Higher than the Hancock: Winter bike sales in Chicago

Sales in Chicago bike shops were up this winter by as much as 40 percent, indicating that Chicagoans are not the winter-biking wussies they were once thought to be. Living as they do in the shadow of Minneapolis-St.Paul's rabid winter cycling scene, the kids have undoubtedly caught on to how cool and fun cycling through the cold and dark months can be.



But I suspect the weakness of the dollar and the cost of fuel have also helped cycling in the Windy City. Bike culcha may well be one of the only silver linings in the dark clouds of this thundering recession -- the way hoboing and jumping freight trains was such a culturally rich consequence of the Depression.

I'm not sure whether it's inspiring or depressing, but I expect to see fewer bindle sticks and more trash bikes in coming months.