Today I got to ride for the first time since the big snowfall last week. What a relief it was! I was in a much better mood all day and I honestly felt safer in the street - the plows and salt/sanding made the road surfaces much more consistent than the sidewalks and by avoiding rush hours I had no problem taking the lane when needed.
Beacon Street has a de facto bike lane. There's so much snow that the normal parking spaces are filled and the cars are parked in the travel lane, leaving a bike lane's worth of travel lane free and clear. It was perfect!
I can also confirm empirically that with my old metal pedals there is no problem wearing
YakTrax while riding. Indeed in the few times I walked my bike for safety I was glad I didn't need to stop and put these on. They were there when I needed them and did not catch or snag on my pedals while I was riding.
My husband has the camera on a business trip, so I regret that we will continue to be light on photos here at Chic Cyclists, but I hope to soon be able to share images of some of the hardy souls I've been seeing out and about - and their extra-tough bikes!
Stay warm...
I was taken with how she held her own against our frigid temperatures as she went marketing. I will say that it's the wind that makes it cold and her long coat would do a lot to protect against that wind. Clearly this was a woman who thought about her outfit before leaving the house on her lovely old bike. I LOVE the aubergine tights, though I'm too much of a wuss to wear tights these days. Wool mittened applause for you, fellow winter cyclist!
I think her look is reminiscent of the character "Trinity", which is probably good for psyching one's self up to go beat that cold wind. Rawrrrr!
