February is, hands down, the most challenging month for winter cycling here in northern Illinois.
You might think, as you read that sentence, that it’s the snow or the cold that makes it more challenging. If you are not from the region it’s an understandable thought, and that is a part of it. But there’s more to it.
The early portion of the month often is cold and snowy, But it gets warmer here as we move into the second half of the second month. Today’s high is projected to hit 49° (F), and we already have an ambient temperature of 35° at 9:30 this morning.
But with that increase in temperature comes the first vestiges of the winds of spring. While we have what many would consider a delightful forecast temperature-wise, the entire day is also projected for high winds:
Harbinger of the Winds of Spring
My weather app says that the current wind speed is sitting at 22mph. More importantly, I can hear that wind pounding against my window as I sit and write this. While the warmer temperatures remove any concerns about wind chill (which could otherwise be moderated by proper clothing), the higher wind levels make it very difficult to hear anything around you on the open road.
Motor vehicle traffic is very forgiving on the northern Illinois backroads - people here are very accustomed to sharing the road with slow-moving equipment. Even so, I’m reluctant to share those roads when I can’t hear things coming.
That combination of early February weather and late February wind is responsible for making it routinely my lowest month both for rides and for mileage. But I gotta get out and ride, so it seems like it’s time for some different strategies.
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I’ve decided to come at this from a couple of different directions. The longer-term strategy involves getting a fairing for my Catrike Expedition. For the uninitiated, a fairing is essentially a windshield for bikes and trikes. There are many advantages to having them, including weather protection in a variety of conditions - snow and rain, for example - and aerodynamic advantages on speed. And I’m hopeful that it will additionally decrease the ambient wind noise around me when I’m riding on the road.
Getting a faring has been on my mental list for quite some time, but they are not an inexpensive addition for the trike. However, I’m pleased to say we’ve reached a point where this addition is finally feasible.
Of course, now that it is, when I finally go out looking for one it turns out to be hard to find them in stock. I suspect that this is due in large part to that two-headed monster born of the 2020’s: supply-chain issues and the Great Resignation.
So I spent my morning following the strategy of seeking it out on websites for trike-friendly cycling shops. I’ve found this to be successful in the past - both when shopping for TerraTrike heel slings, and more recently when looking for the chain gobbler for MLW’s Pocket. The rationale here is that, while the manufacturer may not have any in stock, cycling shops may have some inventory on hand. This appears to have been successful, as both Utah Trikes and The Hostel Shoppe appear to have Windwrap Fairings on hand. I have ordered from both in the past, and had very good luck with both companies. I put in my order with the Hostel Shoppe this time around primarily because it’s more local - Steven’s Point, Wisconsin is sort of in my midwestern neighborhood. It’s nice to shop the “local” guy where possible, and if I’m being honest I also figured that it being closer would mean a shorter shipping time.
Of course, ordering a fairing doesn’t help for the 20+ mph winds today. In order to get my ride in today I’m going to head down to the I&M Canal Trail. The canal trail takes me off the road and largely removes the risk from vehicle traffic. It has the additional benefits of running east-west on a day where the wind is pounding in from the south, and being somewhat sheltered with tree cover on either side for much of that section.
There is an unknown to this strategy: I do not know what the condition of the trail is at the moment. I’ve seen recent pictures which suggest some light snow coverage, but they pre-date the most recent snowfall. And with the recent precipitation and higher temperatures today, it’s possible that sections of the trail will be muddy or flooded - the sheltered nature of it is due, in part, to being in a very low-lying area along the Illinois river.
For that potentiality I have a backup plan. If the trail isn’t cooperative, I’ll head back towards home and stop in Mendota - our nearest town, and my hometown - and lay out a ride there. It’s the least attractive option because it’s literally scenery I’ve been around my entire life, but the buildings in town will block the wind.
So that’s the strategy, both today, and for the longer term. We will see how today goes, and of course we’ll explore more when the fairing arrives. It’s time to ride!