Bicycle Newbie... (Chicago, Lincoln, Roscoe: neighborhoods, buy, live)

[Bardot]

So I'm finally biting the bullet and purchasing a bike for commuting around Chicago. I've lived here for nearly 10 years and have always been too intimidated by biking (the danger! the bike theft!). I'm curious what tips you all might have on the matter. I'll be commuting from Lincoln Square to: Wicker Park/Bucktown; Roscoe Village; maybe Lakeview or Lincoln Park.

My questions are:

-What type of bike is ideal for urban commuting? Is it looked down on (amateur) to wear a helmut?

-What do I need to know about safely locking the bike up when not in use?

-What neighborhoods/roads are best suitable for biking? Which ones should be avoided b/c of dangerous roads and traffic?

Any other safety tips? Thanks in advance

[Chi-town Native]

I'd post here:

the chainlink

You have tons of options, and will definitely enjoy biking more!

[Bardot]

Ah, will do. Thank you very much!

[quigboto]

Originally Posted by Bardot

So I'm finally biting the bullet and purchasing a bike for commuting around Chicago. I've lived here for nearly 10 years and have always been too intimidated by biking (the danger! the bike theft!). I'm curious what tips you all might have on the matter. I'll be commuting from Lincoln Square to: Wicker Park/Bucktown; Roscoe Village; maybe Lakeview or Lincoln Park.

My questions are:

-What type of bike is ideal for urban commuting? Is it looked down on (amateur) to wear a helmut?

-What do I need to know about safely locking the bike up when not in use?

-What neighborhoods/roads are best suitable for biking? Which ones should be avoided b/c of dangerous roads and traffic?

Any other safety tips? Thanks in advance

Keep your head on a swivel, it's dangerous out there.
Never assume that drivers can see you.
Most of the bikers I know, even the most experienced, wear helmets.
Don't ride with earbuds, or if you insist, make sure the music isn't drowning out the sounds of your surroundings. This could be key to staying alive.
Be careful!
Did I mention be careful?

Once the weather gets warmer, I am hoping to get out and do some biking myself, so thanks Chi-Town Native for the link!

[It'sAutomatic]

Originally Posted by Bardot

So I'm finally biting the bullet and purchasing a bike for commuting around Chicago. I've lived here for nearly 10 years and have always been too intimidated by biking (the danger! the bike theft!). I'm curious what tips you all might have on the matter. I'll be commuting from Lincoln Square to: Wicker Park/Bucktown; Roscoe Village; maybe Lakeview or Lincoln Park.

My questions are:

-What type of bike is ideal for urban commuting? Is it looked down on (amateur) to wear a helmut?

-What do I need to know about safely locking the bike up when not in use?

-What neighborhoods/roads are best suitable for biking? Which ones should be avoided b/c of dangerous roads and traffic?

Any other safety tips? Thanks in advance

I recommend a bike made for road riding, which have small tires and a forward-leaning posture for aerodynamics. I personally prefer a single speed bike, as they are simpler to use, maintain, and Chicago's terrain is flat enough that you won't be changing speeds often anyway. There is nothing wrong with wearing a helmet! Personally I think it's dumb to try and look "cool" on a bike given the minimal time that anyone will have to make visual contact with you. I highly recommend bike lights (front and rear), and take them off when you leave your bike.

Bike theft happens, but it's not as rampant here as it is in other cities. Get a good lock, make it match the quality of your bike. What I do for a lock is a Kryptonite Mini with a cable and I wear it like a sash. Lock your bike to bike racks when possible; avoid locking to street signposts for long periods, since a dedicated person could unscrew the signs and pull your bike over the pole with the lock still attached. If you have nice wheels, lock your wheels with a cable if you're locking it in a high-traffic area for a long time. This isn't always needed; use your judgement. I would avoid quick-release wheels since they are very easy to steal unless you lock them up every time. I wouldn't worry about theft too much; I've been riding for 4 years and have had no problems except for bike lights and a tool getting stolen.

I ride on any road with no problem, but busy roads w/out bike lanes aren't comfortable unless you ride at a high speed. I usually take sidestreets for comfort and fun. Car congestion is never a problem, you can ride right past it all on a bike.

Don't be intimidated by cars. You have the right to a full lane! Ride in the rightmost lane, and don't be afraid of changing lanes to go left or avoid an obstacle just like you would in a car. In car traffic, signal a turn or lane change by pointing your arm to the left or right.

[jwaiter]

ALWAYS wear a helmet, especially for urban biking, it will probably save your life one day.

Avoid Ashland, dangerous for bikers. Same goes for North Avenue.

I used to commute from Wicker Park to the loop daily, now I take the bus. I loved saving $88/month, but when I ended up in the hospital after a car just assumed I'd get out of her way, well, that convinced me to use the CTA.

Re-iterating, always wear a helmet.

[jwaiter]

Oh, and if you want your bike to NOT be stolen, don't get a high end bike, get a reasonable commuter bike in the $200 range. You spend $1500 on a bike, it'll be gone. And lock your seat up, they'll steal anything they can get.

[Gunner0325]

If you get a single speed bike make sure you grow a moustache, buy a pair of skinny jeans and don't follow any of the rules that you are supposed to. Like, don't even worry about red lights, just go right through them and ride right in the middle of the road...oh, and exclusively drink PBR tall boy's

[Attrill]

Originally Posted by jwaiter

Avoid Ashland, dangerous for bikers. Same goes for North Avenue.
.

Avoid Western as well. This summer there was some guy who was biking on the overpass at Belmont on a regular basis.

Damen is probably the best bet for the commute you've described. The link Chi-town Native should be great for the rest of your questions.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by jwaiter

And lock your seat up, they'll steal anything they can get.

Just weld the seat post to the frame, a little tack is all it takes.