Morning Bike Ride Down the Lakefront

Our blog has moved! Check out this post on the new home of our blog here:
http://blog.villagecycle.com/2012/12/morning-bike-ride-down-the-lakefront/

Days like today are one of the reasons I really like riding my bike to work. Here are a few pictures from the ride.

Tuesday Morning Commute by Bike

Our blog has moved! Check out this post on the new home of our blog here:
http://blog.villagecycle.com/2012/11/tuesday-morning-commute-by-bike/

I’ve started taking a long route to work to add a few more miles to my morning commute. As it gets colder, the ride now includes the lake front. Far less traffic out there on cold Chicago mornings, along with a great view, and no cars, it is quite wonderful.

Here are a couple pictures.

The empty bike path, and the full south
bound side of LSD.

The sand on North Ave beach is great for
cross practice.

No bike ride is complete with out a
picture of the bike.

Or two.

Short Sleeve Gore-Tex for the Win!

Our blog has moved! Check out this post on the new home of our blog here:
http://blog.villagecycle.com/2012/10/short-sleeve-gore-tex-for-the-win/


It’s days like these that I love me some short sleeve Gore-Tex jackets and Gore-Tex shorts. Starting to get chilly, with a dash of rain, but still too warm for a full rain kit? Perfect weather for rain shorts and short sleeve jacket! Keeps my chamois from soaking up rain water, or even worse, Chicago street nastiness. Jacket keeps my core dry, while the short sleeves allow for venting and keep me sweat free. Add some Gore-Tex socks to the ensemble, and I am just about as waterproof as a frogs butt.
Got questions about what to where when? Let me know, and I can point you in the right direction. Or, if you have the means, come to Village Cycle Center’s “Dressing for the Weather” with Gore Bike Wear Thursday, November 15th 6-8pm.

Scorching a Trail Through the Dark - Blackburn Scorch 1.0 Review by Ken

Our blog has moved! Check out this post on the new home of our blog here:
http://blog.villagecycle.com/2012/10/scorching-a-trail-through-the-dark-blackburn-scorch-1-0-review-by-ken/

When I took the sleek looking Scorch 1.0 head light on it's pioneering pilgrimage from work to home, a brilliant revelation dawned upon me, this apparatus is what I had been missing all my life, in my night riding repertoire . I was overcome by a warming glow, as if I were a newborn child witnessing the sunrise unfold for the first time.  I have a 15 mile commute that I start at around 8:30pm each night, and was previously riding with a great Blackburn Flea 2.0 light set.  Then I decided to upgrade to something that would light up those dark spots between street lamps on my ride after my frame was savagely slain by one stealthy strike from a ninja pothole. One trait of Scorch that I find particularly attractive is that it has three setting options, high beam, low beam, and strobe, allowing me to craft my own on bike ambiance, setting the mood for whatever environment I roll through. It is impressively bright and easy to take off the bike when I lock it up.  I still use my Fleas on strobe going in the front and rear, this way I have the Scorch illuminating my path and the Fleas grabbing attention and differentiating me as a bicycle while amidst traffic.  The BEST PART about these light systems is that they are fully rechargeable with lithium ion batteries and have a lifetime warranty.  Ideal for a safety conscious nightly commuter, who desires more from their bicycle doodads.

The Blackburn Scorch 1.0 is now in stock at Village Cycle Center!

• Compact, rechargeable Li-Ion headlight
• CNC machined aluminum housing
• Super-bright white CREE® XP-G LED
• 140 Lumen output
• Magnetic USB smart charger
• No tools universal clamp mounts to any handlebar
• 1hr High, 3hr std, 5hr flashing run times
• LED fuel gauge/charge indicator

Scorch Lights: Patented Power Attachment Patented power attachment passes electrical current through magnets, allowing for a compact and watertight connection.

Scorch Lights: Charge via USB

Charges via any standard USB port.

Could a Cabbie Be Considered a Paid Hit Man?

I love my morning bike ride into work. I leave my house smiling and happy to push my pedals rolling into the rising sun.

 

Wheels turning for me down Elston Ave, for the cars waiting in traffic, not so much wheel turning is goin…. HOLY SHIT!!!!

The giant dark green suburban that is directly to my left has decided it wants Burger King, and NOW! Blasting across my path, it’s time to brake and turn, and that time is now.

AT&T service vehicle behind the scene is honking his horn in response to the mayhem unfolding in front of his eyes.

Thank you SRAM Ultimate's. I stop like a freaking bike ninja. A really, really pissed off bike ninja.

Even after the master of the beast laid his beady eyes on me over the plush contour of his puffy cheek turning to respond to my cries of “WTF!?”, he continued his big ol’ green’s fast food wagon on its quest for drive thru spoils.

Screw it, usually I would go take a picture of said beast master and post it on the internets, but today, I  decided to let it go, just return to the bliss known as cycling.

Almost killed by fast food. Eating it is far less dangerous.

 

And off I go again.

 

Pedals pushing. Sun in face. Happy.

 

Starting to notice there are far less cycling commuters on the way in today. I surely do love watching some Cat 6 races on the way in, but today, there are none.

 

Thinking about cross season, it’s is here, and cross is the best thing since sliced bread got toasted. And buttered. Cross is good.

 

AHHHH! Buzzed by a speeding Tahoe deciding the bike lane is a good place to pass cars at an intersection, even if I am in it. Jack ass. And as usually happens, at least 95.7% of the time, I coast past the offending jack ass at the next line of stand still traffic.

Eventually senoir JA passes me down Elston. As he goes by, I watch him almost run up on the curb to get around one car before the next stop light. Glad to be behind that fella.

 

Back to bike ride. Yay!

 

As I approach the Elston and Ashland, a Subaru with a bike rack on it decided it should also be allowed to use the bike lane to get to the turn lane, but he doesn’t fit all the way, and blocks the bike lane, and the road. Bing bong.

You even got a bike rack on your car. Pssssh.

 

I WILL ENJOY MY RIDE TO WORK!

 

Back to bike riding happiness. Previous encounters, melting away with each revolution of the crank.

 

Bike zen.

 

I am now realizing where all the other cyclists are, they are dead, the dumb asses driving this morning killed them all.

 

CAB WANTS FARE! CAB WANTS FARE NOW! BRAKES! STOP! DON’T DIE!

WTF! THAT’S IT! I’M TAKING A PICTURE!

This got me thinking. The guy in the cab is probably going downtown. So what, the fare is going to be about $10, if that. For $10, the driver of this cab is willing to run people down with his 3000 pounds of steel. Now, if you are the one paying the cabbie when he/she runs someone down, and perhaps kills them, does that make him your paid hit man? A cheap hit man, but a paid professional none the less. Should the person paying the cab driver also be responsible for the death of a cyclist or pedestrian during the paid time in the cab? There are some  cab drivers that are professionals and drive very well, but for the majority, they are far from a professional driver. The last time I was in a cab, and he almost hit a person in the crosswalk, I made him let me out. I do not want to pay someone to hurt or kill another living being, it’s just not me.

 

Another couple blocks, and I arrive at work. Still happy I rode my bike.

I <3 my bike ride.

This here post is just to say how much I love riding my bike for my commute. I couldn’t imagine being stuck inside a bus, train or car on these warm, sunny days. Feeling the breeze and the sun on my face as I roll past traffic is one of my favorite parts of the day. I highly suggest everyone that has the means, at least give riding a bike instead of driving their car or taking CTA for just a week. Stress relief, exercise and freedom can all be yours just by riding a bike.

Steve E.'s Top Ten Winer Riding Don't s

Top Ten Winter Riding Don't s by Steve Evans

1. Don't try and ski behind the bus.
2. Don't use toast as a hand warmer.
3. Don't use Jello to flat proof your tires.
4. Don't use screws to make your own studded tires.
5. Don't fill your water bottle with gravy.
6. Don't use a very lazy cat as a scarf.
7. Don't fear the reaper.
8. Don't think about Napoleon's retreat from moscow.
9. Don't act like you are having too much fun, or everybody will want to do it.
10. Don't ask yourself, "What the hell am I doing?"

Wet Train Tracks and Your Bicycle

The other day I was riding in the rain, and came across one of my least favorite obstacles while commuting:

Wet train tracks running at an angle to the street and my direction.

Even though I cross them often, when they are wet, they still deserve respect. I know quite a few people who have learned the hard way that wet tracks can bring you down with the quickness.

Here are a few of my suggestions on how to handle them.

First and foremost, if you find yourself in a situation with a rough crossing or are nervous about a busy crossing near cars. There is no shame in walking your bike. Play it safe until you build up your bike ninja skills and confidence on your wheels. The fall isn't the worst part. It's landing in a slush puddle in the winter or having the car tailgating you almost run you over.

That being said, here is how to roll over those slippery suckers.

Come at the tracks at as close to a right angle as possible. The masterpiece below shows what I am talking about. The red lines is the path of the bike.

After you have your path picked out. You need to reduce your speed to your comfort level before getting to the tracks. Be aware the area around the train tracks is also quite slippery. And the road way before them will have oil on the ground from when cars are waiting for the trains to go by. Roads with oil are most slippery with just a light bit of rain on top of them. Keep this in mind when choosing your speed and when to start braking to reduce it.

So you have your approach all ready. Now it is time to roll over them bad dogs. You want your weight distributed evenly over your bike. Meaning not all your weight on your seat. Distribute it evenly over your hands, feet, and booty. Stay loose, but maintain a fir, grip on your bars. Not a death grip, but you want to hold your bars to keep them from spinning if the tire hits something at a funny angle.

When you are crossing the tracks and the crossing matting, you can coast if it makes you feel more comfortable as you roll over to the other side.

Done and done. Easy as pie. Piece of cake.

Somethings to keep in mind are:

The rear wheel tracks on a different path then the front wheel, so give yourself space to get both wheels 90 degrees to the tracks. See below. The blue line is the rear tire.Roughly. And I do mean roughly.

If you don't have the room to achieve an angle that makes you feel safe, SLOW DOWN, and pedal over the tracks nice and easy.

Walking over them is better than falling on them.

Wear a helmet and gloves. Keep your head safe at all times. Always wear a helmet. And if you do fall, the first thing people tend to do is put their hands out. If you don't have gloves on, you may end up with a palm full of broken glass and gravel. Ouch.

Check your tires. Keep your pressure maintained and watch for excessive wear. The siping (the tread on road or hybrid tires that is cut into the tire, not knobs that come out of the tire like off-road tires) in the tread of the tire along with the rubber compounds of the tire work to help keep you upright.