Winter Cycling - Winter got me back to cycling

I used to be a four season commuter, but after burning out a couple years ago thanks to buying and riding a road bike I hadn’t been commuting much. That darn road bike really took all the fun out of cycling. What I used to enjoy became exercise. I had all sorts of self imposed goals I had to meet. Even my commuting miles counted towards my training goals. I mean the shoes pretty much say it all, “Don’t even think about stopping, when you’re wearing us you’ll be clipped in and cranking.” So I rode my but off until the day that I realized that I hated bicycling.

Anyway, it was killing me sitting around the house this winter wasting time and waiting for better weather when I’d finally be able to do things outside again. I got to thinking about when I used to commute more often. Something about actually getting out and doing something active really changes the whole character of winter. So I got out my trusty commuter and all my clothes and started riding again.

I feel so much better about pretty much everything now. Instead of being stuck in a useless hunk of time between spring and fall, I’ve once again realized that it’s really not that bad out there. Instead running in between my car and heated buildings, I feel like it’s no big deal to be out and about in cold weather. It makes the whole winter season so much more enjoyable.

And even though it’s a pain compared to more fair weather cycling, I actually kind of enjoy having to keep track of the weather, dress properly, work on the bike, etcetera. The preparation and forethought makes life so much less mundane. Yep I’m glad to be riding again. I can’t wait for the first really snowy ride!

I used to commute a bit during Winters, but not much. This is my first Winter when I decided to commute no matter what the weather is like. So far, I've succeeded. So congratulations, I know how this feels.

I also feel better about everything. Winter was usually my idle/hibernation period. I disliked wet weather, snow, etc. Not anymore. I rode in 20F, strong winds and snow and I had fun and felt great at work :) And yeah, even though the preparations and extra bike care take time, that's actually fun, I play less computer games this way :D

Adam

This will be my 3rd complete winter commuting. I like your comment about shrugging off the cold. We had a staff meeting last Wednesday which was the coldest day yet, 13 degrees. People coming in from thier cars bundled to the nine's, shivering. I'm thinking it wasn't that bad, a bit windy, seen worse. One night coming home as I turned off one road & looked up the next one I thought, man, this is so cool!
First thing I do each morning is look out the window & turn on the Weather Channel

This is my first winter of not cycling.

After a fall this spring which broke my femur, cold weather and my leg no longer agree. The bone is held together by four 3-1/2 inch screws running from the outside of the leg (call it the upper-outer thigh) in toward my hip. The heads of these screws are located in what can easily become the coldest part of my body when cycling: the nearly stationary portion of my thigh, that area on the outside of the leg located an inch or so below the pelvis. When cold wind hits that area, it feels like my bone is about to split.

To get through it, I have wrapped insulated matrerial around my thigh. That works until temp drops below 30. Any colder than that and I nowadays ride my trainer.

I actually like the trainer. It sits outside, under my back deck, looking out at snow covered firs. I ride that trainer like a crazy man on a mission, cranking my pedals for at least a couple of hours each day.

I will have the screws removed as soon as possible (probably in late spring). So, next winter, I will ride again.

Welcome back! Last summer I took the computer off my road bike and decided that riding should be fun. I was obsessed with my log, average mph, etc., and I had ruined it for myself. Now most of my miles are commuting and road rides that I want to do, for as long as I want them to be. Life is much better, and simpler, this way.

Your comment about having a thicker skin for cold temperatures really rang true with me. Instead of dreading each step on a cold day, I embrace it on my bike!

Winter is my favorite season to ride because I never overheat, no matter how hard I pedal. The cars drive slower making the roads less threatening. I hate summers because I sweat like the devil.