Frozen Snot CenturyWell, I did it. Or, half of it at least. Actually, a third of it as it was planned this year. Saturday, I rode my bike 95 miles to Milwaukee (100 if you count getting lost downtown at the end) with four other similarly crazy guys that I’d never met before (actually, it turned out that I knew one guy from an Americorps gig a while ago). Due to a minor knee injury and general wimpiness, I took a Megabus back on Sunday while most of the other guys biked another 60 miles to the Waukeegan Metra stop and then took the train back into Chicago (no Milwaukeans made the trip to Chicago on Sunday). Snow drifts, drinking, icy roads, more drinking, weird abandoned shacks, and a run-in with the Kenilworth police (drinking-related)–all things considered, it was a hell of a lot of fun.They weren’t kidding when they said frozen…Here’s the description from the Chicago BikeWinter website:

4th Annual Frozen Snot Century: For the fourth year in a row Wisconsin and Illinois cyclists will unite on the Frozen Snot Century ride, connecting Milwaukee and Chicago. All are welcome on this free, unsupported, ride-at-your-own-pace-and-risk event. This year the Frozen Snot Century bike ride will have a optional stop in Madison which will complete the legendary “Bratwurst Triangle”. Here’s the schedule: Fri. Feb. 23: A dozen Chicagoans will take Metra commuter rail to Harvard, IL, and bike 70 miles to Madison. Meet at 7:30 AM on the platform at Clybourn Station, 1601 W. Armitage; train leaves at 7:38; pay on the train. Any Chicagoans interested in this option should RSVP to greenfieldjohn@hotmail.com. Riders will arrive at the Great Dane Brewing Co., 123 E. Doty in Madison around 5 PM, to meet up with Madisonians. Chicagoans crash on local couches (Housing organized by Madison Bike Winter / BFW). Sat. Feb. 24: Those Chicagoans plus any interested Madisonians ride 80 (?) miles to Milwaukee. Meanwhile, another, larger group of Chicagoans meets at 7 AM at the Hollywood Grill, 1601 W. North in Chicago, departing at 8 AM to ride 95 miles from Chicago to Milwaukee. Everyone meets up around 5 PM at Cafe Hollander, 2608 N. Downer Ave., in Milwaukee. Out-of-towners crash nearby with Milwaukeeans (housing organized by Milwaukee Bike Winter). Sun. Feb. 25: Everbody meets up at Fuel Cafe in Milwaukee, 818 E. Center St., at 8 AM, departing at 9 AM to ride 95 miles to Chicago. Meet up around 5 PM at Mercury Cafe, 1505 W. Chicago Ave. for the Critical Mass Art Show - BYOB. Wisconsinites stay with Chicagoans (Housing organized by Chicago Bike Winter). Mon. Feb. 26: Madisonians take Metra commuter rail to Harvard, IL and bike home OR take the Van Galder bus with their bikes. Milwaukeeans ride home.

See below for pictures and a long boring recap, but the most important thing I got from this whole deal was a good sense of yet another ’scene’ here in Chicago. That’s ’scene’ in a completely positive sense, by the way (not like, say, “the indie rock scene”). ‘Scene’ as in a bunch of people who get together over a common interest, and (in my experience at least) are completely welcoming and excited to share it with someone new. These guys and gals love bikes, know an unbelievable amount about them, and most importantly, they were a blast to hang out with for the weekend. There are a ton of rides going on all the time in the city (like the critical mass rides every last Friday of the month), and I’d definitely recommend checking one out. There are even still a few left that are part of BikeWinter.Anyways, it’s nice to see and experience something new with people who are really passionate about it. Just one more reason why Chicago is the coolest city in the world. Read more

I got back from what ended up being a nightmare of a flight back to Chicago from Vegas, and have been running really low on positivity and faith in humanity. But with a dumpload of snow, you can always count on the kindness of stramgers. That is one of my favorite things about this fine city.

I spent about 20 minutes scraping my car this morning, which should have only taken 10 if my scraper hadn’t broken in half. I spent another 10 trying to rock my car out of my parking spot, intermittently using my feet as shovels to try and clear a path. Lucky me, my car is small AND rear-wheel drive, so it didn’t really want to go anywhere but closer to hitting the car in front of me. After all this labor, my car was perpendicular to the curb, and about 6 inches away from the bumper of the car in front of me. Every time I floored it, I was convinced I was gonna hit that damn car. At this point I blocking the street, having to shrug to every car who tries to turn into my path, as if to say “WTF can I do?”

As I am about to rip my steering wheel from the column, a guy walking his dog stops and offers to help. As he tries to push my car out, another guy stops to pitch in. After 5 more minutes, I have 3 guys shoving my car onto the street and finally am out of the drift.

So thank you, guy with the dog, guy with the blue conversion van, and guy with the Mercury who helped me get out of a jam at the corner of Barry and Leavitt this morning. If I see you again, I am baking you cookies. From scratch.

I posted a new photo to Photos.

I just read on Tom Skilling’s weather page that it was exactly nine years ago that the mercury hit 104F at O’Hare and 106F at Modway with a then-unheard-of heat index of 128. I will never forget that day! That was the last time I ever drove to work. My car overheated on the way to Northbrook (I took Sheridan Rd. due to fewer stoplights) and the mechanic told me to take the same route home. I did-and the AC gave out. The next morning, I took the bus.
Wolfy

I am not really sure how the Department of Streets and Sanitation operates.  What I do know is that my housemates and neighbors have gotten parking tickets faster than you can say “Department of Streets and Sanitation” for parking even slightly over a sidewalk area or having the nerve to wait until 9:01am on street sweeping day to move their car.  Low and behold, that unmistakable bright orange envelope finds its way onto their windshield.

So why is the Mercury Cougar with a bashed in front end (and the VW Jetta that started with a flat tire and now has a flat donut spare) allowed to sit in a prize parking spot until the end of time?  According to the City of Chicago’s website, an abandoned car may be towed by calling 311 if it meets the following requirements:

1.  On a public way in a state of disrepair as to be incapable of being driven in its present condition.

2.  Has not been moved or used for more than seven consecutive days and is apparently deserted.

3.  Has been left on the public way without state registration or a temporary state registration placard for two or more days.

4.  Is a hazardous dilapidated vehicle left in full view of the general public, whether on public or private property.

The Cougar meets all four, I believe.  Instead of seven consecutive days, it has been around seven consecutive months.  So far, nothing in our neighborhood has been towed.  At least 3 neighbors have called and complained.  The VW magically repaired its tire and got the hell out of dodge.  The Cougar is still kicking back and begging for the local kids to make up horror stories about it.