle of this maneuver.  I have to speak out about this though because of last night.  Last night, as soon as the light turned green, I stood on my pedals, trying to sprint out in front of the car in the right turn lane, sensing this guy was not there to turn right, but in contrast was going to jolt to the front of the car to his left.  Well, I guessed correctly, but because I existed, the guy couldn't get in front, and had to wait for me, and the car to his left.  Yeah you know what's coming, he laid on his horn, ticked at me for messing with his scheme.

This was so despicable - to honk at me because I didn't allow him to pull an illegal and frankly dangerous move... I just had to get this off my chest.  OK, I feel a little bit better.  Just a bit.  

Riding the CTA now appears to be a contact sport.  It's been my experience over the past couple of days that due to recent service cuts, one should be issued a helmet, pads, eye black, and a menacing grimace before squeezing boorishly onto an already sardine-esque rush-hour train or bus.

The uniforms, of course, would be color-coded.  White jerseys for the home commuters(Chicago-born-and-raised, seen-it-all-cynics). Green for West Coast Transplants... (we are marked as feeling awkward and apologetic for daring to exist so close to other Sentient Beings)... and Red Shirts for Rookies (Those who always drive, except on exceptionally-nasty snow days, and have a horrified look plastered on their mug, plus a CTA schedule sticking out of their overcoat pocket).

There is also a need, I've found, for the rules of this new commuting game to be enforced by issuing penalties for the following infractions:

Unnecessary Unbalance:

    The bars, the straps, they are there for a reason -- grab one, and make the effort to prevent slamming into your fellow riders at every screeching brake pull.  With cattle cars so full you can read your neighbor's resurrected copy of Catcher In The Rye, take heed of the lead character's name, and Hold 'en for goodness sake!  Penalty:  5 More Minutes Waiting on the Platform.

Stepping Out of Bounds (Emotionally):

    This occurs when you babble on about your job, your childcare situation, the way your teen is padding her college entrance exam with all of these crazy extra-curricular activities like track and glee club...the fact that 4-year-old Kayla is loving her gymnastics, and how Dorothy is nervous about going back to work after 5 years off to create said Kayla... 'I love you honey, I'll be home soon boo bear..." "I can't believe he said that..." and all fragments of cell phone conversation... Essentially, if you are speaking aloud in a crowded space, we can all hear every word, and if we forgot our iPod, we are powerless to stop your drivel from entering our minds.  Penalty: Ten rides on the Western #49 bus, stopping at every block now that the Express is a relic of the "good times."

These are just a couple of examples, culled from my own recent gridiron-like battles with the CTA this week... what would you add to the list?  And what do you do to celebrate finally making it to your stop?  Are we talking pulling out a Sharpie, and signing a fan's canvas laptop bag (Terrell Owens)?  Or are you more of a quiet, class act?  With no dancing, no shuffling, no strutting, and no arm-flapping (Jerry Rice).  Perhaps you mouth a silent 'Thank You' to yourself that you made it through one more day, and that means you're one day closer to spring.

Before moving to Chicago to take this traffic reporting gig for CLTV, I worked for the Tribune-afflilate in Sacramento, KTXL.  Now, every once and a while, my husband, who, for some reason (likely some perverse-nostalgia) still reads the Sacramento Bee online.  Now, don't get me wrong, this is a great newspaper... but considering my better half and I couldn't wait to get outta there, and get to the Windy City... a strange habit. 

Yet the other day he sent me a link to this article regarding "Winter" bike commuting in Northern California.  It turned out to be unintentionally hilarious.  Seeing in print the complaints about 40-degree weather was freaking funny.  Check out the piece HERE.... and if you are a Chicago commuter like me, revel in the fact that you are so much more hardcore!

Commuting by bike is a dichotomic activity... and often the highs and lows can occur within hours, even minutes of each other.  My experience over the past 6 months of riding to work an average of 4 days per week has me asking the question, do the positives outweigh the negatives?  And if so, is it worth it?

Case in point:  I had my blood pressure checked the other day at my gym (which shall remain nameless, but has the epic slogan of, "It's not fitness, it's life"... how true is that???!) The guy said my heart was beating so slowly and calmly at rest, that it was in the "amateur athlete range" for blood pressure numbers.  Wow!  I was so excited... all of those yellow lights I had been sprinting through... the accidental-interval-training that IS my commute... had actually influenced my internal organs.

On the other end of the spectrum, I got caught behind a City of Chicago salt truck on the way into work today, and no matter how many times I tried to sprint ahead, we seemed to be stuck in an asphalt tango.  Every time it roared by, giant salt pellets whooshed into my face, making me wish for body armor.

On the one hand, commuting can be chock-full of annoyances, and soggy gear, and flying minerals... but when I really think about the measurable health benefits from this routine, it lifts my spirits... and it might be just enough to get me through the ride home tonight.

Hop on Metra these days, and you'll hear about impending service cuts taking effect in February.  The announcement, repeated on every train, for every group of riders, is being read for the upteenth time by the train operator, or perhaps one of the other ticket-taker-dudes, and they sound about as excited by the prospect of reciting it as the customers are about hearing it (who could feel good about the prospect shelling out MORE for your daily commute anyhow?).

Catch a CTA train, meanwhile, and you'll be bombarded, stop-after-stop, by an equally repetitive announcement on the loudspeaker, that, "the doors are closing, do not attempt to board the train... the doors are closing..." The Tribune's transportation reporter says that officials explain the need for this new practice this way:

"(The announcments) are part of an effort in the wake of the stroller incident to try something new to catch people's attention and remind them to be safe," a CTA official said.

The 'stroller incident,' of course, is the story of the woman whose baby stroller was dragged in the doors of a train, and fortunately, did not result in any injuries.  Now, I get that it was a freakishly disturbing incident, and worthy of an extra press release or news conference regarding closing doors... but how long must riders endure this extra announcement, stop after stop, day after day?

To the Powers That Be:  We know we could die if we get squeezed out of the automated doors onto the third rail.  We know we're gonna have to pay more because of budget cuts, and union contracts, and retirement funds, etc.  But don't you get it?  Most of us are just trying to get home after a day of Working For The Man/Woman.  We just want to get on the train and tune the world OUT with our iPods, eBooks and iPads.  Frankly, we're feeling beaten down from the iPain-in-the-rear that is the cruel wind, a Wednesday, the weird office coffee, and hallway-upon-hallway of flourescent lighting and key-card-required glass doors.  Have mercy on our already-shrunken souls, and cut back the PA announcements.  The customers you have left would be forever grateful. 

So there's a new verb out there that I've just become aware of.  It's to "ultra-commute" or, essentially, get yourself to work using human locomotion, i.e., walking, running, or riding a bike.  Of course, my choice is the third mode of transport, but there are growing numbers of people out there walking and running to work these days.

Check out this article in the San Francisco Chronicle, about a guy who walks to work one day a week... it's a round trip of FIVE HOURS... but when you read about him, you kinda start to understand it.

I have also met a few people over the years who run to-and-from work, especially when they are training for a marathon or something, and the commute gives them a chance to get in their miles without totallly monopolizing their free time.  (I knew this one weekend news anchor when I worked out in California who ran like, 12 miles to the station, and bummed rides home after his shift - and the guy was an awesome athlete).

I love this new term, and genuinely think that with fuel costs on the rise again, and a general urban cultural trend toward carbon-footprint-reduction, more and more ultra-commuters are going to be cropping up in big cities like San Fran and Chi-town. 

The Active Transportation Alliance has released an update on thier annual bike to work event for the winter months... Here's the latest:

"Balaclavas, lobster gloves and layers! Celebrate winter biking Jan. 20 (Wednesday) for the annual Winter Bike to Work Day. Stop by our office at 9 W. Hubbard St.  any time from 6:30 to 9 a.m. for some Caribou coffee and a sweet treat before heading to work."

"Winter Bike to Work Day celebrates the coldest day in Chicago history -- Jan. 20, 1985, when the official temperature at O'Hare was 27 degrees below zero with 36 mph wind gusts, producing wind chills as low as 93 degrees below zero."

Enjoying this warm spell, aren't we all?  Exchanging large parka for Windproof jacket... found out I needed a Mid-Weight Layer.  Yup -- not a thermo-type baselayer -- got those... but something for the middle... fleece-like, but not thick, cozy, but streamlined.. found a great buy on the sale rack at REI.  It's a Salomon zip-up mock next in the color "Merlot" -- mmmm, that has me thinking of my post-commute beverage!  Couldn't find exact product online... but it's sort-of like this:

Also- my chain, my brakes, everything is coated in nastiness from this week of gross weather... love a good rust-buster for my post-ride wipe-down:

I know nobody is all that surprised that big swinging Mark McGwire did steroids back in the late '90s, but each time a high-profile athlete comes clean, no matter what the sport, it makes for an interesting debate on the changing level of competition in pro athletics, and whether the playing field really IS even now, or if the drugs are just so dang sophisticated these days that we don't even know what's coursing through competitors' veins any more. 

Of course, pro cycling is so notorious for doping, I'm surprised Jose "I injected him myself" Canseco hasn't made a special Larry King appearance on the subject.  Consider Lance Armstrong's perpetual dance with drug-testers... Oh how the Euro Cycling Brass (and press!) wanted to nab him so badly - especially when he was kicking their butts over in the Pyranees for all those years... but he's never failed a test -- while many, many others... including Tour de France winners (ahem, Landis) frontrunners, and the biggest names in the sport continually get caught, get suspended, get stripped of titles, get stuck on the sidelines.

Recently, David Millar, pro-cyclist and a member of the World Anti-doping Authority's "Athlete's Committee" spoke out to CyclingNews about the current state of performance-enhancers in the sport today.  Currently, the Scot is one of cycling's most outspoken advocates for cleaning up the sport... a persona he took on after testing positive for EPO (erythropoietin - a genetically-engineered version of a naturally occuring hormone that raises the # of red blood cells, that increases oxygen in the blood, yadda yadda...) back in 2004.

"We're in a very healthy place in professional cycling. It's much cleaner than it's ever been," he says.  "The young professionals coming in are not going to face these huge doping dilemmas. They'll very rarely even see a syringe in their lives as professional athletes, which would have been mindboggling to even consider a few years ago.  It's quite easy (for cycling) to become complacent, but one thing we must never do is to forget our past."

He goes on to say, "Professional cycling is ironic in that it's become the vanguard of anti-doping in sports. We're so cutting edge, we're pushing the envelope of what anti-doping is.  We have been the sport that has created the Biological Passport (an individual, electronic record for each pro cyclist, containing the blood profiles and results of all doping tests over a period of time) and made it a reality."

"Cycling should be proud that we've done that. We did it out of our own necessity; we had to do it in order for the sport to continue.  The day that every single professional athelete has a Biological Passport is the day we can be reasonably sure we're dealing with a majority of clean athletes."

What do you think?  Is cycling onto something with their Passport system?  Could other pro sports get their powerful unions to agree to such a thing?

During this winter riding season, the issue of safety is never far from my mind.  Of course, the main reason I've been obsessing on this is I want to meet my (as yet unborn) children... but I'm also constantly looking for a chance be a self-appointed ambassador between the bike community and drivers.  Winter seems like a good time to take on this task, as most people in cars tend to give you a wider berth in yucky weather, like out of pity or something (not needed, I'm loving it, but thanks!)  Anyhow, I'm taking pains to follow traffic laws. 

As a quick overview on general road cycling guidelines, nobody says it better than Wayne Pein, who wrote, "Road Vogue:  A Guide to Classy Bicycling."  Here's an excerpt from the chapter, "Bicycles are Legal Vehicles:"

"The traffic codes state-to-state may vary a bit, but in every state, a bicycle is either classified as a vehicle or the operator is given "all the rights and responsibilities" (exact words vary) of an operator of a vehicle.

See this link to check out the Illinois state code.

Same Roads. Same Rights. Same Rules. Bikes Belong, so ride like it. But, with rights come responsibilities. Obey all laws, signs, and signals. Two wheels or four, the law is the law. And it's a lot safer following traffic rules than not."

Here's how Pein advises one acts with class when confronted with rudeness on your commute:

"Should you find yourself the victim of other people's bitterness, ignorance, smallness or insecurities; remember, things could be worse. You could be them!

The best course of action when you're harassed is to first take a deep breath and calmly decide whether you were actually purposefully mistreated or whether your perceptions could have misled you.  Drivers may inadvertently do something that appears threatening and purposeful, but is simply a lack of awareness.

If indeed some braze-on dropout has derailleured you or otherwise been a pain in your bottom bracket, keep your headset, Quick Dodge your anger, memorize or write the offender's license plate number and as much detail about the situation, driver, and vehicle as possible, and file a report with the police.

You're doing other bicyclists a great service by reporting all incidents. The police look for trends. If license plate LUGNUT is reported by more than one bicyclist, the police will know."

Great advice, and staying alive never goes out of style! 

OK, Cyclists, you know the drill... the temp is dropping, and so is your cardio fitness level, what with your bike sitting in storage for the winter.  You figure you need to get to at least one spinning (indoor cycling) class per week at the gym to maintain even a base level of form, and at the very least, it feels good to get in the saddle and get those legs churning. 

Yet if you're like me, the 're-creation' of riding outside so often falls short.  Maybe the music doesn't have the right beat for a cycling cadence, maybe your feeble mind just can't get to that focused state where you'll actually push yourself to the same level that you do out on the lakefront path.  Often I'll get home and think, 'why did I just spend 90 minutes doing that?' 

Today I had an entirely different experience, and one that I'm pretty sure I shared with the 20-or-so other warm bodies in that class.  I believe it was the most productive spinning workout I've ever experienced. 

Kevin was the instructor- a foul-mouthed, rock & hip-hop-loving, motivational son-of-a-gun... who let us know from the start that he expected us all to work hard...painfully hard.  With an 8-minute U2 song pumping through the speakers in the background (is there any other kind?  Especially when it comes to their last couple of albums?) Kevin paced along the front row of stationary bikes like a hungry cougar, and declared that seeing as though he figured he was the only person in the room over 50, he expected us all to keep up with him, at the very least.  

Turns out, that was easier said than done.  This tattooed-dynamo in a cut-off T-shirt took us up and down hills, and through sprint after sprint -- then urged us to stop-on-a-dime, shocking and isolating different lower body muscles.  Perhaps it was the variety of the pseudo-route, or his shouts of "argh... it's good to be alive...," "...feel the power within you..." or, "a couple of years ago I was 250 pounds with a 40-inch waist and I am NOT going back there... everrrrr!" ... but this guy was pure inspiration, and likely a drill sergeant in a past life. 

By the end of the class he actuallly had all of us singing, yes singing, the chorus of a popular motown anthem at the top of our lungs, our ragged breathing providing the backing track.  Kevin yelled out that he was actually "doing this for FUN, believe it or not" -- and the crazy bastard had all of us believing that we were having a blast, too.

Thank you bro, you've given me glimpse into what indoor training can be, in its ideal state, and I'll be trying to recreate that feeling (and a profanity-laced internal monologue) in my next class.

I am totally flummoxed as to why winter bike commuters seem to not feel the need to verbally communicate with eachother out there on the frozen roads of Chicagoland.  If there's one thing I've noted over the past few weeks, it's that not one rider passing me has shouted, "Left," or "On Your Left," or "Hey There," or given me any indication that they are about to overtake me. 

This is particularly disturbing because the conditions are so dicey out there these days.  It's pitch black, and your senses are significantly dulled by the layers-upon-layers of gear you've piled on your person to survive the ride.  You are already straining to hear what's going on around you, with your ears covered by a balaclava/hat/hood combo.  Your vision is impaired by the inability to swivel your head as easily (see previous layering rig) - and many riders I see have taken to wearing ski googles, which allow for extremely limited periperal observation.

Yet night after night other riders speed by me - scaring me half out of my freaking clip-ins.  I seriously had no clue they were even creeping up on me.  What if I hadn't held my line?  What if I had swerved to avoid a gnarly pothole, or changed direction suddenly to give someone getting out of their car more room to open their door?

Also, over the past couple of weeks I've shouted to riders, a loud, albeit muffled, "On Your Left," when looking to pass them on a city street -- and they look at me through their watery eyes like I'm a freak!  Why?  Was it such a 'wacko' thing to do to let you know I was coming?  Jeez!  Anyone else out there having this experience this winter?

Motorists this Tuesday evening be warned:  a major rescue situation in the Northwest Suburbs may affect your commute.  Several agencies are staging at Euclid/River Road to deal with a water recovery operation related to the crash of a Lear jet in the Forest Preserve area between Prospect Heights and Glenview.  Euclid is a major thouroughfare from River Rd to I-294... Use Willow (North) or Golf (South) as alternates! 

Click here to see map.

Only Closure (so far) WB Euclid/Milwaukee.

From Ellis G., Brooklyn Sidewalk Shadow Chalk Artist, a calming moment for your frigid Monday:

Check out this story out of Philadelphia... 2 students, a tandem bike, and a goal of making it from Philly to Boston to watch the NHL's Winter Classic hockey match-up.  A pair of dudes right after my own heart - plus they raised money for a cause!  Here's more on the story from Broad Street Hockey's site:

"Patrick Montgomery and Andrew Moriarity are really good people. They're also absolutely insane. The two friends are students at Drexel University and members of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, and yesterday, they embarked on a journey that will cover over 300 miles from the Specrtum in Philadelphia to Fenway Park in Boston. No big deal, right? Well, they're riding a bike, and not just any bike -- a tandem.

Of course, there's no reason for two fans to bike to the Winter Classic from Philadelphia without charity being involved. All proceeds, collected in the form of donations, will benefit the Blessed Sarnelli Community, an organization dedicated to helping homeless and poor Philadelphians

BSH: What's the route like? Obviously, it has to be a lot different than driving, considering it's tough to ride a bike on the highway, and it might not even be legal. How did you plan the route and how much planning will you do on the fly?

AM: We used a combination of the walking directions on Google Maps and the shortest route directions on Mapquest. We figure the walking directions will give us a legal way, since you can't walk on closed roads. We will have to load up and cross a bridge or two in a car, since geting into New York seems to only have one bike-able bridge but that would add over 20 miles onto our trip. I am sure there will be some deviation and a few missed turns, but we will have some GPS options at out disposal. The route isn't necessarily the most direct to Boston, but we needed to ensure we had places to stay at each of them. It works out that a few of our fraternity brothers live in Connecticut and are allowing us to crash on a couch for the night.

.(Kye:  Too bad the Flyers couldn't pull-off the win!)

Here's what the CTA put out regarding New Year's Eve transit - have a safe one!

"The Chicago Transit Authority will continue its tradition of offering penny rides on New Year's Eve beginning at 8 p.m. on Thursday, December 31 until 6 a.m. Friday, January 1 (New Year's Day).

Later service hours also will be in effect on several bus and rail routes making CTA a convenient, safe and affordable travel alternative for those out celebrating the New Year. 

Please Note: All CTA bus and rail service will operate on a regular weekday schedule on Thursday, December 31 and on a Sunday/Holiday schedule Friday, January 1."

Two key obsessions have taken hold of me during this nasty season for bike commuting.  Both are designed to keep moisture in, externally, and internally.

First, I LOVE my new Gore Bike Wear balaclava.  It is more breathable than a fleece number I was sporting -- and this one also covers my nose, but has nostril holes to prevent "fog-age" of my eye-wear.  Seriously, this is designed really well, (as a $40 piece of tech-y cloth it better be!!!) and is available here.

Secondly, for winter hydration, when I am just sick, sick, sick, of pouring plain 'ole water down my gullet, I pick up a little carton of coconut water.  With about 60 cals per drink, this stuff is loaded with potassium and other vitamins... and since I've been reading quite a bit about WDS ("Wintersport Dehydration Syndrome," or -- "Jeez its dang cold and I don't even notice how thirsty I am Syndrome") I need to do whatever I can to replenish my energy stores without giving in to cravings for further-dehydrating espresso or tea.

VitaCoco and other brands of coconut water can me found at Whole Foods (my urban hipster home-away-from-home), and at the French Market's raw food booth at Ogilvie Station.

What are your winter commuting obsessions?

Ever since the infamous Parking Meter Deal went down, Chicago Parking Meters, LLC has been in the hot seat as they transitioned all of the city's meters to pay boxes.  Forget the fact that the city sold out to them for cash... how did CPM do?  And is the company making any adjustments on the fly?  Well, the Chicago Breaking News Center learned that CPM did make changes over the past few months based on driver feedback.

The company identified these as new system enhancements:

• Portable time: Receipts purchased at pay boxes are good until expiration at any meter with the same or lower hourly rate. The boxes are now clearly printed with the rate.

• Extended periods of stay: Extended parking periods are available near theaters, concert halls, schools, hospitals and other places where parkers need more than a two-hour stay.

A cool last minute and inexpensive gift idea for the cyclist in your life... a water bottle for your bike with its own filter BUILT-IN.  How great would it be to fill-up anywhere - sinks, water fountains, etc., and not have your H20 taste brackish!  Here's where you can check out the $16 Clear2o Bottle, or look on the site treehugger.com.

Chicago Police made an arrest in the fatal bike accident in Logan Square on Tuesday.  Turns out it was allegedly a criminal act, but the bicyclist was not the intended target.   The driver intended to ram into another van... and the victim was in the middle of the wrong argument, at the wrong time.  Life is so unfair.

Here's the story from the Chicago Tribune:

A 21-year-old man on parole for burglary is accused of causing a traffic crash that killed a bicyclist Tuesday.

Tyrice Pryor, of the 6100 block of North Hamilton Avenue, was charged with murder in connection with the crash that killed 32-year-old Jepson Livingston, authorities said early this morning.

On Tuesday afternoon, Livingston was riding his bicycle en route to fill out job applications when he encountered a van ahead of him that was  ramming another one over and over. The van under attack swerved off the road, crashing through a wrought-iron fence in front of an auto body shop in the 3800 block of West Diversey Avenue.

But the driver of the van that initiated the confrontation also lost control, hitting Livingston and sending him flying as high as the overhead utility lines.  Livingston, of the 2700 block of North St. Louis Avenue, was pronounced dead about 30 minutes later at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center.

A law enforcement source has said investigators believe Pryor was in a dispute with the man in the second van over the purchase of a car.  Court records show Pryor is on parole for a 2007 conviction for burglary, on which he  originally was sentenced to 4 years in prison. 

Livingston, who grew up in Logan Square, had struggled with drugs, his family said. But he also was trying to better himself, working at a restaurant and a pet day care facility and making plans to enroll in school.  Despite the difficult economy, he had set out Tuesday afternoon to try to find work, his family said.  "He was down on his luck," said his aunt, Gladys Stevens. "But he was coming back."

. 

Check out the Video link here, from WGN News.

So I was thinking... can people who exercise (or bike commute) outside in frigid temperatures do anything to modify their diet to optimize their performance?  Turns out, the answer is yes.  According to Elizabbeth Quinn, who writes for About.com on the topic of Sports Medicine, the biggest nutritional mistake made by winter athletes is failing to drink enough fluids. 

She says because cold weather blunts the thirst mechanism, winter athletes need to consciously consume fluids to replace the water that gets lost via breathing. When you breath in cold dry air, your body warms and humidifies that air. As you exhale, you lose significant amounts of water.

Here are her other tips:

- Eat a variety of high carbohydrates foods (For more on this, click here.)

- Plan to eat a small snack every 30-45 minutes (100-200 calories)

- Eat warm or hot food when possible

- Decrease caffeine consumption

- Don't drink alcohol. Alcohol dilates the blood vessels and increases heat loss.

- And finally, it's important for winter athletes to have an emergency food source with them. This is beyond what you plan to eat. Hide an extra energy bar somewhere just in case.

My fave emergency snacks:

There was a really interesting piece of news in the New York Post today -- it involves some cyclists in Brooklyn who are upset about the loss of a designated bike lane, and they decided to do something about it.  Here's the brief story below... note the cultural reason cited for the bike lane's demise.

"Brooklyn cycling activists decked out for a New Orleans-style funeral -- and singing "When the bikes go marching in" -- braved the nasty weather yesterday to "mourn" the death of a Williamsburg bike lane.  'An injury to one bike lane is an injury to all bike lanes,' event leader Ben Shepard told fellow cyclists gathered to mourn the loss of the Bedford Avenue lane, closed by the city last month.  About 35 cyclists wound along Wythe Avenue to the corner of Bedford Avenue and Wallabout Street, where taps played over a speaker.

They've been at odds with the neighborhood's Hasidic community over the Bedford lane, which ran from Flushing Avenue to Division Street. Residents had complained that scantily clad cyclists were distracting those meant to be concentrating on the Torah, not tank tops.  The cyclists vowed to keep riding there -- lane or no lane.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/goofy_grief_at_bike_lane_funeral_tZWP2DqVTtJH4OuNG9gXJN#ixzz0ZfK6iLR5

When it's too cold to get in your miles outside on the bike, (it's zero degrees in Chicago as I write this....) might as well hit the gym for some strength training that may benefit you once we do get out of the deep freeze!

According to health experts who work with cyclists, weight training is not to be overlooked for the following reasons:

1.The upper body, including your abs...is an integral part of the pedal stroke.  A strong torso provides the rigidity to deliver maximum power from the quads to the pedal.

2. Muscle strength in the quads and legs can mean the difference between walking and riding up a short (10 to 15 pedal stroke) hill.

3. A strong upper body gives additional protection for those falls that are part of the sport.

4. Muscle strength and endurance help prevent the fatigue of the constant jarring and correction that are part of a long descent - and in turn this freshness helps to maintain sharp reflexes.

Sounds good... I'm in... but what should I do?

Trainers say if you don't have access to weights -- you can put on an extremely heavy gear on a stationary bike -- and do intervals for leg strength.  For upper body, to tri-cep dips and push-ups.  Crunches for your abs.   If you do have access to gym equipment, here are some ideas*:

- Upright rowing - strengthen deltoid and shoulder for extra protection in a fall.

- Pull-up - reproduces the pulling up you use on a steep uphill.

- Squats - upper thigh parallel to the ground-for that quad strength for steep climbs.

- Bent over rowing - to stabilize the handlebars when pedaling hard.

- Step-ups on a platform with weight on shoulders - one leg at a time-for quad strength.

*Grunting optional

You know that feeling when you are waterskiing?  How you need to lean your body weight to the opposite side of where gravity is trying to pull you down?  That is sort of how the commute was today.  I thought I'd take Clark to Wells -- using the protection of the Lincoln Park/Old Town buildings to shield me from the wind.  Needless to say, it was still gale force, and at times I was standing up and leaning at a 45-degree angle to the left of my bike frame to counteract the gusts coming off the lake, threatening to jam me into parked cars on my right.

Here's a picture I made the building's security guard take of me outside the bike lock... I'm feeling pretty good here having ski-biked to the Loop... Safe Riding ; )

This season, when I get home after a chilly/wet/windy commute... all I want lately is a wintery salad.  I'm newly-obsessed with Kale (of the cabbage family) because using it as a base gives any salad heft and some serious nutrition.  It's rich in Calcium, Vitamin A (better to see rougue cabbies with, my dear) and one serving gives you like, 700% of an adult's daily necessary intake of Vitamin K, which, according to Wikipedia is good for blood coagulation and digestion.

Last night I tossed together a Red Kale Salad with Avocado, Pear and Roasted Pecans... and It was just what my bones needed.

I know my husband craves beer and chips with salsa after he goes on a long ride... what are some of your favorite post-ride meals?

After I arrived home last Friday night fearing my pinky fingers would have to be amputated due to frostbite, I knew that over the weekend I would have to bite the bullet and purchase some serious winter riding gloves.

I first stopped by Performance Bike on Halsted/Diversey -- but the selection of gloves was paltry and picked-over.  The only pair they had that were close to what I was looking for (waterproof, yet cozily-lined) came in a Men's XL.

Next stop was REI on Halsted/Weed.  This has been my fall-back all season long for finding good gear -- it's so dang huge that they always have what you're looking for.  Drawback here, nothing in the cycling deparment is EVER on sale, unless you want a funky-looking odd-colored jersey -- but only if you happen to be a Men's Small or a Women's XXL (not likely).

They had what I had been craving though -- Pearl Izumi "Barrier" Lobster Gloves.  The claws give you enough mobility to maneuver your brakes in traffic, etc.... but with a couple of fingers grouped together in velvety-soft fleece, you get that added mitten-esque warmth.

On the ride into work Monday, the gloves performed admirably.  If you're like me, and can handle anything as long as your fingers and toes are toasty - you'll find these beauties to be the best $70 you've ever spent on handwear(word?).  Happy Riding.

With deference to Clement Moore, here's my take on his venerable ditty, "The Night Before Christmas," first published in the 1820s, and updated for the modern Chicago bike commuter.

The Night Before My Winter Commute

By Kye Martin

'Twas the night before my winter commute, and all through the bike storage locker,

Not a creature was stirring, not even the pigeons, (known as excrement droppers);

My face mask was tucked into my windproof jacket with care,

When the temps are near freezing, you don't worry about flair;

My Shimanos were nestled all snug in their booties,

And I had visions of a feast that would delight any foodie;

My helmet was on, my headlight a-flashing,

I was all settled in to give this ride a good thrashing,

When out on the road, there arose such a clatter,

I stood out of my saddle to see what was the matter.

Up to the next intersection I flew like a flash,

Tearing the rubber off my tires, in a time trial-like dash.

The lone street lamp on the corner near a dumpster and a Starbucks,

Gave the lustre of day to something obscured by delivery trucks,

When, what did I notice, after craning my neck, 

But a gleaming carbon fork Cannondale, and eight top-of-the-line Treks!

The lead rider, lean and hawkish, on his pedals he did dance,   

I knew in an instant it must be St. Lance.

More rapid than eagles he drove his fleet up Damen,

Through the whistling wind I heard as one by one, he named them;

"Now, Tyler!  Now, Christian!  Now, Franco Pellizotti!

On Alberto, Thor and Levi, On Schleck brothers, don't be shoddy!

To the top of the overpass, in the bike lane of course,

Now mash away!  Mash away!  Use that brute force!"

Through Northside neighborhoods, the cyclists, they flew,

One could tell their messenger bags were packed full of toys, too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard through the honking,

The squealing of brakes, were these heros bonking?

I caught up, nearly breathless, my heart in my chest,

St. Lance got off his steed, and I noticed how he was dressed.

He was clad all in spandex, from his head to his foot,

And his red neon jersey?  It was tarnished with Chicago street soot;

A bunddle of goodies he had flung over his back,

And he looked like a pedler (pun intended) opening his pack.

His eyes-- how they narrowed!  His sweat dripped-- totally gnarly!

I could count several massive ribs-- his guantness the opposite of Chris Farley!

His droll little mouth was drawn into a half smile,

The man had clearly tested his mortality, put his legacy on trial,

The stump of a PowerBar he held tight in his teeth,

An aura of perserverance encircled him like a wreath;

He was hairless and sinewy, not your typical elf, 

And through my six layers I laughed, in spite of myself;

Yet a wink of his eye, and a switch of his gears,

Soon let me know I had nothing to fear;

He spoke not a word, but a rueful grin he did make,

He knows life and limb of a rider is dependent on faith.

St. Lance had treats to deliver, like hand pumps and chain lube,

He would stuff cyclists' stockings with Gortex and spare intertubes;

He sprang back on his bike, gave the peloton a sign,

And into the slipstream they flew, two-by-two, all in line;

Then I heard him exclaim, as the pack churned away like the tide,

"Happy winter commuting to all, and to all a safe ride."

This picture perfectly illustrates why everyone that sees me enter and exit the downtown offices of the CLTV traffic center -- thinks I'm a bike messenger:

OK, so I didn't blog AT ALL during my vacation... I ended up going totally unplugged, because apparently I don't have the "international voice and data package," and in Baja California, Mexico my cell's roaming charges were insane.  More importantly, the wireless internet center never seems to hold the pull it might, when your other options for time-wasting include spending time in the 'Great Outdoors'...

My daily commute was a polar opposite from my ride to work... all I had to do was throw on my trail-runners.... and start walking uphill.  Epic break from the norm, but I have to admit, I really did miss riding more than an hour every day. 

My Temporary Commute:

A couple of items:

1.  The evening commute is pitch black this time of year.  The Active Transportation Alliance is giving away free bicycle headlights from 5pm to 7pm tonight (Friday, 11/20) at the Milwaukee/Damen/North intersection. The catch: You have to be on a bike to get a light.   I'll be getting one... never can have too many...

2.  I won't be blogging as frequently next week because I am taking some time off!  Yet I am going somewhere with Gore's "Internet".... so... I will try to post on any 'vacation cycling training' -- or lack there of.

Happy Thanksgiving.

- Kye

Ah, the fallout from Chicago's parking meter lease deal is like a gift that keeps on giving... to the new owners of the meters, that is.

WGN-TV reports this morning, that according to the records of Chicago Parking Meters, LLC, the new, higher parking rates in the city of Chicago are netting the company profits of about a million-dollars-per-week.  Yep.  PER WEEK.

Just imagine, if, instead of selling out the meters for a lump cash sum, The King had just bumped up the meter rates for the city... then he would have had a steady stream of revenue for the rest of time. 

Oh, and guess what... the rates are going up AGAIN on Jan. 1, 2010.

Here's the Deal:

2009 Rates           2010 Rates          % Increase

$1.00/hour            $1.25/hour             25%

$2.00/hour            $2.50/hour             25%

$3.50/hour            $4.25/hour             21%

Looks like the company will also be well into the black next year.

I know I'm not going to be able to get to Ridgefield, Conneticut to see a new bike-themed art show there, so I'll have to be content with perusing some of the "Bike Rides" exhibition online, from the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum.

The show was organized by Aldrich curators Richard Klein and Mónica Ramírez-Montagut, with help from musician, artist, and bicycle advocate David Byrne.  The idea is to explore the relavance of bikes not only as transportation - but in our culture.  There are functional bike designs (including one of Lance's old steeds!)... plus more abstract cycles and video. 

Some of my faves:

Jabas Lopes 

     Peter Kirkiles

                                                                      Jonathan Brand

How to get better at changing a tire (or, more accurately, the intertube inside a road bike tire).

                                              A Step-by-Step Guide:

1.  Discover your back tube is flat outside the sausage company on Damen/Fullerton.  As you put on your spare under the wan street light... inhale the peppery scent of that night's batch, while the factory workers heading out to Popeye's during their break look at you as though you're a unicorn.

2.  Realize, about 2 miles down the road, that same tube is flat again... decide there's something sharp imbedded inside the tire, decide you'll just walk the bike home from here, considering you don't have a 2nd spare.

3.  In the morning, decide that the valve on that tube was really the problem, it looks tweaked and feels loose.  Decide that with proper tightening, it will work just fine.

4. Later that same day, as you are getting ready to leave home for work, realize that the tube has deflated again, and it needs to be changed.  Change tire in living/bike storage room, sweating profusely because you already put your rain gear on.

5. About 4 miles into your ride-to-work, in spitting rain -- realize the same friggin' back tube is flat again.  Think, 'OK, there is something in this tire, and if I don't find it, I'm not going to make it to the office on time.'  Change tube outside grocery store under dry overhang.  Everything goes well -- you find and pick out a sharp piece of gravel (gotcha!).

6.  In your enthusiasm, while using your hand pump outside said grocery store, the valve breaks off your brand new tire.  It is flat again, and that was your only spare.

7.  Walk bike .25 miles to nearest outdoor gear store.  Purchase 2 tires, and 2 Cliff Bars (you're frickin' starving by now... the Maple Nut is awesome, by the way).

8.  Change tire along side of industrial complex, faster than ever before... combination of newfound skill, and being kind-of ticked off.  Ride to work... make it... with back tire fully inflated.  Phew.   

It's pretty rare in life that you actually have something concrete, something tangible, and something finite to measure yourself against.  I know we all have our Masters, and we are all accountable in different ways for results at work and in our personal lives... yet nothing much anymore is really black and white.  Most of us grew up recieving "participation trophies" and knew that we were all really wonderful and capable of achieving our dreams because Elmo told us so.

But have you ever truly set out to do something -- then achieved it, and then gone above and beyond your original expectations?  Maybe you have.  Perhaps you've lived a life of epic goal-setting and achieving.  I think we'd all like to think we live like that -- grabbing life by the horns, and so on.  For me, the reality is, just do the best you can with the situation you're in, and hope to Goodness that it leads to something else that will continue to be challenging and rewarding. 

So what does any of this blather have to do with cycling?  Ok, ok, I'm getting there.  When I first started bike commuting, (14 miles-a-day) it was August.  It was 75 degrees, it was dry, and it was a novelty.  It wasn't hard to find motivation -- it was a pleasure to get out there, and be in the fresh air, and get a nice tan, etc. 

But that was then.  This is now. 

I have now become intimately aquainted with the need for cycling glasses to be vented on top.  Why?  Because when it's 40 degrees, and you're wearing a Balaclava so your nose doesn't fall off... you need the venting or your breath will fog up the lens and you'll be riding blind at 20 mph (and you can't take off your sunglasses by the way, because the cold air causes tears to stream down your face - which will also be peppered by disgusting pieces of mysterious debris flying up from the roadway).  I now struggle at least one day a week to find the reason why I am getting on the bike, and not utilizing the newly-subsidized CTA.  Cycling to work is no longer exciting -- it's just one more routine.

Yet lately I have discovered something about myself and my ride:  I have actually improved as a cyclist, and in a way that is measurable and definite.  I have cut my commute nearly in half.  Not by devising a short-cut-- but simply by pedaling stronger and faster.  I didn't even notice this was happening, until, after a 35-minute commute (the same route that took me 55-minutes a month earlier) my husband looked shocked when I arrived home -- like he was opening the door expecting to see one of the solicitors that love our bleeding-heart neighborhood -- but it was just me -- his sweaty, hungry, life-partner.

And the weird part was -- I hadn't even tried to jam on the pedals -- it was a totally normal pace, or what's normal to me now.  To be able to have this type of evidence that you -- and only you -- made an improvement on a particular skill is intensely satisfying.  I don't do anything else in my life that allows me this type of feedback.  I don't have sales numbers to hit -- I don't bench press -- but I bike to work.  And for now, that's good enough.

Overheard in a bike shop in Chicago:  "There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad gear."

Too true, too true.

My newest obsession?  Finding a baselayer that is warm-- yet breathable... Technically advanced-- yet comfortable... Functional-- yet fashionable enough to wear on its own.  I'll let you know what I find.

It seems to occur about once a month -- whether due to boredom of my route, annoyance of having to organize my backpack for another wardrobe change, or just plain ambivilance... I've been finding it hard to be inspired by my bike commute.

These are the times when I'll play mental games with myself -- like promising the nay-sayer inside a piece of dark chocolate with dinner... if I can just make it a couple more days this week...

The awesome sunny weather we've been blessed with for the past couple of days couldn't have come at a better time.  It makes it a heck-of-a-lot easier to velcro-on my Sugois knowing that the Vitamin D we all crave will be making its way into my bloodstream via my pale forearms on the ride into the Loop.  This picture -- looking back on the Adler Planetarium from McCormick Place on the lakefront path says it all -- how freaking beautiful -- and what a view compared to the mundane exit signs on the IKE!

Governor Pat Quinn announced today that you will not pay more to ride the CTA - at least for the next 2 years.  Quinn says the state is prepared to boost the finances of the cash-strapped agency to "ensure that people get to work, people get to school, people can go shopping, go where they need to go."

Quinn also alluded to the fact that this financial band-aid (32-million-dollars over the next two years) may buy him and transit officials time to petition for some Federal monies.

Jim Riley, the RTA Board Chairman said this "adversity brought out the best in everyone" when it came to getting this deal done in Springfield.  Riley said he came together with collegues at Metra and Pace to make progress... admitting those relationships have been stressed nearly to the breaking point in the past.

Riley DID say eventually there will be fare increases, but he said it was just too soon -- less than a year after the last fare increase.  He did suggest that service cuts are un-avoidable. 

There's a blog entry on the Chicago Reader site that was recently mentioned to me as possible fodder for a blog entry of my own.  The item is mainly focused on a recent "U-turn" of opinion by the Active Transportation Alliance (formerly the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation). 

The Reader reports that just recently, the ATA has come out and said it actually supports the city's privitization plan for parking, and the guy in charge of ATA says he regrets the organization's original scathing report of the deal.  Also in the blog post, Mayor Daley recieves an award from the ATA - for being such a great guy to work with on transportation issues. 

Now, a lot of this is just political wheeling and dealing... and who knows what this meter deal is really going to mean for EVERYONE involved down the road.  Besides, why does a community activist group do what it does?   We don't really know.  It's likely that not all motives are pure, and the ATA likely needs powerful allies like King Daley to stay relevant and productive.  Now, this is all very interesting cocktail chatter for the Kombucha tap at Whole Foods, yet it doesn't really have an impact on my everyday life.  But one point of the blog entry IS extremely important to me as a bike commuter -- and that's the lack of bike parking now in the city. 

Now, when this meter lease deal first went down, the new parking tsar/company (Chicago Parking Meters, LLC) promised it would keep old meters around, despite the 'upgrade' to new-fangled boxes... just for cyclists.  And, it is true that sometimes you'll see one, with a little plaque saying, 'Left for the convenience of cyclists' - or some other such ditty.  Yet, even if there is an old meter, it's probably already got two bikes locked to it.  Judging by the comments on the Reader's blog entry, several bicyclists agree with me - there are simply not enough racks in Chicago.  I could really get behind some sort of campaign to get funding for this... and I really don't think it's a good use of anyone's time to groan about the backroom dealings of most high-placed city officials, whom, let's face it, likely put on their "To-Do" list tasks that will ensure their security- financially or politically.

Fellow riders, check out this link, an item on the site, treehugger.com.  It was sent to me by a regular commenter on this blog, and is entitled, "How to Get Killed on a Bicycle."

This sounds morbid, and it is... but the piece is an illustrated diagram of the most common scenarios at intersections during which cyclists are most likely to be hit and killed by a vehicle. 

I was surprised at the findings.

Today I decided to take the Lakefront path into work, to switch up my routine a bit (I usually take Damen/Milwaukee to the Loop), and also give myself the opportunity to extend my ride beyond the normal 40 minutes or so... it being such a mild, sunny November Friday.

I ended up riding for about 60 minutes... making it all the way past McCormick Place, and worked up an awesome sweat riding against the Northwesterly winds the whole way down.  Around the Oak Street Beach Curve (which, by the way, has been newly re-paved -- hallelujah!) the wind was so strong I was standing on my pedals, jamming as hard as I could, and moving at a pace that a snail would have scoffed at.  Great workout, though.   Especially when I sat back down in the saddle, and was forced to isolate my lower body to force the leaden pedals around.  Totally epic.

Yet, I digress.  The point of this post was to mention something that happened on the Lakefront path up near Montrose.  I noticed a cylist pulled over, fiddling with a pump.  Normally, that means he's got a flat, and it is in the "Cyclist Code" (not written on stone tablets, but known by all who ride as "no duh") to stop and offer your assistance.  The guy said he didn't have a flat, but a girl in a pink 'Obama '08' stocking cap (his helpful description) further down the path did, and he couldn't get his hand pump to work to help her out.  I came upon her soon enough, but she was riding with thick, mountain bike tires, and the pump I carry is only for the thin, delicate valve that comes on most road bike intertubes.  I thought nothing could be done, but then the first guy rode up, and says his pump was working after all.  Between the 2 of us, we got the girl on her way.  Full disclosure:  the other dude did all the hard work, I mostly stood there offering unsolicited observations about how she probably has a slow leak, and should get an intertube change, yadda yadda.

Another example of riding for one, riding for all. 

As if I'm not already constantly on alert while in the midst of my 14-mile-per-day bike commute, one route that I use quite a bit contains a new memorial which is a scary reminder of just how deadly road cycling can be.

On Oct. 21st of this year, 20-year-old Liza Whitacre was run over by a truck on Damen and Wellington.  Nearly every day, I pass a white bike, with a wreath around it, on the northwest corner of that intersection - a tribute to Whitacre.  (I'll upload photos when I can, having some tech. difficulties with my camera phone...)

The entire official account of the accident can be found here, as it was reported to the Chicago Breaking News Center (Tribune Co.).  Now, from what I can tell, by reading the item, it seems to have been an accident, with the victim and her friend likely trying to pass the Damen #50 bus on the left, squeezing in between the bus, and other traffic headed the same direction.

The friend make it through, but according to the article, the victim fell off her bike, was underneath the truck, which didn't see her, and ran her over.  Because no charges were filed, it it possible that the entire situation was indeed, an accident-- yet not being there, and not seeing any detailed witness accounts in the story, I am hesitant to make any judgement whatsoever on the actions of the drivers, or the cyclists, in this case.

Neverthless, when I ride past the white memorial bike, which is often surrounded by flickering candles in the evenings, I do take an extra moment to think about my safety.

Yep, you read that right.  For a child of the early '90s like myself, Zach Morris, the blond prepster protagonist on the pre-teen-targeting show, "Saved by the Bell" is an iconic figure of my cul-de-sac-centric childhood.

                                                          'Zach Morris'

So, imagine my joy and surprise at this article in the New York Times Style Section, on the actor Mark-Paul Gosselaar, he of Zach Morris fame (who has also been on NYPD Blue, and now stars in a TNT legal drama).  Turns out, Gosselaar is not just a celebrity who rides (Matthew McConaughey, former President George W. Bush, etc.)... he is a major cyclist who competes in Category 2 races.  And he just 'happens' to be an actor.

Great read. 

If, as a relatively new bike commuter (like myself), you've yet to check out Chicago's independently-run online stolen bike registry, I strongly suggest clicking through the site.

Your first impression, as mine was, will likely be one of horror and disgust at the number of bike thefts going on in the city - and suburbs.   Just in the last week, 5 people have posted on thefts, from across Chicago in areas as varied as the South Side, Logan Square, Wicker Park, and the Northwest Side.  Yet something I didn't plan for was just how educational the site is.  Obviously, for the people posting, they are leaving their e-mails, and hoping someone will spot their stolen bike and they can somehow get it back.  However, because I luckily am still in possession of my bike, I found it most interesting to read how each bike was stolen, from where, how it was locked, and what it was locked to.

This is facinating, because theives seem to have penetrated all types of locks -- heavy combo locks, newer U-locks with flat keys (which is what I have) -- and they take bikes even when the lock is through the front wheel, the frame, AND the bike rack.  These are not riders who carelessly left their bikes, unlocked (except for that Potbelly delivery guy-  for 3 minutes he says!)  And it was also worth noting that the reports of theft came from every possible location in the city -- near the site of the Chicago Marathon finish line, at suburban train stations, outside a Lincoln Park McDonalds, outside Water Tower Place on Michigan Ave, at CTA train stations, at various Colleges and University campuses, at Navy Pier... absolutely everywhere... no discrimination.  And even in broad daylight, in high traffic areas, in areas where people they work with also lock their bikes everyday.

It just made me realize how lucky I am that the building I work in has a secure bike lock area that is only accessible by other employees.  Plus, there is a security guard -- and that probably discourages any lazy thief.  Finally, check out the "statistics" header at the top of the home page -- it documents which situations, by percentage, are likely to lead to theft.  And the stat on how often bikes are recovered?  Less than 1-and-a-half percent.  Yeeps.

I've posted previously on this blog that I eat more than ever now that I'm bike commuting.  I've written about how I actually had a hunger pang in the middle of the night... and how I'm eating healthier than ever, because I've never been more conscious of how important having energy is.  

Now, I've always been a nutritionally vigilant... A habit that I developed in my early 20s, when I worked on morning news shows in Fresno and Sacramento over a period of 7 years.  You see, when you are messing with your internal body clock, and getting up at 3 a.m. for so long, your body will shut down on you (sickness, extra lbs, general malaise and resentment toward life in general) unless you feed yourself extremely healthily, and work out regularly. 

But I thought I'd document what I eat on an average day now, and what I do to burn that energy while bike commuting.

6a-7a:  (Burn) Rock climbing on indoor climbing wall/Pilates.  

7:30a:  (Eat) 12 oz oat milk latte from neighborhood coffee shop (with Intelligencia espresso -- I usually drink tea, but when I go for the good stuff, I'm such a bean snob!), a very large steroidy-looking banana from home, 2 huge tablespoons of almond butter from the jar. 

11a:  (Burn) 45 min. bike commute to work.

12a:  (Eat) 1 Granny Smith apple, Salad with a surely-hormonally-enhanced avocado and half a cucumber drizzled with an abundant pour of olive oil, huge oatmeal cookie.

6p: (Burn) 45 min. bike commute home from work.

7:30p: (Eat) Massive salad with tofu, butter lettuce, pear, dried cranberries, tomato, hazelnut oil, roasted nuts... basically whatever I can find goes into this baby.  For desert, usually some whole wheat toast with honey, or perhaps some carob chips -- or a large chunk of dark chocolate.  

I would say the biggest difference in my diet now is that the serious, weird cravings I have are not for sodium, or sugar -- but seriously, I am not making this up -- fruit.  I'm pretty sure this is because a piece of fruit is basically all carbs, i.e., immediate energy -- and I think I eat about 4 pieces of fruit a day, minimum.  I also eat more at breakfast now, and always include a protein source there -- something I never used to do before. 

Ok, readers -- I'm going to go all Vogue on y'all, and let you know that I'm lusting after some new, cool, cold-weather-friendly cycling gear.  I am so bored of throwing on the same fleece baselayers and the same 'ole cycling knickers every dang day.  Maybe some new duds would help me stay motivated to continue to bike commute... better continue to pick up those extra traffic reporting shifts!

1. This Sugoi Braveheart jersey, available at www.sugoi.com.  The pattern is so awesome -- like Burberry, but with tech fabric!  Love it. 

2. This jacket and knickers from Harlot Clothing Co., a cycling brand that has a ton of street style to go with the technical element.  I could sooo see myself hanging out at Whole Foods in this outfit.

          The Sophia Jacket:

Harlot's Scarlet-X Tech Knicker (both available at www.harlotwear.com)

3. And finally, just 'cause -- I've gotta have this.  It's the KOR ONE 'Hydration Vessel' (OK, people, it's a water bottle, but isn't that so awesome that KOR is in denial of that?  Ha ha!)  Each color corresponds to a different eco-friendly organization that gets a part of the profits.  WAY slicker then carrying around the beat-up water bottle that I use while riding.  Word is that both Gwenyth Paltrow and Cameron Diaz have one.  I think I would actually be more motivated to stay hydrated with this design-snobby item.  (Snag it at www.onlinefitness.com).

Whenever I tell someone I bike commute -- I often get the (rather insensitive) comment. 'Ooh, I think bikers are sooooo annoying... they never obey traffic laws."  Hello!??!?  Didn't I just tell you I am one of "THEM"!??!?  I wish people would dialogue more politely about this subject, which I actually think is very important.  I too, think that it is very annoying when intense, risk-taking cyclists put everyone on the road (vehicles, peds, other cyclists) in danger by not obeying traffic laws.  That said, I've posted here before that I do not come to a full stop at every stop sign or red light if I can safety move through the intersection without disrupting the flow of vehicle traffic, therefore blatantly breaking the law.

I read a great article in Slate on this issue.  The full text can be found here.  In a nutshell, the article debates all the pros and cons of allowing cyclists to legally do what I described above, otherwise known as 'The Rolling Stop.'  Basically, Idaho is the only state that actually has a law on the books saying it's OK for riders to roll through red lights and stop signs if there is no other vehicle traffic.  I've found that here in Chicago, if you bend the law a little bit, cops will not ticket cyclists -- they probably have too much other stuff coming across on the scanner.

Yet I agree with the author of the Slate piece that more serious infractions of traffic laws-- like driving the wrong way on one-way streets-- SHOULD induce some sort of crack-down.  Unfortunately, with all of the big-picture problems this city is dealing with, I think it's probably going to be left to the cycling community to police ourselves.  We need to realize that some drivers are always going to judge those who bike as dangerous/annoying because of their bad experiences with the bad apples, and we all have a responsibility to represent ourselves well on the road.

A few days ago, reader Dave asked how he could bike commute into the Loop from Arlington Heights.  Fortunately, an experienced cyclist reading this blog has just the convoluted road-tested route for you... if you've got the guts.

Here's what he suggests...

"...taking Palatine, Euclid, or Golf is surely a setup for death. I used to live near the A. Hts. train station and Dave's real problem is getting beyond I-294 and the Des Plaines River. Once beyond those 2 obstacles it gets "easier". I work for a local mapping company and I hesitate to say this, but Google maps has a feature that allows you to create a route and then drag a portion (white dot on route)of the route to fit your needs. Let's say our starting point is the A.Hts. Metra station and the ending point is, um, the Boeing Building in downtown Chicago.  Hop on the train, oh wait, by bicycle, that's right.

Let me just summarize the streets I would take from that point. Sigwalt, Davis, short stretch of NW Hwy, Prospect, Warrington, Wolf, Prairie, Busse Hwy, Glenview, Monroe to Caldwell where you pickup the bike path, this will drop you off at Devon & Caldwell, Leoti, Leader, Lansing, Forest Glen, to Elston (bike lane!), Milwaukee to downtown. Don't forget the required stop at Blommer's (tell them Kye sent you)! Comes out to a little over 26 miles. It is also possible to hop off the bike path at Superdawg (Devon & Milwaukee) and that would leave you the choice of Elston or Milwaukee (personally I take Elston) If you  keep that up you'll be riding Cat 2 by summer and The Tour in '11.

Ride Fast.

--Speed Racer

These gloves could save my pinkie from falling off.  I decided my 'makeshift' winter riding gloves (which consisted of regular fingerless riding gloves, layered under some Nike fleece gloves made for running) could end up being detrimental to my preference for maintaining all 20 of my digits.  So I picked up these Pearl Izumi Cyclone gloves.  Water and wind resistant... and with enough grip to make braking and steering easy.   Forty degrees for another 2 weeks?  Bring it on, baby.

The Gear:

In reading my daily diet of online newspapers - I came across a great article on the Wall Street Journal Site.  The piece is called, "How Traffic Jams Help the Environment," and you can check out the full story here.

Essentially, the article makes the case that a certain level of frustration for commuters, i.e. traffic jams, is what may eventually 'drive' us to use public transportation, or bike, or walk to work, thereby easing stress on the planet.  The author states that widening roads, or expanding routes is not a solution:

"...projects like those almost always end up making the original problem worse because they generate what transportation planners call "induced traffic": every mile of new, open roadway encourages existing users to make more car trips, lures drivers away from other routes and tempts transit riders to return to their automobiles, with the eventual result that the new roads become at least as clogged as the old roads."

The story also addresses "congestion pricing" -- which some traffic analysts see as a silver bullet for decongestion.  This is the kind of thing they do in London (and has been very lightly touched upon in Chicago) - where you pay a fee simply for the privilage of driving into the city center (sort-of like a Tollway for the Loop).  Yet the author has this to say about that:

"...the overall result is not necessarily a gain for the environment or for public transit. If the result of congestion pricing is simply to spread traffic out, thereby maintaining or increasing total traffic volume while also making driving more pleasant for those who continue to do it, then its putative environmental benefits are fictitious."

There is a lot of food for thought here.  And I can't help but think about all of this in the context of the CTA's recent threat to charge $3 for a one-way train ride to staunch its budget hole... making Metra's monthly pass the best mass-transit value in Chicagoland.  Are Chicago residents being bandied about like a volleyball -- being forced from one option to the next, experiencing new negatives at every turn? 

Makes me glad I'm a bike commuter.  Even when it's 40 degrees and sleeting.

Recently, blog commenter Dave asked about a decent route to bike commute into the Loop from Arlington Heights.  Dave, I have to say, my first, visceral reaction to your query was 'ack!'  Having made a gnarly bike trip out to the inlaws' place in NW Suburban Palatine... I can tell you right now that it is going to take some serious dedication to do this ride a couple of times a week.  That said, it is very do-able.

Here's my first instinct:  All roads lead to Milwaukee Ave, which leads right into the Loop (ending at Canal/Lake).  So basically, get to Milwaukee.  Now, depending on where in Arlington Heights you live, you just want to find the best, safest East-West road that you can ride east to Milwaukee.  This could be Palatine Rd, Euclid Rd, or Golf Rd.  You'll probably have some hairy moments figuring out which is better.  Now... Milwaukee is great once you get south of Niles (designated bike lane, most of the way)... but I have to tell you that a resurfacing project of doomsday proportions is going on in freaking Niles.   This may drive you to detour on Harlem, and take that south for several blocks.

I think finding your quickest/safest/smoothest route is really a matter of trial and error.  Even my relatively simple commute is something I'm always tweaking -- trying to find the most efficient, bike-friendly, and relatively-pothole-free ride is like the Holy Grail for road warriors.

God Speed, and let me know what you discover!

Remember the first day of 10th grade physics when we learned that some old white dude named Newton said, "To every action there is an equal and opposite reaction?"  This post is to counter the admittedly glowing cycling-zealot post from yesterday, when I waxed poetic on the top 10 reasons to ride to work.  

Yet this companion list must be done.  I realize this list is only half the size of the original, but I really couldn't think of a full 10 on the negative side.. this despite a yucky commuting experience today (drizzly, frickin' freezing).

So, here they are: the top 5 reasons NOT to bike commute -- ascending to most negative:

5.  Gotta Plan for the Apocalypse -- in Your Backpack.

     There is so much stuff to carry around with you at all times when you bike commute.  Your hefty U-lock, your helmet, your rain gear, your gloves, your shoes, a hat, an extra layer, food, cellphone, travel toiletries, office clothing... you get the idea.  Everytime you leave the house it's a freaking production.  Like going on a day-hike in Yosemite five days a week.  This is such a pain in the (albeit firm) you-know-what.

4.  A Waterproof Jacket is HOW MUCH?

     Good quality cycling gear for commuting or otherwise costs money.  A lot of it.  And when you realize how reliant you've become on waterproof-this, dry-wicking-that, reflective-this, breathable-fiber that... you suddenly start to justify spending all that savings in your fuel budget on gear.  Case in point?   This nau jacket that I absolutely can't commute without. 

3.  Does Black Lung Still Exist?

     It can be downright disgusting out there -- huffing and puffing for air while trapped behind an emission-belching city bus or box truck.  You're doing something aerobic, therefore your lungs desire more oxygen -- and as you search for that blessed gulp of clean air, more often than not the city streets will reward you with rotting, blackened, exhaust-filled choke dust.  Yech.  (Extra gross factor for smells of excrement wafting up from the gutter in River West,  vomit on the streets of Wrigleyville, or old burritos tossed out of a car and into the street in Bucktown).

2.  Mother Nature Hath No Mercy.

    This one speaks for itself.  Just imagine being outside your warm, dry, climate-controlled car/train interior -- and for 45 minutes at a time.  You get pelted by rain, blown side-to-side by gales, freeze your fingers and toes, and end up at your destination looking like a wet, mangy dog.  In fact, my loving husband has a nickname for me describing how I look after a rainy commute home: "William Wallace."  Yep, Mel Gibson's character in Braveheart.  My hair is insane, and my mascara (if I'm too lazy to take it off) has run down my cheeks like urban warpaint.  At the time the moniker was first coined I neary cried-- but now it's kinda awesome.  "You can take my Camry -- and give me back my freedom, hah!"

1.  Getting Injured -- Or Dying.

     According to the Sun-Times, this year, 5 cyclists have been killed in Chicago in vehicle accidents.  This includes a deadly crash during "Bike to Work" week, when a cyclist was doored by an SUV - forcing the rider into traffic, where he was struck by a second car.  I think about dying pretty much every commute.  It's just part of the routine.  But that doesn't mean I don't wish things were different.  The driver of that SUV was cited with a traffic ticket for "opening a car door in traffic."  That just seems so inane.  Yet without more education/public affairs campaigns, etc.  I'm afraid "defensive cycling" is the way to go.  In other words, pretend like every vehicle on the road could kill you , and you'll likely get to your office/home in one piece.

Trust me, it's only irony that I am posting this Letterman-esque list during the height of the ratings boom being enjoyed by the philandering late night talker. 

The fact is, I've been pondering a list like this for awhile, especially during those days when my motivation to ride to work is a bit lack-luster.  Thinking about some of the benefits keeps me off the El (oh so tempting sometimes) and in the bike lane.  

Here goes, in ascending order to the most awesome reason: 

10.  Heightened Senses.

     There's nothing better than smelling fresh-baked bread at Gonella, or the sweet perfume of whatever sinful delight they're churming out at Blomer's Chocolate Factory.  Of course, being ultra-aware of what's going on around you includes the trash truck and that passed-out homeless dude, but you do feel 'at one' with the urban landscape.

9.  Time to Think.

     More than driving, when we usually distract ourselves with music/sports talk/news updates... riding provides a break from the constant 'white noise' of life.  I don't use my iPod while commuting for safety reasons, and I've had some of my best ideas and clarity of mind while churning up Damen Ave. 

8.  Saving the World.

     Not to be eco-trendy, but the fact is that while not driving, you are doing one small thing to lessen the CO2 emissions in the city.  On your commute, running other errands that you'd normally do in the car also cuts down on those short trips around town that burn through your gas tank.

7.  Becoming a Better Driver. 

     Knowing what it's like for cyclists has made me more defensive and sensitive behind the wheel.  I'm better about always signaling my next move, and am hyper-vigilant about checking my mirrors -- especially before opening my driver's side door into a bike lane.

6.  Being Part of the "Crew."

     The feeling of belonging to a secret underground community of Chicagoans who bike commute is pretty cool.  It's the code on the roads that all cyclists must stop and help a rider in need, the feeling that we're all in this together.

5.  Gaining Basic "Gearhead" Skills.

     When I was simply a recreational rider, I didn't take seriously the need to practice changing a flat.  Yet now that a flat fix determines whether I get on-air on time (crucial to my job, of course) I have actually tinkered with my bike enough to feel good about basic maintenence skills, and have successfully changed an intertube or two.  

4.  Bye-bye Google Maps Crutch. 

     This is a benefit I didn't see coming - knowing the city streets and their quirks like never before.  Traversing from one neighborhood to another is now no longer a mystery, the best routes to and from the loop are a no-brainer, and the need to lock-down bike-friendly streets has turned me into a human GPS device.

3.  Health is Wealth.

     Injecting a significant amount of physical activity into my normally sedentary daily commute/work routine has probably already added years to my life.  My cardio fitness has never been better.  My legs and core have never been leaner or more muscular.  My metabolism has never been swifter, and my cravings for processed, chemical-laden food has never been weaker.  With my body now my primary means of transportation, I treat it like a Porche.  Only the finest premium fuel for this machine, baby. 

2.  Wealth is Wealth.

     Bike commuting saves cash.  It's that simple.  Parking is free, there is no gas budget, there is no Metra/CTA fare cost.  Never worry about a parking ticket, and your car (sitting in your driveway) requires fewer oil changes.  The maintenance and gear required for your bike will set you back several hundred bucks - but you'll re-coup that investment in a few months. 

1.  The "Whoa" Factor.

     The way people react when they find out you ride to and from The Loop is the best.  They think you're slightly nuts, basically camping out 'on the fringe of society' -- and if you're like me, you get a kick out of defying the norm.  Most everyone you encounter who doesn't bike commute themselves will say things like, "Wow, isn't that dangerous?"  "How freaking far is it?"  "Even in the rain?" Yeah, I do feel like I've lost my mind sometimes, especially when a 30 mile-per-hour wind is coming at me while I'm tenuously navigating a steel grate slick with motor oil... but seriously, you read the list, so am I really that insane?   

OK, so that supposed "pothole patching crew" that was (in my mind) working on my own personal "Hell's Corner?"  (Thusly named because of its punishing terrain for delicate road bike tires...) Well, turns out the workers just tore the ground up some more, and put a metal sheet down.  Observe:

And, a tight shot of the manhole cover that, when slick with a light rain, threatens to dump me into a crazed taxi driver:

I could barely believe my eyes when I rounded the corner of the alley that feeds me onto Randolph street in front of my building... a traffic back-up several blocks long that could only mean one thing -- pothole patching! 

What's more, the crews were hard at work patching up a spot at Randolph and Canal that I had taken to calling Hell's Corner.  The moniker relates to the fact that I have to make a right turn here at the corner, and the street is so chewed up that every time I come out of this asphalt Picasso alive -- I am shocked.  This was the kind of minefield where the manhole cover at the corner was higher than the pavement, the pedestrians were always making their own crazy moves to avoid a puddle -- all I know is I have never been so happy to see those orange cones!

I did it.  I broke down and finally spent a hefty chunk of change on a nice Trek U-lock.  I got the lock not for security while at work in the Loop -- the traffic offices are in a building with a secure bike lock area, only accessible to bike commuters. 

Actually, I really need the added security for running other errands around Chicago's 'hoods -- where a trip to Whole Foods or the gym could be the end of your beautiful steed if your chain lock is the type that can be cut with tools sold at the local ACE (which mine was).

So I now have this security, but there are different ways to use the "power of the U."  The proper way, to ensure that ALL of your bike will be there when you come out of the drug store is to take off your front wheel (if it detaches) and line it up with the back wheel.  Then thread the U-lock through each wheel, the bike rack/meter/tree and frame.  This does take some work.  And time.  But the front wheel is worth about $70 bucks, and the back (with the components for gears, etc.) is worth about $100.  Thieves do take the wheels if they aren't locked with the frame.

The faster way to use the "U" is to short cut this process -- and not worry about the wheels.  It's so tempting!  But then again, physics dictate you wouldn't get very far without this component of the machine... it's worth it to take an extra couple of minutes I guess.  After all, I wouldn't leave my car unlocked on a Chicago city street with the keys sitting in full view, now would I?

This week was an extremely mixed-bag, weather-wise.  Now in my car-commuting days, I would have noted the different forecasts calling for high winds, clouds, a few showers, some sun, and a storm with mild interest.  Now, though -- I find myself watching studying reports like a addict.  (Paul Konrad, Duffy, and Tim, you are my gurus).

On the bike, you are extremely vulerable to mother nature.  On Monday, the high winds were so extreme by abs were sore the next day.  That's because I practically rode the whole way home standing up on the pedals, using my core for stabilization, to avoid being blown into a parked or moving vehicle.  Several times along this commute I noticed a few commuters giving up to walk their bikes.  A lot of these riders were "fixies"  (fixed-gear riders).  They don't have the ability to gear down when a heavy wind strikes (allowing you to keep pedaling, even through the strongest gale).

Tonight (Friday), it looks to be a gnarly, wet-rat-esque ride.  I'm prepared.  I know I'll arrive home with my rain pants matted to my body by sweat, and my bike splattered with muck.  It's sooo worth it though -- the hot shower and glass of burgandy that await make anything bearable.

If there's one thing that drivers do that scares/annoys me on my bike commute it's NOT SIGNALING.  After more than a month of riding to work, I'm getting way more in tune with people's road safety habits, and I've finally realized why I hate this so much. 

A lot of bike commuting is about anticipation.  For example, if someone just finished parallel parking, I'm going to anticipate they are going to open their door into the bike lane, and I'll plan to swerve to avoid getting doored.  If a light is on the verge of turning yellow, I'll look ahead, and try to gage whether I'll be able to make the intersection safely, or if I'll need to stop at the light.  At a four-way stop -- I'll see if a pedestrian forces one vehicle to wait longer -- therefore allowing me to pass through the intersection safely, though out of turn.  You get the drift.

Yet so many drivers don't signal (and idiotic cyclists, too, but that's for another time).  This annoyed me when I DROVE to work as well -- because people would be turning in and out of the side streets with no warning -- forcing you to slam on your brakes.  Well, it's even worse on the bike.  I can't anticipate my next move when drivers are just making decisions with no warning.  There may not be a ton of vehicle traffic when they make that sudden right into the gas station -- but a cyclist may be in the vicinity -- and we need to know what you're thinking as well!

Here are a few things that I've found to be essential for bike commuting.  It's a strange jumble of products -- but equally useful in a jam.

First, the practical.  For changing a tire punctured by a piece of glass, rusty hanger, or twisted nail -- this lifetime warranty set of tire levers is the ultimate.  For anyone who's had the experience of flimsy plastic breakage -- pick up some of these hefty bad boys, called Pedro's Tire Levers -- every local bike shop has 'em: 

Also, the nutritional.  If you don't have an easliy-accessible source of carbohydrates handy, you can sometimes bonk during your commute.  I've had this happen to me, where my energy reserves were so low that I drifted through a red light in a fog of weakness and stupidity.  Apples rock.  All other fruit is too bruisable (word?).  Here's one in a mesh pocket in my backpack:

And -- the superficial.  Yes vanity it's a sin, but who wants to look like death-warmed-over every day at the office?  No time for a luxurious hair-washing in your buildings' gym?  (Or no showers at your workplace?)  This product rocks.  It's Orlando Pita's T3 Dry Shampoo.  Just spray and massage into your slightly sweaty roots -- and your locks look totally fresh and non-greasy.  It's pricey ($28), but worth it, because a can of this will last forever (you don't need more than a smidge to achieve desired results...) 

My post yesterday on "World Carfree Day" and the organization's lofty goals has sparked a debate.  I'm putting the comments in an actual blog post, because I don't want them to be missed!  (For clarity, check out my original post before entering the fray).  The first Comment is from somebody at Carfree Chicago.  The response is from regular blog commenter Speed Racer.  Where do you stand?

COMMENT #1:

I think of Car-Free Day as being about personal choices rather than getting rid of cars altogether. And for a surprisingly high number of people in Chicago, car-free living is an everyday reality, not a dream. One-third of our city's households don't have cars -- that's about one million car-free Chicagoans. Many neighborhoods count an even higher percentage of residents among the car-free ranks. This Lakeview East Chamber study pegs the car-free count at 40%, with 56% having car-free commutes: http://www.lakevieweast.com/open-business-in-chicago-economic-study.htm . I think this day is about celebrating these great choices that we have and thinking about ways we can make car-free living even better, so that it's a more viable option for more people.  -Carfree Chicago

COMMENT #2:

Mr/Ms Carfree Chicago:
I have to say I'm a bit hesitant about your numbers but perhaps that's because Kye seems to refer in her post to the legal boundaries of Chicago while I get the idea you have defined your Chicago as, let's say, within 4 miles of downtown. Within that imaginary 4 mile radius I see two problems, the expense of parking, and a HUGE range income levels. When you can easily pay tens of thousands of dollars for a parking space to go with your hip downtown high-rise condo then I can see why you'd choose public transportation, and within that radius you have pretty good transportation service access. If you have to take the dreaded bus (people hate buses) you are only on it for maybe 20 minutes. Move to the far reaches of the legal boundaries of Chicago and suddenly you could easily reach a 30 minute mark just to get to a train or Metra line, and even then those two options may not go where you need to go. If not you're back to the bus, and frankly if that's the option and I have to spend an hour on the bus I'm probably going to opt for my car. Now go even farther out from downtown and the transportation options drop significantly. In Chicagoland much of the commuting options look like a spoked wheel with all lines leading to downtown. If I need to go from Schaumburg to Evanston then you have a problem.

I would think that income levels play an important role in reducing the number of cars in the "4 mile radius Chicago". We have the wealthy of Streeterville and the much lower income of near south and west side. One group fits the Mercedes profile to other fits the "I'll take the bus because I can't afford a car" profile.

I'm all for $6 a gallon gas because in general it might get us fat Americans off our butts but ultimately, as Kye said, you without a doubt have your heart in the right place but there are realistic obstacles to overcome. I do my part everyday to help your cause. I encourage my kids to walk or bike to school. We try our best to reduce our trips to Jewel, Menards, etc. For a suburban family we "only" put about 8,000 miles-a-year on the car. All representing alternative ways to help your carfree message.

Keep spreading the message, we are behind it.  --Speed Racer

I've been bike commuting 5 days a week now for nearly a month-and-a-half.  While I'm still confident that this is a good thing in the long run, for me economically, and for my eco-footprint in this city, I'd be lying if I said that every day I was excited to get on my trusty steed and hit the bike lane.

Whereas, in your car, you create a sterile, hermetically sealed 'bubble world' tailored to your specific likes and dislikes (controlling the temperature, the music, etc.), on the bike you are really at the mercy of the environment around you, and sometimes that can be downright unsavory.

Take for instance, my ride in today.  Never before have you realized how dang loud the sirens on an ambulance are until one passes two feet from your left ear.  I still don't know if I have my hearing 100% back after that experience on Damen.  Then, on Milwaukee, my own personal nightmare -- the dreaded Trash Truck Trap.  This is the dry-heave-inducing experience of riding alongside/behind a garbage truck.  Now, this is not a rip on the city's sanitation dept. -- they are just doing their job, and the drivers are generally good to cyclists.  But my gosh, the stench!  Without the ability to close your car windows, and needing to take deep breaths to keep your lungs working--  the reeking, rotting, smell of Chicago Life envelops you until you can escape through the next yellow light.

Rides like this one sometimes have me wishing for the cool faux-leather interior of the Camry.  Oh Blessed Generic Pod of Ordinary -- why have I forsaken you? 

How do veteran bike commuters stay exited about the ride?  Does thinking about the money you don't spend parking/fueling-up inspire?  Do you reward yourself with soy chai lattes? (OK, that last one was my idea...)

Help?!??! 

Hey you, betcha didn't know today is a very special holiday!  Yep, it's World Car Free Day.  Now, I know you're skeptical.  Believe me, I would be too, and I'm the kind of gal who organized a suburban block clean-up on 'Earth Day' back in 1992 -- Waaaay before it was cool to "be green" and the prefix "eco" meant "economics," not "ecologically."

Yet apparently, every September 22, people from around the world get together in the streets, intersections, and neighbourhood blocks to get out of their cars, and explore alternative transportation.

As you can gather from this paragraph directly from the World Carfree Network's site, these folks mean business:

"We do not want just one day of celebration and then a return to "normal" life. When people get out of their cars, they should stay out of their cars. It is up to us, it is up to our cities, and our governments to help create permanent change to benefit pedestrians, cyclists, and other people who do not drive cars. 

Let World Carfree Day be a showcase for just how our cities might look like, feel like, and sound like without cars...365 days a year.

As the climate heats up, World Carfree Day is the perfect time to take the heat off the planet, and put it on city planners and politicians to give priority to cycling, walking and public transport, instead of to the automobile."

OK, so that sounds awesome -- but it is just a fantasy world for most of us.  Consider me, a test case.  For 1 year and 3 months I was a gas-guzzling, CO2 emmitting son-of-a-gun, with a commute that was 2-hrs round trip.  Where I was going?  Mass transit was only an option if I was willing to part with 5 hrs a day -- NOT realistic.  I only recently have the opportunity to bike commute because of a Loop work location, and an awesomely secure area for my bike in the building.

And even my paltry 7-mile commute down-and-back takes committment and planning EVERY SINGLE DAY,  and yeah, by Friday evening I'm freaking exhausted, and the last thing I want to do is get on that spindly seat and propel myself through air choked with diesel fumes, avoiding death at least twice a night. 

So I guess what I'm saying is -- hey, World Carfree Network -- your heart is in the right place, but your head is a mess.  Practically speaking, for Chicagoland residents, your dream is just that.  And for those of us lucky enough to have an opportunity to be carfree -- we're doing the best we can, day-in, day-out, to contribute to society positively in the teeniest way, and that's all we can ask of ourselves.

Over the past few weeks I've written about my many brushes with death as a bike commuter when it comes to automobiles, but lately I've had some gnarly close-calls with pedestrians as well.

It's weird, but it seems as though folks crossing busy streets sans crosswalk (i.e., jaywalking) only pause to check for cars, and not for a cyclist.  This is ignorant though, considering that away from a crosswalk, bicyclists are likely doing about 20 miles-per-hour. 

The most recent incident that freaked me out had to do with a guy who had one hand pressing his cell up to his ear, and the other holding a styrofoam package of carryout.  Milwaukee Avenue is pretty crazy as it is, so my heart almost stopped when this pedestrian sorta glanced both ways, then meandered right in front of me in the bike lane.

I swerved to avoid the collision and all I could muster was a "Whoa!"  He called out "my bad!" and kept on walking.  I'm just lucky there wasn't a car in the lane I swerved into.  I am adding spaced-out pedestrians to my list of things to be vigilant about now on the ride.

Despite logging roughly 14-miles-per-day on my bike for my commute alone, I'm finding that one challenge of my new lifestyle is finding the desire to keep up my regular cardio workouts.

This may sound weird at first, but I've noticed lately that I now barely break a sweat on my commute.  I attribute this to two things.  One, I'm getting a lot more proficient on the bike.  Jamming up a slight hill while trying not to get squeezed by the buick with the duct-taped bumper now barely registers a burn in my quads.  My heart is definately not getting the workout that I was at the start of this experiment.

So today, I am re-committing myself to squeezing in other cardio workouts at LEAST three times a week to supplement the day-in-day-out calorie burn of the commute.  This could mean asking (making) my husband tow me along for one of his heart-attack neighborhood runs, or waking up early to make a spin class at the gym. 

Basically, my goal is to get to the point where during a physical, a doctor might ask, 'are you by chance a tri-athlete?'  (That happened to me once- I was unemployed, and had nothing to do but run around the city, and when the doc tested my heart rate, she said is was equivalent to like, top athletes.  Probably a highlight of my medical life.  Sad, I know... but I love bio-physics and stuff.)  

This hasn't happened to me yet -- but many bike commuters I've talked to have had the horrific experience of being "doored" or, hit by someone opening their driver-side door after parking on the street.

I met fellow bike-commuter Megan, and she said she came away from this nasty incident relatively unscathed, in fact, she said the driver was more shaken up than she was.

I've had some close calls, of course, but I've gotten into the habit of checking inside the cars as I'm riding, so I can anticipate whether anyone might be opening their door into the bike lane.

This brings me to another point -- awareness.  I find that there are so many things that my mind has to process on an average commute that I would never consider listening to my iPOD on my ride.  For me, every sense is needed just to navigate my route safely.  Yet I know many others listen to music on their commute.  Perhaps they've been doing it a lot longer -- and have the experience under their belt to relax a little more!

Just found this little nugget on the food blog at the LA Times.  They are asking the question: What do you eat in the car?

According to statisticians, sandwiches are easy, grapes are a healthy choice, while crunchy tacos and drippy hamburgers are just too messy -- at least when you're eating while actually driving (which, lets face it, is the whole point of eating in the car). 

Americans don't want to eat messy foods while driving, a preference that has made fast food restaurants and food makers take notice, says an article from reporternews.com.  Menu items rated driver-friendly included chicken nuggets, hamburgers and sandwich wraps.

The Dashboard Dining Index Study, a study by Kelton Research, found that about 30% of Americans eat in their cars at least twice a week. The study randomly selected participants from fast food drive-throughs and surveyed them after eating a specific menu item about the messiness, convenience and portability of the food.

I don't know about you, but I always think about the delivery method of the food I'm choosing before taking it into my car. 

The ultimate for energy on the go is a baggie full of something like a large nut -- perhaps a salted cashew or almond -- perfect.  Anything smaller will fall through your fingers and go to that place under your seat where pennies and pens go to die.  I love the idea of grapes, too.  Bananas are good.  Apples are bad -- the juice always squirts out onto my shirt.

What are the best portable drive-thru foods?  The worst?

Considering this is a blog about a transportation alternative to car-commuting, I'm going to use this forum to vent a little about mass transit in this region.  Specifically, the way Metra officials appear to have drug their collective feet all the way to the modern era.

I am referencing September 9th's changes regarding Metra, which have brought a new, much-better-looking website debuting today, and the ability to use that website to purchase tickets/passes with a credit/debit card (Metra then mails them to you).

This story, of course, has been a long time coming, and it will continue to evolve.  By February 2010 Metra has to install a system to enable customers to use their credit card at train stations to buy tickets.  Yes, I said "has to."  All of this would never be happening without legislation mandating this modernization.  Granted, it IS an unfunded mandate.  Meaning, lawmakers say 'do it,' and Metra has to figure out how to pay for it.  Now, hearing Metra officials quoted in various news stories, you will notice them reference the Springfield baddies who have imposed upon them the dreaded "UM" (unfunded mandate).  You may also see the point brought up that credit card companies will be skimming all of the user fees off the top as profit, and with Metra reluctant to raise ticket prices, they'll be taking a huge financial hit by providing this service.

Now, I understand, I really do.  As an interest-spewing Average American Consumer, I am well aware of the credit/debit industry and all it's wrought.  But seriously.  It's 2009, and every major cosmopolitan city (a category which it's obvious Chicago considers itself a part of) has at least some digitization in place when it comes to mass transit (credit/debit being the bare bones, Smart Cards on the higher end - ooh London!)  Besides, when the lady who owns a small nail shop on Western is paying similar fees on every relatively paltry transaction, she may not like it -- but she knows she'd lose countless customers without this convenience.

So what I'm saying is, yes, we know your budgets have been stretched to the max for years, we know that any extra money you get you first want to use to replace the sketchy rail cars on the Electric Line.  We know the credit card companies are going to suck you dry until possible increased ridership and a streamlined system starts to pay back your investment in this technology.... but get over it.  We commuters are already stressed to the max, whether we bike, ride, or drive to work, and you won't find sympathy here. 

Well, another entry here about the unspoken, unwritten code on the roads between cyclists:  never leave a man behind.  This is a code that I'm discovering that occurs when riders are in need -- and I experienced it twice over the holiday weekend. 

Basically, the code is this:  if you, while on a ride, see any other rider off to the side of the road/path looking to be mechanically or physically hurting -- you offer your help, usually with a shout like, 'everything cool man?' or, 'you guys all good?' The downed cyclist in question will respond with something to the effect of:  "just a flat, Bro, I got it... thanks," or, "just a little road rash, I'm fine, thanks." 

Saturday in Wisconsin my husband's seat somehow became bent out of whack in the middle of an epic 30-miler on some country roads.  We were off to the side of County Road Z, with me trying to brace his handlebars while he attempted to re-bend the soft metal (stupid us, no wrench!), when a dude tightly packed into his racing duds (he never met a cheese curd he didn't love) rode by and offered his help.  Very cool.  Then, on Labor Day, with the hubby suffering a flat tire on the way to a family gathering, another cyclist out for his morning ride stopped to ensure we had what we needed. 

It feels good.  It's like a roving pit crew of strangers out there having your back.  I saw a girl on the lakefront trail wipe out seriously the other day on a patch of gravel near Montrose.  She was dressed casually, and did not appear to be a regular bike commuter -- so I think she was weirded out when I stopped to offer assistance and moral support for what I know is a painful experience.  It's just part of the code, Bro.

OK, so as I'm approaching the end of my third full week of bike commuting, I felt it was time to really knuckle-down and calculate some actual statistics regarding what (if any) cash I've saved in gas, how I'm helping the environment, and how many extra cals I'm burning.  I used a really cool "bike commuting" calculator that gear-mecca REI has on their site.

First, you put in how many miles you bike in a week = 72 (14.4 mi./day, round trip).

The information on calories burned on the bike/week = 3,384

Then, it calculated how much money I saved in fuel per week = $15.84

Finally, the Carbon Dioxide (CO2) reduction per week = 69 lbs  (for every 6 lbs of gas saved, you save about 20 lbs of the burn-off, CO2).

So what am I taking away from all of this?  I'm not really saving a ton of money.  That 15 bucks a week is being obliterated by my need to buy more food for all the extra calories I'm burning.  Yet I do feel good about my reduced carbon "footprint."  Not in an ultra-hippie, hemp-clad sort-of-way, but in a practical, stress-free, "one-with-the-road" kind-of-way.

Just a reminder as we (too) slowly chug towards this holiday weekend, Metra's bike restriction policy will be in effect, system-wide.  Here's an exerpt from Metra's web site regarding bikes on trains:  "Bicycles are permitted on all weekday trains arriving in Chicago after 9:30 AM and leaving Chicago before 3:00 PM and after 7:00 PM, and on all weekend trains, with the following exceptions:"

• Blues Fest June 12 - 14 (weekend only: June 13 & 14)
• All days during Taste of Chicago June 26 - July 5
• Lollapalooza August 7 - 9
• Air and Water Show August 15 - 16
• Jazz Fest September 4 - 6 (weekend only: September 5 & 6)

Even if you aren't headed to Jazz Fest, it's probably a safe bet that you won't be able to bring a bike on system-wide, due to the anticipation of increased ridership on Sat. and Sun.

Today on my commute something odd happened.  It was as if the Universe quickly spun into a parallel of itself - spitting me out into a momentary alternate reality.  Here's what went down:  I, on my bike, scared the bejeezes out of a driver.

Now, this is very strange considering I have spent the last few weeks doing a "Yay I'm alive!" celebration dance every time I cross the threshold of my apartment after putting myself at the mercy of Chicago commuters.

What happened? Well, this lady in a silver Acura made a last minute decision to pull into a mini mart tucked into a small strip mall -- and she made the move from the right lane without checking her blind spot.  Which I was in.  Thing is, it all happened in what seemed like slow motion -- seeing her make the move, realizing I'd likely get hit at a relatively low speed, and I was making corrective motions subconsciously, and practically bracing for my next date with the pavement. 

Yet somehow, she slammed on the brakes, and stopped an inch from me.  I just went on with my ride, yet she looked like she'd seen a Garneau-clad ghost.  I had seriously startled her.  I know that next time she's on a street like this, well-traveled by cyclists, she'll be checking that blind spot.

I know there are cyclists with years of knowledge under their spandex that are reading my blog, and finally one of you wrote in with some sweat-stained tips for us relative-newbies out there!  Thanks much, "Speed Racer!"

Kye:

I suppose a loaded handgun is not quite what you had in mind because when it rains the cars either choose to ignore you, aim for you, are mad at you for having all that fun, or maybe just don't see you. I would have to say the number one piece of equipment would have to be a helmet, and not just for the nasty weather, all the time. After 20+ years of racing I can tell you that when an accident happens you will be down before you knew what hit you. Protect the head. Lecture complete.

The nasty weather really depends on the time of year. In the nice weather the only thing that's nice to have is a backpack with a rain cover. It's just water and if you're not the wicked witch there really isn't much to worry about. Picture a nice shower if need be. In the cold rainy/snowy weather the key (at least for me) is keeping the feet warm. They make various styles of "booties" that will still allow you to wear your clipless cleats and they work pretty well. Cover the face as best you can. As for the rest of the body you may be surprised how little you can get away with. The body tends to warm up after about 7 minutes, so suffer through that much and you won't be taking off layer after layer. Cross country ski gloves work great in the cold weather.

And finally, invest a bit in your equipment. I know it looks pricey at first but I can tell you that 10+ years later I am still wearing some of the same clothes, 20,000+ commuting miles later;
fashion be damned.  Keep up the good work, on the bike, in the studio, and with your writing cause you are hilarious.

- "Speed Racer"

There's nothing like the humiliation of considering yourself at least a decent road cyclist, beyond the days of falling on your butt -- and then discovering that you can still wipe out, hard -- in front of many people.

It happened when I was trying to enter the parking lot of Whole Foods in Lincoln Park.  Not only is this giant structure a mecca of organic produce, but it's become a hot-spot for NFL Pre-season micro-brew drinking-- and the place was packed.  I was trying to be cool.  But those slick old trolley/railroad ties in front of the store had other ideas.  In full view of about 20 yuppies, my front tire suddenly skid across the unusual surface, then slipped into a deep groove, sending my body careening toward the pavement.  My pride hurt the most, but here's a gross picture of some of my road rash anyhow:

That's on the elbow - and I've got some other gnarly spots.  Ah well.  Just goes to show, you're never too experienced or too advanced to fall victim to uneven pavement.

I got this comment the other day from John, and thought I'd reprint it here, along with my response:

"As a sometime-cyclist who (unfortunately) ends up driving more than riding in the city, I have a bone to pick with bikers.  While I love the fact that people embrace bike-riding in the city, I wish they would take the time to learn (and abide by) the rules of the road.  I can't tell you the number of times I've almost hit bikers because they don't stop at stop signs and come flying out of nowhere into an intersection or ride blindly the wrong way down the middle of a one-way street with no regard for the vehicles trying to avoid them.  Kudos for lightening the traffic and being reducing your carbon footprint, but do us all a favor, bikers - before you head out there, learn the rules of the road!!"  -John

John: I couldn't be more in your corner. In fact, I'm so far into your corner I'm wiping the blood off your eyebrow with a wax-dipped Q-tip. I believe that if you are choosing to ride on the roadways with cars, you should obey most of the rules of the road that cars do. After all, you wanna play with the big boys, be prepared to meet the same standards. I think there are two kinds of cyclists who are most dangerous. One, the inexperienced. These folks don't use and may not even be aware of basic hand signals. They are scary even for other cyclists. Two, the uber-risk-taking-serious-cyclist. This is equally as freaky, as these cyclists make extremely risky moves in intersections that could cause danger for drivers and bicyclists alike. The thing is, I'm not going to pretend to obey every letter of the law on my bike. I mean, at a four-way stop, if I don't see any cross-traffic, I may slow down, but I won't stop at that stop sign. It's just about knowing what's a time-saver, and what's stupid.  -Kye

When I left for work on my bike this morning the skies were grey, but I was NOT anticipating the deluge of rain that would start as soon as I was two blocks into my commute.  On a tight schedule, there was no way to turn back... but I wasn't prepared.  I don't have any real rain gear to speak of -- and needless to say that in a matter of moments water was streaming off my helmet, spitting up from my tires onto my legs, and generally I was miserable.

Luckily I live close to many a bike shop.  This was an emergency stop.  I got to one of my favs, and the guy looked at me with pity in his eyes.  He knew.  I knew.  I was such a rookie.  I swallowed my pride, and he helped me buy and install a back fender.  I also picked up some waterproof rain pants that Velcro tight around the ankle to prevent getting into your gears or interfering with your pedal stroke. 

An example of a bike with a fender below:

On the road again --- of course it had stopped raining by now!  So I rode the rest of the way as if I were a high school wrestler -- you know, sweating it out in too many layers to try and drop weight before a fight?  So musty and damp and perspiring, I made it.  Thank heavens for the gym/showers on the 7th floor.  I was like a drowned rat.  Live and learn.  Or, I should say, ride and learn.

What are your tips for bike commuting in nasty weather?   

Every weekday evening I come face-to-nostril with one of my greatest weaknesses:  chocolate.  You see, my new bike commute takes me right up Milwaukee Avenue, and where it intersects with Kinzie, in the West Town area, there is a deliciously sinister smell that wipes out even the most disgusting exhaust emissions.  It's the Blommer Chocolate Factory, and by the smell of it, you don't need a golden ticket to know they are churning out some serious treats in there.

The only problem is -- I'm usually already getting hungry as I pedal by -- and it's almost torture to be enveloped in that rich, chocolately aroma.  Here's a pic of the Blommer gift store:

Mmmmmm...

Across Chicago, there are neighborhoods where drivers are used to bike commuters whizzing by, and neighborhoods where drivers act as though they've never seen this new-fangled invention known as a bicycle before, let alone ever shared the road with one.

How can you tell if a 'hood has a high "Bike IQ?" Here's a prime example.  Sometimes you'll be pedaling along (in a marked bike lane) and you'll see a hulking delivery truck jutting out into the right lane on the horizon.  In a bike-friendly area, drivers will allow you to proceed first around the protruding FedEx truck (you still signal that you are going, though), before they themselves squeeze through.  In an area not so friendly to cyclists, you may find yourself dangerously caught between a massive truck, oncoming traffic, and the car right behind you.

From my (admittedly limited) experience so far, I think the Northcenter/Lakeview area, plus the Bucktown/Wicker Park areas are among the best for cycling IQ.

A view of Bucktown from redfin.com:

Some of the worst, where I can feel most threatened, are the Mayfair area on the Northwest Side, and the city's still mostly-industrial areas like River West/River North.

I'd love to hear from other cyclists on this issue.  Where do you feel most safe or unsafe?

Let it be known that I am a gearhead.  Not a "good with all-things-mechanical" gearhead.  A person who loves all sports clothing and equipment that is high-tech, sweat-wicking, eco-friendly, lycra-poly-blended, sleekly tailored, and generally over-priced.  What's worse, I seem to believe that if I paid $75 bucks for a Pearl Izumi cycling skirt, I'm going to ride better.

That said, it's hard to believe that I held out so long on Lance Armstrong's new collaboration with Nike on the "Live Strong" line of performace gear/post-workout gear.  Yet I finally broke.  Or, I should say, my mother did.  She bought me this very cool lycra-blend hoodie that I was staring at lustily, and it rocks.  One wrist even has yellow trim, as though you are wearing Lance's ubiquitous fund-raising rubber bracelet.  Is there any gear you can't resist?

For the next few weeks, my traffic blog is going to take a pretty major U-turn.  It's actually a reflection of a big construction project that has nothing to do with IDOT, and everything to do with melding CLTV's day-to-day operation with that of WGN's. 

This consolodation by our parent company (Tribune) means that we at Chicagoland's only local 24-hour news channel are moving work space -- from the Western 'burbs -- to the Northwest side of Chicago.  For me, your traffic anchor -- I am studio-less for a few weeks, and therefore reporting your afternoon road conditions from the headquarters of Navteq Traffic, which is located down in Chicago's Loop.  Why am I telling you all of this?  Well, I've decided to put my money where my mouth is -- and try bike commuting.

Yep, I'm that person at cocktail parties always moaning about the slow slog in the car everyday... saying, 'if only I worked in the city, I could bike to work....'  Well, now that this transition period has landed in my lap, I would be hypocritical not to take this chance to see what bike commuting in Chicago is REALLY like.

So follow my blog.  I'm going to describe experiences like almost getting hit by a cab on Day 2 (and it was actually MY fault for trying to go straight through a one-way, and not turn right with him, and the rest of the traffic).  I'll tell you about Mill, the awesome security guard here at the Boeing building who, when he saw me fumbling in my backback for my security pass to get into the bike-lock area-- sweat dripping down onto my exhaust-stained face -- opened the heavy black gated door FOR me, with a smile.

This is about a real person cycling to work everyday of the week -- to a job where a Naked Raygun t-shirt and nylon cargo board shorts AREN'T worn in the workplace.  I am a recreational cyclist, sure -- but I'm not a fixed-gear trendster with an '80s style tight-fitting Euro cap and a commuting bag made from tire treads in Amsterdam.

So commute with me.  If you've ever wondered if riding a bike to work may or may not be a good choice for you, get on my wheel -- I may just pull you into the slipstream.

CLTV is covering the story about the lakefront parking no longer being free in many spots for recreating Chicagoans.  My first thought on the issue was -- jeez, I can't believe it took the city so long to hand over the reins to the quarter-chomping Standard Parking Co.! 

In a metropolis of this size, it's simply unrealistic to expect to park for free -- and this is true whether you're pawning jewelry on a remote stretch of Irving Park Rd, or you're unloading your twins from the mini van and plopping them in a $500 stroller for a lakefront jog.  You don't get access for free.  It would be idiotic for the city (i.e. their contracted meter vendor) to not take one of the most-used areas in the city and earn something from it.  As the Park District officials pointed out in Aaron Baskerville's story -- it's either pony up, or pay elsewhere, like in more (warning -- P word coming up here....) PROPERTY TAXES.

Chicago is teeming with vehicles.  The lakefront is usually jammed with bodies and the cars they drove in on.  It's a simple supply-and-demand issue.  I still want the nasty beer cans picked up off of North Avenue Beach after a holiday weekend so my bike tires won't go flat after every party spot.  If that means packing quarters to park near the path, count me in.

Dear Guv - am texting u from the IKE -- wait, scratch that...I mean, I'm pulled off the side of the road to send u this message - because I know that it's officially illegal now.  I'm writing to say how gr8 I think it is that we must pass law after law to discourage distracted driving, because apparently common sense is something that u and Springfield have deemed nobody comes by naturally.  Oops-- my scalding hot beverage just spilled into my lap, and I almost rear-ended someone.  Maybe there should be a law against drive-thru coffee joints -- it's just too easy to nab these foam-topped missiles of mass D-struction!  LOL ; )  The insurance companies have also done recent research 2 suggest that chicken wings should not be eaten while B-hind the wheel -- but I think I need the state legislators to officially put something on paper.  I mean, I'm 2 stupid to realize on my own that slurping minestrone while e-mailing by mortgage broker is perhaps an unsafe driving technique.  Thanks for legislating -- I will await your reply on the next step for we helpless humans before making my next mental move. Text U L8ter...

I have a wimpy, small-ish chain lock for my bike, but after reading about how one of the Lincoln Park mugging victims fought off several guys with his substantial U-lock, I'm thinking about an upgrade.

Here's an excerpt from the 36-year-old's account of the attack, from the WGN-TV website:

After the men looked like they were going to approach, the victim grabbed the U-lock resting on his handlebar, let his bike fall to the ground and started swinging the lock wide.  "That's when I said, 'You got what you want,' " the man recalled.  One of the attackers told his friends they should leave since the victim was putting up a fight, and they fled, the victim recalled.  "This lock was my saving grace, really," the victim said.

Have you ever had the experience of thinking you are pretty decent at a certain skill (athletic or otherwise), only to be utterly and completely humbled by a massive number of people who have devoted much more time an energy to said skill?  That's what happened to me over the weekend.

Readers of this blog know that I often write about cycling here, despite the fact that the hard-core two-wheeling folks who pedal their way to work make up a pretty small portion of the Chicagoland commuting public.  I basically write about cycling because I love it - and it's my main hobby and stress-reliever when I'm not on the air.

If you don't know much about the formal organizing of the sport -- basically there are three types of formal competition in road cycling.  First, there's Time-trialing.  This is just you, racing alone against the clock over relatively short distances.  Road races are lengthier, and can stretch over a few days, and in this category falls a "Grand Tour" like the Tour de France -which is about a month long.  A third variation is Criterium Racing, or "Crits."  In a Crit, you do laps around a fixed course that's 1-2 miles long -- with several turns and short straight-aways.  You race in heats of anywhere from 20-100 riders -- and dive in and out of turns literally inches away from fellow racers. 

This past weekend, I decided to dip my Shimano-clad toe into the very active pro-am racing circuit here in the Midwest by taking part in the Tour of Elk Grove - more specifically, the Women's Category 3/4 Criterium.  This was the "lowest" level that the Elk Grove event was offering for women... and silly me, I thought I was in great cycling shape, and at the very least would make a good showing.  Hah!  I sensed I was in major trouble when the 25 women in the heat pedaled to the starting line.  Every single rider in the pack was sponsored except for me and some poor soul on a beach cruiser.  Their jerseys were covered with cool cycling-club logos like "XXX" or "Spidermonkeys" or even alcoholic beverage logos.  Oh man.  I even heard some fierce-looking riders talking about the drive up from Missouri that morning.  Huh?  These were chicks who had crossed state lines, and were obviously serious about competitive riding.  What had I gotten myself into?  I was about to find out. 

At the sound of the starting gun -- the pack was off at a full sprint to the first corner.  I knew from reading something on the web called "Crit 101" that if I fell too far behind the peloton from the start I'd be dead.  Cycling is all about physics.  If you can't use the slipstream of other riders in a pack to conserve energy, you WILL fall so far behind you will never catch up.  You can be pedaling just as fast alone as the group is -- and you are still dead in the water, becasue they have aerodynamics on their side.  We came out of the first turn still sprinting.  I was hanging in there-- but my heart was beating so hard I felt like a sledge hammer was pounding me directly in the chest.  My so-called 'training' had not prepared me to reach maximum cardio output 2 minutes into this race.  Needless to say, when I found myself grasping onto the back of a 6-woman group I was estatic.  My breathing ragged, my mouth hanging open like a thirsty dog -- I was clinging onto their back wheels for dear life.  I went so deep into a state of physical pain that my mental focus was laser-like.  I've read about this happening... you have to psych yourself out just to deal with what you're putting your body through.  With every pump of the pedals, with every short sprint out of every turn I faced my greatest fears -- embarrassment, humiliation, weakness.  This, dear reader, was the very definition of a character-building experience.  

After 30 minutes or so, I heard the heavenly tinkle of the "last lap" bells.  Did I have anything left for a finishing sprint?  No.  But I stood on my pedals anyhow -- visualizing Lance Armstrong's side to side power-stroke that won him 7 Tours de France.  I came in 23rd out of 25th -- but I've never felt so fulfilled by anything so horrific.  I literally felt 'high' after the race.  I don't think I had any oxygen flowing to my brain -- it was all getting sucked in by my poor, stressed aorta.  To all those professional and amateur racers out there -- you officially gained my highest respect.  I can't wait for you to kick my butt again next time. 

Hey there Blue Line riders, it's that time again:  track replacement!  Yay!  That means shuttle buses for you for the next few days... but worth it in the end (I believe) when so-called slow zones are no longer jamming up your CTA commutes.

Here's the deal on this weekend's track work:  starting tonight at 10 p.m., there will be buses running from Western/Milwaukee to Clark/Lake as that section gets an upgrade.  Things will be back to normal by Monday.

Have a smooth weekend.

The Passenger Bill of Rights is up for a vote in a Senate Committee today after a 2-year battle by consumer advocates.  And the airline industry's lobbyists are spoiling for a fight. 

The Bill would allow trapped passengers off planes that have been sitting on the tarmac for more than 3 hours.  Also, airlines would be required to provide passengers with food, potable water, comfortable cabin temperature and ventilation and adequate restrooms while a plane is delayed on the ground.  Plus, the DOT would have to create a consumer complaint hotline so that passengers can alert the agency about delays.

Who's voting on it?  The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation committee.  I know, I'd never heard of it until now -- but to me this is a no-brainer "yay" vote.  Unless the airline industry is so rich that they've got these lawmakers in-the-bag... how could you not approve our right to basic human decency when airline schedules go awry? 

The airlines' basic argument against this is that control over delays and gate assignments would be lost -- and cancellations would increase.  OK, we get that.  Understood.  But seriously, I'd rather be cancelled, and come back the next day than sit in that cabin for more than three hours.  What do you think?  Is this Bill of Rights a long time coming?  Or is it too much regulation?

Here it is, another unofficial Insurance-company-sponsored study to tell us about the stupid things we do when we drive.  As if we needed another reminder.  This list (admittedly un-scientific) is regarding the top food/beverage distractors in our vehicles.  Check it out:

1. Coffee - Even in cups with travel lids, somehow the liquid finds its way out of the opening each time you hit a bump. 
2. Hot soup - Many people drink it like coffee and run the same risks.
3. Tacos - Any food that can disassemble itself will leave your car looking like a salad bar.
4. Chili Dogs - The potential for drips and slops down the front of clothing is significant.
5. Hamburgers - From the grease of the burger to ketchup and mustard, it could all end up on your hands, your clothes, and the steering wheel.
6. Barbecued food - Ditto. The sauce may be great, but if you have to lick your fingers, the sauce will end up on whatever you touch - and that wheel will be tough to grip.
7. Fried chicken - Another food that leaves you with greasy hands, which means constantly wiping them on something, even if it's your shirt.      
8. Jelly donuts - Have you eaten a jelly donut without some of the center oozing out? It's simply not possible.
9. Soft drinks - Not only are they subject to spills, but also the carbonated kind can fizz as you're drinking if you make sudden movements, and most of us remember cola fizz in the nose from childhood. It isn't any more pleasant now.
10. Chocolate - Like greasy foods, chocolate coats the fingers as it melts, leaving its mark anywhere you touch.  As you try to clean it off the

 steering wheel you're likely to end up swerving.

Here's the thing about lists like this.  We all eat and drink in our car, and try to do it with as little impact as possible on our safety.  Also, we all talk on our cell phones occasionally, even though we know it's dangerous.  (Except in school zones... where illegal...).  And even in our nanny-ish state, it's unlikely that the regulation of eating in cars, or the outlawing of drive-thrus will ever happen.  Not realistic.  Then one reality we do face every day is that each one us commuters is at the mercy of those around us and their level of distraction.  If you think it's normal to slurp soup which weaving in and out of traffic on the Edens I cannot stop you.  Just please God let me not be rear-ended by someone thinking "Wow... finger-licking good...."

With hundreds of hipsters looking to converge on Chicago's Union Park this weekend for Pitchfork (the Indie music fest)... it got me thinking about the best way to get to outdoor public events this summer.  Obviously, public transportation is a no-brainer, and for Pitchfork, it's the CTA's Green Line, Ashland stop (at Lake). 

Yet my preferred method of getting around to these people-watching meccas is by bike.  Most of the events provide a free, secure, monitored bike check... awesome to not be worried about someone sawing through your chain lock while you down gourmet sanria and soaking in some sun.

By the way, I have it on VERY good authority (from a friend who is totally dialed in to what is cool and happening in this town) that a must-see music act at Pitchfork is The National.  They are a mellow rock act takin the state on Saturday.  See the whole line-up at www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com 

The Sun-Times ran a follow-up story today on the beefing-up of CTA anti-harassment policies that the Authority will be adopting in response to a community activist group made up of Rogers Park women.  You may recall that several weeks ago, the young women took findings from a survey they conducted about the pervasiveness of sexual harassment and even assault on CTA trains to the Agency, hoping for action.

The response they've gotten is basically a pledge from the CTA to increase the signage and air-play of radio public service announcements for their "If you see something, say something" campaign.  The CTA will also be instructing its conductors to act quickly to diffuse situations that do arise, instead of mere "monitoring" of said situations. 

Hopefully this will help.  The survey by the women found that along with the problem of the lewd looks and comments themselves, it's the under-reporting by the riders that are victims of this that basically perpetuate the problem.  Essentially, so many women assume that it's just part of living in the city to deal with inappropriate comments and even obvious "brush-bys" that we don't think of reporting something that is so pathetically routine.

I must start this Blog post with a warning -- if you have not even the slightest interest in the sport of cycling, believe Versus is just that strange cable network that showed NHL play-offs, or think Lance Armstrong is just a guy that sells rubbery yellow bracelets, please stop reading this.  Because if you keep reading, you are going to realize that there are cycling nerds like myself out there -- who live, work, and yes ride among you... and we are a little strange.

Nevertheless -- I know you're still reading by the way -- let me tell you why I believe the Tour de France is one of the most epic televised sporting events of the year. 

First, you thought Skipper Lou's moving Soriano out of the lead-off spot was drama?  Pshaw!  The insane soap-opera-like histrionics that take place within cycling teams, and between the teams is ten times that.  The most obvious example is the controversy between fellow Astana Team Members Alberto Contador and the now-un-retired Lance Armstrong.

(In this pic, courtesy the Telegraph newspaper, Lance is on the left, Alberto on the right) 

You see, Contador was the Alpha Male -- the other guys were going to give their blood, sweat, and tears for him to win the Tour.  Then Lance came back.  And, oh yeah, he's still got it -- and now the two riders are playing a sweaty game of cat and mouse -- mid-mountain, and in the media, as everyone waits to find out who is the official leader of the team.

Second, cycling has an odd and facinating "gentleman's code" of sorts -- very similar to golf -- that is all about which teams are required to do the lions' share of work in the front of the pack -- and which riders are free to draft (or coast in the slipstream) off them in back.  And the different attackers that move toward the finish line in subsequent waves?  There are rules for that too.  If your teams' position in the overall standings is already assured, and you assert yourself for personal glory, it's considered unseemly.  Also, if you're not a star, you are a mule -- you must bring water and food to your master on the road -- and don't dare beat him to the line.

Thirdly -- France.  (And a small bit of Spain).  The views are freaking awesome.  The Peloton streaking through what looks to be a 3D version of a Van Gogh masterpiece... day after day.  Add to these idyllic scenes the crazed hordes of speedo-wearing fans waving devil pitchforks and Basque flags -- and you've got good video.

Fourth -- the crashes.  Yes, this is morbid -- but you can't turn away.  The riders that go down around a sharp curve will often come back up the embankment missing all of the skin on their knees and elbows -- and if you've ever eaten up a chunk of asphalt yourself -- you know the burn.  And the chain-reaction crashes involving multiple bikes are even more damaging -- to skin and carbon-fiber.  Yet if they don't break anything -- they'll jump back on their bikes and ride 60 more miles to finish the stage.  Can you image a baseball player insisting he finish the game after a painful hangnail??

Finally, the sheer athleticim.  Most cycling experts would agree the sport is for the most part in a post-blood-doping-era... and the (hopefully natural) cardio conditioning of these guys makes mere mortals want to ride 50 miles in the morning and injest 5 peanut butter protein gel packs before 8 a.m.   Talk about inspiration.  When these athletes finish a punishing 13 miles straight uphill through a ski-town... then still have enough gas in the tank to stand on their pedals and sprint to the finish -- your jaw will drop. 

The Tour runs all month.  I'll be watching -- and if you are as well... let me know why you love it.  Or tell me that indeed, I am in need of professional help.

If you're like me, you have grand visions of spending a sunny Sunday morning lovingly soaping up your car, giving it a good wash -- and maybe waxing it by hand... perfect for the long work week ahead.  Then the reality of a million errands sets in... and you probably end up just taking the 'ole girl down the street to the nearest automated car wash.  This begs the question... especially for all of you "eco-maniacs" out there (Jackie Tranchida!) ... which option is actually better for the planet:  doing it at home, or in the drive-thru?

The answer, according to consumersearch.com... depends on how you wash your car at home.  If you use a pressure-washer nozzle -- you can actually conserve water.  But before the rinse... you've got to use the same bucket of soapy-grimy water for most, if not all, of your vehicle.  So if you're scrooge-like and efficient -- the at home wash will conserve resources. 

It turns out commercial facilities don't waste a lot of water, but they do use other energy (power) and if your are uber-green-conscious... you may question the chemical mixes they are using as well.... if you're doing it at home, you have more control over the cleansing product choices, obviously....   now... go properly inflate your tires... because we all know that getting better gas mileage is more important than a sparkling clean exterior any day!

The Taste, The Fireworks... any event downtown is better in my opinion when you don't pay for parking, and can avoid sitting in traffic.

The CTA is gearing up for the July 3rd and 4th Loop celebrations. Increased personnel, volunteers and signage will be noticable around the Loop.

Additional train and bus service will operate on both days for routes serving Grant Park and Navy Pier.

If you want a map and directions with boarding information you can visit the CTA's Web site at www.transitchicago.com. Customers can find specific route information from the website or they can call 1-888-YOUR-CTA from any local area code.