Get your gears going in this bike-hostile season
The two-wheeled enthusiasts of the Chicago area certainly enjoy more than our fair share of perks when it comes to the local cycling scene. We zip up and down the Lakefront Path and criss-cross the city on an extensive beehive of bike lanes. Each Memorial Day weekend, we leave our cars idling in envy as Bike The Drive rules the lakeshore for day. A determined local bike racer can find willing adversaries somewhere along the I-90 corridor all summer long.

Sadly, Mother Nature levies a hefty tax in return for our summer-biking riches. A Chicago winter can stretch on for infinity, but for most of us, the idea of staying off the saddle until the snow subsides isn't an option. While I have yet to meet a cyclist who enjoys the long slow death of an indoor three-hour ride, an indoor trainer is often the most convenient method to answer the demands of the mileage gods.

Still, riders seeking high-octane opportunities have a great number of local options:

ABD Indoor TT Series
A favorite ritual for my peers on Team Clif Bar Midwest is the annual indoor time trial series hosted by Athletes By Design in nearby Wheaton. Be forewarned that this event can be highly addictive. Entrants are attached to stationary computrainers for a 10K race against up to seven athletes. The bragging rights from a fast performance can keep you warm and fuzzy until the spring thaw, but the real benefit of the series is the chance to track your training progress under controlled conditions.

The four indoor events are divided evenly into computer-generated rolling and flat courses, helping level the playing field among traditional time-trial specialists and smaller, lighter riders who prefer some climbing. Another underrated benefit of the indoor series is that it lets less-experienced competitors fine-tune their warm up and cool down routines and decide which off-the-bike preparations work best. This is a perfect time to tinker with pre-race nutrition, as these low-key efforts are long enough to provide valuable results as far as what works and what doesn't. The opening event of the ABD Indoor Time Trial Series is January 7. Information is available at www.abdcycling.com.

Tour da Chicago
A unique winter tradition in the city is the now-infamous Tour Da Chicago. With roots set in the bike-messenger scene, the unsanctioned Tour Da Chicago draws its inspiration from the alleycat style of bike racing. The simplicity of these events endears them to their participants. There are few rules and stipulations aside from a starting point and end point, with a few twists usually thrown in for good measure.

Recent editions of the Tour have drawn many of the same names found on top of the results pages of high-profile road races in the summer. If you're a rider who requires structure and support for your events, you might consider sitting this one out. However, if you want to meet some passionate cyclists and treat yourself to a unique perspective on riding in Chicago, you should seek out this rollicking affair.

While the stereotypical alleycat racer might be found riding against traffic on State Street with his hair on fire, the reality is that Tour Da Chicago races are only as dangerous or safe as you make them. Information on the Tour Da Chicago appears spontaneously at www.tour.chicago.il.us .

Experiment
Even if you aren't looking to pick up the pace during your off-season riding, variety can be a vital part of the winter experience. Cyclists of all levels can benefit from freedom with their ride time. Roadies might experiment with an off-road machine, which can provide more stability and traction while improving bike-driving skills. Riders of all disciplines can take the plunge and try commuting to work, or perhaps navigate the Lakefront Path when all others have forsaken the treacherous surface. Regardless of your cycling goals, the Chicago area has much to offer the winter rider who is determined to train through the elements. A little creativity can go a long way toward keeping the sport--and your legs-- fresh.

For a full dose of inspiration, visit www.bikewinter.org and discover dozens of more ways to outsmart Mother Nature this winter.

Eric Goodwin is an avid cyclist and the Managing Director of Team Clif Bar Midwest. For more information visit www.teamclifbarmidwest.com or e-mail him at ericg@teamclifbarmidwest.com