Be Careful of Ice on LFT
There is a pretty strong wind whipping up waves on the lake today, with spray action (on the southside) that I rarely see. The section of the Lake Front Trail from 31st street beach to McCormick place is treacherously icy. After taking a helmet cracking spill, I chose to ride on the grass. The path around the Shedd Aquarium is a sheet of ice.
There was lake spray at 46th street that was blowing into Lake Shore Drive. The spray hadn't frozen yet, but I expect it to.
While I guess this is common around Fullerton and Ohio Street, the spray around 46th street is uncommon. It was quite a show.
Be careful out there!
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Joe Studer 8.0 mi on -
I'm fine. Better off for the reminder about how slick ice can be, how fast my bike can hit the deck, and why I wear a helmet.
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Permalink Reply by Dan Allison 14.5 mi on -
studded tires FTW!
i learned all about LFP ice from the school of hard knocks during my first winter of bike commuting several years ago. now i won't roll without studded tires during ice season (i've got schawlbe marathon winters). they do slow me down a bit, but i love riding over sheet ice with confidence.
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Permalink Reply by Serge Lubomudrov on -
On the north part of the trail, besides obvious points where breakers are very close to it, like the bend next to the Oak Street beach or the narrow part just south of Fullerton, there are often sheet of black ice created by spray, especially around here, just north of the Theater on the Lake. Be careful.
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Permalink Reply by Stuart on -
South of Diversey the LFT is wet and probably icy now. The gravel path close to the road is not much better. Farther south of Diversey the path is fine, although I got off at North Avenue, I could not tell if there was ice south of there.
The path north of Belmont to Montrose is very poor. It was not plowed well and the calcium carbonate was rare and patchy. There was a lot of ice or soon to be ice on the path.
Why the path is so well maintained south of Belmont and so poorly addressed north of Belmont is not clear. Although it is Chicago and I am sure someone has pulled some strings. I will ask James Cappleman if he has any insights into what we can do about it, since the section north of Irving park is in his ward.
I will probably take local streets on the way home tonight. There are numerous places where there was significant spray from the big waves at the lake and the trail may be iced over later in the day.
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Permalink Reply by Joe Studer 8.0 mi on
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The Schwalbe Marathon Winter's truly are great studded tires. They don't work as well when hanging in my closet. Will probably put them on tonight. (I often dither about putting them on because they really seem to slow me down. Particularly given that I really drop my tire pressure when I ride them.)
Dan Allison said:studded tires FTW!
i learned all about LFP ice from the school of hard knocks during my first winter of bike commuting several years ago. now i won't roll without studded tires during ice season (i've got schawlbe marathon winters). they do slow me down a bit, but i love riding over sheet ice with confidence.
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Permalink Reply by Dan Allison 14.5 mi on
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^ yeah, you got to run 'em lower pressure, otherwise the studs won't be able to dig in to the ice. a marathon winter at the max recommended 85 PSI is only marginally better on ice than a non-studded tire.
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Permalink Reply by ilter on -
The stretch south of Oak st. Beach curve is also one of the dangerous parts. I skid right by the Chicago Ave underpass today, but luckily had a soft landing & a short skid.
Path from Diversey to North Ave. was generously salted, even parts that never get any splash or spray. On the contrary, I did not notice any salt on path south of North Avenue, where there was potential to freeze up, or had already frozen.. Of course salt would not help where waves wash over.
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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on -
Glad you're okay.
Joe Studer said:I'm fine. Better off for the reminder about how slick ice can be, how fast my bike can hit the deck, and why I wear a helmet.
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Permalink Reply by Joe Studer 8.0 mi on
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On the ride home, nearly all of the "treacherous" spots on the way in were either fine or only marginally icy. Because of that, I'm holding off on putting on the studded tires. I'm hoping I won't pay too badly for that decision tomorrow.
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Permalink Reply by Lawrence Wong K on -
I rode the path with my studded winter tires. Well worth every penny..
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Permalink Reply by Will on -
This morning there was some new glass on the stretch between Grand and Oak, and there was a patch of ice just south of Fullerton where the waves crash against the shore, and there was a bit of misplaced sand. Other than that, it was OK. I ride from Diversey Harbor to 11th St.
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