Commuting - Daylight savings, five months off, ready to rumble

It has been a mild, but long winter. I gave up the commute for a gym membership and really don't regret it. Spin class is a blast and I quit smoking this year (after 25 years). All of this adds up to the anticipation of beginning the commute next Monday. For the past two years I have commuted year-around, but with this winter off, I had to re-acquaint myself with my winter wardrobe and supplies/tools to be sure I was covered. How quickly we forget.

Anyone else take some time off and experience the same?

I had to take all of last year off of commuting. Got laid off and had to take a job in Cambridge (44 miles away), too far to commute. Old company asked me to come back (13 miles away) during this winter. I'll be back in the saddle in a couple of weeks.

Congratulations on quitting smoking! It's a huge change for the better! It'll take some time, I hear, for your lungs to recover and regain most of their capacity, sometimes even a year or more, but it'll be great for you biking and your health overall. I heard from people who quit smoking that biking, skiing and hiking was so much easier for them after a while. Not to mention that it'll save you some cash that you will be able to spend on your other activities. So stay away from that stuff and good luck.

I sometimes take a week or two off from riding in Winter, in particular if it's really cold and windy, but I try to ride as much possible year round, it makes a difference. However, this Winter I was on sick leave for two months so yeah, getting back to regular bike commuting took some time indeed: I had to re-inventory all my Winter gear to remember what I had. I also forgot some of my routines and how to dress for the given weather, so I was overdressing for the first week. But I was good and back into rhythm by the second week.


I had to take all of last year off of commuting. Got laid off and had to take a job in Cambridge (44 miles away), too far to commute. Old company asked me to come back (13 miles away) during this winter. I'll be back in the saddle in a couple of weeks.

Congrats too!

Adam, glad to hear it takes longer than a couple of months. I so far have not noticed a difference, and while I smoked consistently, it was only about a pack and a half a week, but after so long it does add up. Looking forward to increased lung capacity, especially at altitude here. The monetary boon was immediately evident as I paid for a week's worth of groceries with three weeks of no smoking. When you equate it like that, staying quit is easier.

sm, glad to hear you got the opportunity to resume the commute :thumb: