One Less Minivan

After more than a week of the Chicago teacher’s strike, the House of Delegates of the Teacher’s Union voted last night to call off the strike. A full contract still has not been drafted or signed by all parties but, at least for now, school is back on. 

In the week since school went on hiatus it went and turned into fall. The photo above is from Sunday’s Open Streets event but our apparel today was decidedly different. In the rush of packing lunch, laying out the school uniform, arguing with a five year old over appropriate footwear, shoveling a nutritious breakfast into her gullet and making sure my shirt was on right-side out, I completely forgot to unearth our gloves and neck gaitors from storage. 

Our commute this morning was 47F so while we could probably skip a head covering we definitely needed something for our digits. My mission today while the kid is at school is to shuffle our swim suits and assless chaps away with the summer stuff and locate all the cozy wool and fleece accessories that are essential for year round riding in our fair city.

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Oh, and if you’re looking for a pregnancy update (see above photo for bump measurement), I’m a hair past 6 months now. I’ve been sticking more toward the fakefiets in the last week since its more upright seating position feels less cumbersome than the drop bars on the tandem. I’ve been working to perfect my ability to leap off the saddle over bumps and potholes, of which there are more in Chicago than actual smoothly paved surfaces. When I’m riding on fresh pavement, I feel just dandy, not all together different from non-pregnant riding conditions. However, riding on rough surfaces puts a lot of pressure on unmentionable places and generally makes me feel like I might birth a wee babe right there on the side of the road. Not a confidence booster. 

I’d love to hear from other women who rode into their third trimesters. Did you stop due to discomfort or doctor/midwife recommendations? So far my scary high-risk doctor has said I’m clear to continue riding as long as I don’t get hit by a car or fall on my gut. He’s squeamish about me even eating raw cheese so I’m taking his lack of concern over riding as a good sign.