Commuting - Winter is officially here

The sun sets at 4:40 pm now, and I get out of five; my free time is perpetual darkness. Daylight savings time is the official start of winter in Seattle National Forrest. Perma-dark means having extra lights and spare batteries, but it also means cold. There's no sun for warmth, except going out for lunch, and even then, if it's clear enough to see the sky, the southern sun is weak.

Commuting by bike isn't bad, as long as it isn't raining. This is when driving tends to be the most miserable. I'm cold when I step outside with my bike, until the exercise warms me up, but I'd be cold in the car until the engine warms, too.

There are fewer bikes on the road at rush hour, and the rack downstairs is usually empty. On the other hand, there's one other brave (sometimes) bike commuter, and this guy isn't even locking his bike these days. I guess no one will steal one if they have to ride away in the cold... :rolleyes:

It's still nearly 70° here, and is supposed to be close to 80° this weekend... was 95° a few days ago.. hard to feel like winter.

I caught sunrise and sunset today. Both were very pretty with clouds streaked across the sky. It's still 70 at 7:00 pm.

Daylight savings time is the official start of winter in Seattle National Forrest.
I assume you mean 'standard' time?

It's still be fairly warm around the Philly area. However, that will change quickly.

best time to commute IMO, less ppl on the bike paths, be them other bikers, joggers, or ppl with 18 babies in one giant stretched stroller.

There was some snow on the ground and slushy roads Monday morning. It all melted and the temp went over 50F today. Tomorrow is my long day, so I'll definitely need the lights for the commute home.

It's still nearly 70° here, and is supposed to be close to 80° this weekend... was 95° a few days ago.. hard to feel like winter.

I'm starting to ride in a goretex parka for the wind, over a cashmere sweater over a wool base layer. I thought I'd over heat, but it works out pretty well. Don't get me wrong: it's a balmy 45 degrees out, but at 90 % humidity, the air has some bite.

But the cold doesn't bother me like the perma-night.

I'm into my happy light season. I sit with my Happy light by Verilux for 45 minutes a day. Helps ward off S.A.D. I hate when we go off DST back to PST but at least I get off work at 1:30 pm so I do have some time to get out but its now very gray and dismal most of the time. We did get a few sunbreaks here in the South Sound this afternoon and hopefully tomorrow we will also. Gonna ride tomorrow. Its really hard for me to motivate myself to get on the bike now so I must make a very strong effort to get out. I rode 3 days last week before the time change and hopefully will ride the rest of the week. It is miserable to leave the house at 4:00am when its rainy, even with good raingear it just saps all the fun out of it.

Brisk mornings, warmish afternoons in the 60's. Not expecting it to last.

getting cooler, though afternoons still in the 70's.Tn

I hear ya forrest we got an hour on you guys in seattle, but this morning was dreary 34f and steady rain yeehaw horray for living in a valley, in another few weeks boise's famous inversion will start then its probably just gonna get bitter cold.

It was 37 degrees this morning, definatly the start of winter riding. Of course we don't do DST in Arizona so no time change to worry about.

It was 37 degrees this morning, definatly the start of winter riding. Of course we don't do DST in Arizona so no time change to worry about.

bbunk, do you ride up and down 90? If you are who I think you are, I saw you stop at the Shell at 82 & 90 one day drinking gatorade! Even if you're not, I'm in Huachuca City.

bbunk, do you ride up and down 90? If you are who I think you are, I saw you stop at the Shell at 82 & 90 one day drinking gatorade! Even if you're not, I'm in Huachuca City.

I come up the 90 bypass from the mall area to Fort Huachuca. Where does your commute take you?

Seattle Forrest, try living in the bible belt for a while. I'm a former and future Seattleite. Permadark beats permahell. I remember that permadark. I can't wait to get back.

26F this morning. Pretty chilly if you ask me.

Daylight savings time is the official start of winter in Seattle National Forrest.
Not to pick a nit, but daylight savings time just ended.

Not to pick a nit, but daylight savings time just ended.

I think that is what the OP meant. Darkness will make you confused.

Daylight savings time is the official start of winter in Seattle National Forrest.

Odd; December 21st is the official start of winter for everybody else in the Northern Hemisphere.

Odd; December 21st is the official start of winter for everybody else in the Northern Hemisphere.

Seattle National Forrest is a strange place. They let me call the shots here.

December 21st is my birthday, for which you all get an end to the growing darkness, and a return of the sun. You're welcome.

Right now is about the darkest time of year for riding home for me.

Once there's actually snow on the ground, the city lights reflect from it and that tends to brighten things up a fair bit.

I don't consider it winter until there is snow on the ground. I'm envious of posters in Texas, California, and the Eastern southern states this time of year.

34 degrees coming down the MUP this morning. I don't mind commuting in the dark or the rain. Good lights, good clothes, good fenders and I am set to go. Still a few commuters out, but by January we will be down to the 2-3 other diehards that I see every day.

So I guess that its time for those in Palm Springs to break out the barbecues. The summer heat is over. ;)

It's late fall. But it's been 65 and sunny everyday this week. This weird midwest weather.

Yep, I'm with you man. 27 degrees this morning when I left the house. Just went outside for my afternoon break to try and catch some of the last glimmers of daylight before riding home in the dark. I put studded tires on this weekend, and last night/this morning they were put to minor use. Don't know how much they actually help, but they sure make me FEEL better!:D

Sure was nice here in the South Sound today. I didn't even need a jacket this afternoon.

I come up the 90 bypass from the mall area to Fort Huachuca. Where does your commute take you?

I don't commute as of yet, waiting to get the road bike.

Yep. I've been adding another layer lately, especially the hands - both commute directions. Next week if the weather gets cooler and wetter I'll be adding my balaclava and heavier leggings. And I agree, it's the dark that gets me. Dark on the way to work, dark on the way home. I take extra vitamin D supplements in winter and that seems to help the energy levels.

Yep. I've been adding another layer lately, especially the hands - both commute directions. Next week if the weather gets cooler and wetter I'll be adding my balaclava and heavier leggings. And I agree, it's the dark that gets me. Dark on the way to work, dark on the way home. I take extra vitamin D supplements in winter and that seems to help the energy levels.

Get yourself a Happy Light from varilux. It really seems to help me. Last year which was the first year I used it my anxiety and S.A.D episodes were way down from the year ago. Its a really crappy thing to have this disorder and when I retire we are taking time to go to the sunnier parts of out nation, gonna get a minivan we can throw the bike in and take off for wherever.