Making More Enemies

The ride home started well enough. A strong southerly wind and temperatures in the high 20s. The roads were still a little moist but not enough to make my bike ride dicey. The southerly wind probably gave my average speed an additional 2 mph.

Not many people biking tonight on the Lakefront Trail; maybe two or three tops and none heading north. Passing Navy Pier I was hoping the turn at Oak Street Beach would be clear. I could see up ahead that there were a few runners on the path so I decided to chance it rather than cross under at Ohio Street. If I found it was too treacherous to ride I could always walk my bike or absent that, turn around. Fortunately it was pretty clear although I had to ride up closer to the wall. I also took it slow because it was kind of a blind corner.

The downhill section just south of Fullerton where I wiped out was now heavily salted and clear. I felt very fortunate the Chicago Park District pays as much attention to clearing snow from the Lakefront Trail as they do to the city streets. One thing they could improve is the surface of the trail between Addison and Belmont. I counted about 25 really annoying and bone jarring bumps in the asphalt. I suppose if the rest of the trail wasn't so smooth I probalby wouldn't notice it.

The bike ride was generally pleasant considering it was below freezing and the roads were a bit wet. But while I was stopped at the intersection of Chicago and Church in Evanston, a guy on a hybrid or a slick tired mountain bike pulls up beside me. I looked over to say hi thinking he might do the same. But he just ignores me and eases through the intersection. I didn't really take offense; some people just aren't social. But being passed by another biker just brings out the adrenaline in me. Pass me on a bike and, as I've mentioned before, I'm like a dog chasing cars. It wasn't like I wanted to get into a race with the guy. I just wanted to keep up.

Without getting into the minute details, we apparently share the same route from Chicago through Sherman and he slowed in some areas while I chose to maintain my speed. On a straightaway he seemed to have much more gas. But in traffic he was slowing in places that I chose to just blow through. In retrospect I was probably too aggressive. But he also didn't have a problem zooming by me either. Each time we passed I'd give off some type friendly gesture. In response he eventually shouted I was an accident waiting to happen. Whoa. Then when he was in front of me again he said I should do my own work, implying I was drafting off him. At that point I'm thinking that if he didn't want me following right behind him, he shouldn't have pulled in front of me in the logical lane of bike traffic. He turned off at Colfax and I bid him good night. But I'd really done it this time. How did my attempt at bike commuter camaraderie gone so terribly bad? I didn't think I was biking like a maniac. And it wasn't like he was a shining example of bike safety either. Oh well. I should pay more attention to those not so subtle clues that I'm invading someone elses space.

I was glad to get home and hose the salt and grime off my bike.

Distance Traveled: 24.3 miles
Distance to date: 1681.4 miles
Price of gas: $2.46