Smells Like Green Spirit

I grew up in Houston, and then lived in Atlanta for 8 years before I lived in Chicago. One  of the biggest reasons I moved here was so I could live in a city that had viable public transportation, which is so minimal in southern cities, it may as well be considered almost non-existent. In the south, I had to drive EVERYWHERE, and didn’t flinch at driving upwards of 50 miles a day.

It’s funny to think about it now, but when gas starting approaching $2 a gallon in Atlanta, about 3.5 years ago, I decided I was going to move to a city where I didn’t need to drive. $2 A GALLON!  What I wouldn’t give to pay $2 a gallon now!!

The only cities that I really knew of in America where public transit was an option were San Francisco, Chicago, and New York City, and so I chose Chicago.

NOW, 3.5 years later, gas has reached stunning  heights, coming up on nearly $5 a gallon.

I can’t believe it.

I still own a car, which I use for huge grocery runs, to take several loads of laundry to the laundromat, to take paintings to an art show, etc, but I’ve decided to sell my car once it permanently tops $5 a gallon.

That is just too much money.

I now own a lovely bike that looks something like this (sorry for the stolen pic)  

I live right by the blue line train, and right by several major bus lines, and I got two feet in damn good working order…so, yeah. If you know anyone who wants a cute, silver Toyota Rav4…it gets good gas mileage! But at 5+ dollars a gallon…

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The thought of riding a bike throughout the winter in Chicago is a terrifying one to me, but many people do it, and dang it, I want to give it a shot too.

Whatcha Wearin’?

Most roads in Chicago are plowed and salted fairly quickly, so it seems the only necessary component is dressing in layers like one would for winter sports. I hear if you walk outside and only feel mildly chilly in what you’re wearing, soon you’ll warm up on the road. It’s recommended that for a serious ride you wear a “wicking layer” next to your skin and not cotton, but most of my rides would be like to a bar or to work, so I don’t think I’ll need to worry about wicking just yet. Or wiccans. I won’t worry about them either.

If where you are is “cold/wet” like Chicago, (as opposed to “cold/dry” in somewhere like the southwest), a perfect outer layer is a rain suit with ample layers underneath. Don’t overlayer though, or you’ll be drenched in sweat after a couple of miles.

Helmet liners can be purchased at bike stores, and face masks, while scary looking, keep your face warm. My friends simply wrap scarves around their faces.

Make sure your hands are amply protected! You can buy winter biking gloves at bike shops, but heavy wind proof gloves would work fine too.

Pumping those pedals through piles of snow is tiring, probably much like jogging through think sand on a beach. It’s the thought of biking on ice that scares me, though!

Studded Tires

My friends say to remain as still as possible when going over ice, don’t break, and try just to coast. Make sure you have reflectors on and a bike light while riding around at night.

But, apparently there exists something called studded tires that make even the most terrifying patches of ice bikeable. I’ve never used these before, so you should head somewhere else for expertise:

Ice Bike
Commute By Bike
Peter White Cycles
Chicago Bike Blog
Bike Winter
Chicago Bicycle Federation

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Bikes are a wonderful form of transportation…no fossil fuels burned, no carbon dioxide emitted, it’s great exercise and much quicker than walking…here are some tips when looking for a used bike…

Damaged Goods?
First, check for frame and fork damage…if you see any, better keep looking.

Look at the bike from the side and make sure nothing seems bent or cracked…if there are dents or bulges in the top or down tubes, the bike likely had a wreck at some point. Rusty parts can be too weak or can be expensive to repair, so look out for rust also.

Check to make sure the wheels aren’t rusted or corroded, and that they don’t wobble when they spin.

Any parts that are worn out will need to be replaced, (such as the tires or chains) adding to the price of your bike, so take them into account when purchasing the bike.

Take Her for a Spin!

Be sure you test ride the bike to make sure it rides smoothly, that the brakes work properly, that the bike height is comfortable. Comfort is key to satisfaction with your new bike!

What sort of a bike do you need? Mountain bikes aren’t very practical for the city, and if you’ll be locking your bike outside in a big city with regularity, consider the chance your bike might be stolen if it’s an expensive brand.

Speaking of brands, if you can, do some research on the brand of used bike you’re considering purchasing. Certain brands are cheaply made and not worth purchasing used, whereas other bikes were built to last.

Don’t be afraid to haggle on the price of a used bike!

Great places to find used bikes:

A bike shop is one of the best places to buy a used bike, because it will be the most roadworthy, but other places to look are…

Craig’s List
Thrift Stores
Garage sales
Police Auctions
Freecycle
Working Bikes in Chicago

For more detailed information visit Bike Universe

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It seems like the best place in the Chicago area to buy a used bike besides Craig’s List (which I haven’t done), or a farm auction in Wisconsin (where my friend’s dad buys bikes for $10, but which I would have no idea how to go about doing…) is Working Bikes.

Working Bikes is a non profit collective which, besides selling used and refurbished bikes at reasonable prices, ships bikes to low income people in countries like Nicaragua, Cuba, Kenya, and Ghana to meet their transportation needs…pretty cool, huh?

Mostly run by volunteer staff, Working Bikes funds much of its operation from bike sales at its storefront, located at 1125 S. Western Ave, where you can also buy things like bike locks and bike helmets.

Location and Hours

1125 S. Western Ave

(312) 421-5048

Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday: Noon - 5 pm

Check out their website : www.workingbikes.org

They suggest you get there early on the weekends, especially in the summer months, as the bikes go pretty quickly.

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