I got stuck a little late at work on Friday. This is, sadly, becoming a normal occurrence, but I have my bike, so I know I can get to most trains fast enough. Except for this Friday. I ran out of the office as I saw the storm starting to roll in and thought ‘I’ll change into my shorts and pedal as hard as I can!’ I unfolded my bike in the office lobby, pulled on my rain parka, buckled on my helmet and went for it.
People said I was nuts. I replied ‘I’m probably going to regret this.’ But I had a train to catch and I wanted to get home. So I went for it.
I don’t know if you heard, but it was 70mph winds that blew out windows on the Sears Tower that night. I got pushed backwards on my bike and ended up running with it a couple blocks until I got behind a wind-blocker and was able to ride. And I wasn’t the only one who had a hell of a commute home.
That certainly was a crazy storm! Although it’s too bad you got caught in it, knowing I was not the only overly-optimistic cyclists who tried to outrun it is mildly comforting.
I thought about waiting till the next train, but … It was really one of those moments where I figured ‘Screw it, I can get TO the train, even if I have to run, and get HOME on time.’
In retrospect? We’re idiots