Some winter escape reading


Unlike the lovely weather in this view, our winter is being about as winter as winter gets — and it's even worse south of us, such as in southern Illinois where they got more than a foot of snow.

Salute to those of you who continue to ride your bikes. John Greenfield of Streetsblog Chicago just updated his post on biking in Chicago during the dead of winter. He provides good tips on apparel, but his advice on using the CTA as a backup when conditions are too harsh doesn't work so well in most of the suburbs.

Whether you prefer to stay indoors like me or not, let's take a moment to dream of warmer times and learn bicycling things. Like from these articles:

I'm missing the dog days of last August, when I rode every single day.

I already signed up for my annual Northwoods Wisconsin bike tour.

You can prepare now for riding in the wind when spring comes.

Or prepare for all sorts of things, like a sore butt, with beginner tips.

But back to summer: Boy, did I like riding Lake Shore Drive in Michiana.

And I always like Rawson Bridge Road along the Fox River in summer.

Finally, watch "Bike Vessel" and see where the father and son rode here.

The Suburban Chicago Bicycling website always has lists and information on bike clubs, bike trails and great roads. Plus, the list of organized bike rides in 2026 is slowly growing.

Keep warm and active. Let me know what bicycling stuff is going on. — Neil


THANK YOU TO THESE DONORS: Alan White, John Heer, Terry Witt, Mitchell C. Jones, T L Szensy, the Arlington Heights Bicycle Club, Douglas H. Hoffman, James Krause, Melynda Findlay Shamie, Eric Slagter, Jeffery Norman, Kathleen Hays, Andrew L. Campbell, Mark Rathe, Robert M. Yedinak, John S. Perry, David Waycie, David Michels, Cynthia DeVoss, Cheryl Zalenski, Richard H. Jordan and Mark Joseph Dugo. They've helped support this work provided for free. You can, too.
Buy me a cup of coffee, as they say?

At top, Lakewood Road near Minocqua in the Northwoods of Wisconsin — lovely in summer.

For even more, read old newsletters. And please forward this to anyone interested.

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Suburban Chicago Bicycling

Your one-stop source for the great trails and roads to ride a bicycle in Chicago's suburbs, and to learn about efforts to make bicycling and bicycling infrastructure better there.

Read more from Suburban Chicago Bicycling
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