spare_wheel

interesting. i suspect this is a minnesota thing.

Hypno Toad

Actually, more like suburban thing. The office is about 15 miles outside Minneapolis in a very car-centric 'burb.

tjspiel

You're right. Most folks in the US mentally put cycling into the "warm weather recreation" category. Not many people around here would think twice about somebody going XC skiing when it's 15 degrees. But for some reason that's too cold for riding a bike even if the roads are perfectly clear of ice and snow.

Walking?

Well, it's changed, but when I was growing up in a small town it was considered odd to walk anything more than a few blocks. Everybody knew everybody else and when I was walking home from the small downtown area, people would stop and ask me if I wanted a ride home all the time. You could tell that some of them were insulted when I said I was happy to walk. It's like the idea of enjoying a couple mile walk was just too much for them to grasp.

enigmaT120

Where the heck is tarwheel? I haven't looked at that thread for a while. Partly because I haven't even hit a thousand miles yet, for this year.

Spld cyclist

So many Americans have gotten so incredibly soft in the last few decades, that something that isn't tough at all is perceived to be tough. The time when most people would think nothing of walking, biking, riding in an open coach, etc. for miles a day as part of daily life is now just slipping out of living memory. Even in the 1920-40s, many households didn't have a car, and far fewer had more than one car. For many of us, these people were our parents or grandparents.

So not so long ago, totally normal, average people (in good physical condition or not) who had to get places often went under their own power, even under adverse weather conditions. As people had been doing since the dawn of the human race. Were they tough, or just normal humans?

So no, I don't think I'm tough for biking to work in the rain or in the cold.

Daniel4

I can ride three hours across Toronto to meet friends for coffee. I had biked in the same thundershower this past June when a golfer was struck by lightning. But I have a hard time telling a telemarketer that I'm not interested.

wolfchild

If Pee Wee Herman can ride a bicycle then anybody can, no special toughness required...Long time ago when I was involved in winter wilderness survival workshops, it was a lot tougher then winter bike commuting.

bruised

Yes, people who ride in harsh conditions are tough. So are people who ride Centuries and other long distances, race, ride cyclocross events or whatever.

The original post infers that riding in the cold requires physical toughness whereas it needs mostly mental toughness. All endurance riding seems, to me, to be about mental toughness. If you can control what goes on between your ears you can handle the harshest of conditions.

Point is - there's no obvious correlation between mental toughness and the physical aggressor type that the OP conjures up with his post. They can be different animals.

takenreasy

For me it’s a matter of efficiency and being active. So, I commute all year long. People at work know me as being active. So, it lines up that way. No being a tough guy here nor would I suspect anyone views me as such.

Motolegs

My boss said a similar thing, that it was a "Road Warrior" bike. Maybe... looks wise. Speed wise it's a bit slower than that movies' crazy chase scenes!

But yeah, this is the second year of all season riding, and I work in a very populous enviornment. I expect the comments to continue until I school them all. One guy pretty much openly questioned my sanity (in a friendly way, he's a buddy). After I showed him the tire pic and explained about studded tires he became very interested, even fascinated.

Reynolds 

Not tough at all. I just can stand a little more discomfort than some people (while riding).

vol

Sorry, but wrong, and wrong. You are wrong twice about what I meant in the op.

I meant quite the opposite of your misconstrued meaning of my op:
I meant that, riding in adverse weather, though a physical activity, requires mental strength, tenacity, determination. And what I was interested in is whether the mental strength/toughness that is involved in such activities is a reflection of a toughness/strength in a wider sense/more general way in that person. By tough in a wider sense/more general way, I include such aspects as not giving up, not giving in, being determined and tenacious in doing something you believe in, not bending over before power or kissing someone's ass, less likely being picked by bullies, etc. It's not a statement, but a question and wondering. e.g. would a bullying boss be less likely to bully such a person? When facing a disaster or tragedy, would this person be more likely to able to deal with it than others?...

Nice to read so many replies! Thank you all!

krobinson103

I think that my all night double centuries, year round commuting (even in a blizzard once), Brevets and crazy long climbs teach me not to give up. Its easy to think "I can't" when in fact, you can. Its not impossible to go 400km without sleeping - or even more for some of my friends. Its not impossible to climb 3000m+ over 120km then go and ride an event after sleeping on a bench by a river in fall. These things aren't comfortable, but they are challenging. Whats life without challenge? I don't want to sit in a climate controlled box and get fat. I'd rather be riding to work, and riding all night in the weekend. I want to find out just where my REAL limits are and not what I percieve them to be. I've almost given myself hypothermia a few times, and caused myself to hit very real limits when it comes to not sleeping for days.

But, the riding itself? Its not that hard. Just keep pedalling and keep eating (that can be a challenge after 24 hours in the saddle!) The hard bit is maintaining the will to do it. Your body can deliver an incredible amount if you simply will it to.

realityinabox

While I technically haven't commuted through a winter yet (just started this crazy journey of commuting in August), I fully well plan to. I've had a few sub-zero (C) mornings now, but with the right layering, the weather isn't an issue. The only thing that has stopped me is ice's low coefficient of friction. I went down on Thursday taking a corner to quickly, so I decided to drive on Friday as I wait for studded tires to come in the mail.

I don't think it is tough to ride. It may be physically demanding at points (I still get winded on some hills), but that is part of getting into shape. Honestly, the toughest part for me is not riding. I hate sitting in traffic. I get anxious and annoyed entirely too easy when I'm stuck in a 2-ton tin can stuck behind other people's 2-ton tin cans, stuck in an endless line of 2-ton tin cans, stretching on forever, perpetually in each other's way, belching noxious fumes into the air, while listening to talk radio about global warming and cholesterol levels. There is a certain amount of peace that comes from breathing fresh (when not sitting behind a 2-ton tin can at a light) air and moving a 30 lb tin tube down a road with nothing but my legs and morning breakfast powering me. I feel like a big kid again, even on days when I'm tired and grumpy and cold. If there is traffic, I can zip around it, or glide down a side street, and be in my own little world while connected to the wider world in such a more real way that you can ever experience in a car. Riding a bike is good for my body (as I've noticed things getting firmer over the last few months), but it is is better for my mind. And I don't want to go back to showing up to work feeling like a zombie just because of some beautiful snow.

I've avoided driving in past years by walking (when I lived closer to work/class) or by taking the bus, which is also good for the mind (I can read or listen to podcasts, etc), but I lose the benefit of exercise. I'm a lazy person by nature, so it is a small wonder that I've found so much joy in pedaling a bike, but I know that if I don't do it from a place of utility, that I won't get nearly enough exercise. Plus, trudging through snow or standing at bus stops waiting for a 20-ton tin can to chauffeur you is far colder than being your own chauffeur while pedaling my 30 lb tin tube, generating plenty of extra heat to keep yourself warm on a bike.

tclune

I imagine it's possible to be "tough" about cycling in bad weather -- you might insist on riding in shorts and sandals in mid-winter, or decide to commute on ice with summer tires, or some such thing. But I find that cycling in the rain or snow requires no more mental toughness than getting out in inclement weather in a car. Some folks imagine that it is difficult, but -- if you've prepared for it -- it's pretty much like any other outing in weather you'd rather not be in.

nkfrench 

Some people are just more comfortable in cold windy weather and have a better setup of bike and attire.
I am not a tough person in general but my weight keeps me from being blown around on the roads as much as a lighter person same winds; and my natural insulation allows me to stay warmer than some others. I have some good gear for colder dry weather.

However I don't do well in high heat or humidity and don't like to ride in rain because it comes with slippery roads, poor visibility for motorists, and usually lightning, hail, or worse. My skinny tires don't get great traction on wet streets.

I ride when I get a positive payback, and having people think I am a "tough rider" isn't enough to put me on the bike.

SlowJoeCrow

My answer is usually, "We only have one car so I have to take the bike" which I last said when talking to a fellow commuter who takes the winter off. Then again Portland Oregon area weather isn't particularly nasty as long as you have waterproof gear and fenders.
On the other hand, I don't ride when I'm sick or wear a t-shirt and shorts when it's cold and raining.

mustang1

fify
if you cycle in bad weather, are you a moron?

yes.

TransitBiker

All it takes is a few days of no electricity in the winter to see what's what.

I think the real issue is to some people accepting discomfort is part of life, while other people refuse to accept anything outside a narrow zone of comfort and safety.

In short, some people are spoiled by modern life. Some are downright ignorant of anything to do with weather or dressing for weather & just assume HVAC was something that exists by default everywhere.

- Andy

wolfchild

A survival trip lasting few days and nights out in the wilderness with no tent, no sleeping bag, no camping gear is usually enough to fix peoples attitude and make them appreciate things like HVAC, electricity, running water, grocery store and internet.

Fargo Wolf

When I lived in N. Vancouver, Canada, I used to consider myself tough (Mom though I was nuts) for riding in the monsoon like rain in the wintertime. When I came back to Kamloops, I considered riding in -15c weather made me "tough". When I think about it though, I recall riding to Jr. High in St-Albert (on the N.W. corner of Edmonton) in -25 to -35c (not including the windchill) to be truly badass.

TransitBiker

After the ice storm last feb, everything was shut down the first night, including many gas stations. Lots of stuff was still shut by the next night. Many people went shelters for food. I stayed home and slept in the 38 degree dark house, then walked to the store with backup generator the next afternoon, was too crowded so i then walked to the dunkin donuts about a mile away. People seemed unsure what to do. Was an odd sight.

- Andy

beastonabike

Well I do come from a more "rugged" background. Rock climbing and mountaineering for 20+ years, commuting to work through all seasons for 20+ years. I scare the bears out of my yard almost every night during the summer so that's gotta be tough and I did the Tough Mudder in Whistler a couple of times and the head band says Tough so gotta be Actually I only did it because I heard you get a free beer after the 20kms.



Dave

Sixty Fiver

My grandfather was born in 1901 and after marrying my grandmother they started their homestead with nothing but the clothes on their back and less than $100.00. Since they could not afford a horse he would walk 70 miles through the bush to get provisions and then carry those provisions on his back... in the winter he pulled a sled and said he could carry even more this way.

He cleared his first quarter section of land by hand, with an axe and a block and tackle to clear away stumps. During the depression he'd load two boxcars with railway ties a day, the rate was $2.00 per car when most men could only handle one car a day... or he worked in lumber camps where the labour was back breaking.

In his eighties he could still deadlift 500 pounds.

He met my step father in one of those lumber camps and he said that until then, he had never met anyone stronger than he was.

My step father was nearly beaten to death by his father on numerous occasions, he was hung and whipped for any transgression and bore the scars of that his whole life... yet he was always kind to everyone unless they tried to do him or his friends harm. I was told that he would never hit anyone but he could toss a grown man the length of a room... I saw him toss full oil drums into the back of his truck and he'd swing a 30 pound sledgehammer with one hand like one would a regular hammer.

My great grandfather was a member of the Black Watch in World War One and fought in the trenches, his sons led the assault at Juneau in World War two as paratroopers.

An old friend of mine was the last member of his family, they all died in Auschwitz before he was liberated... was was old enough and strong to work and thereby avoided the gas chambers.

I just ride my bike in the winter.

beastonabike

Well don't I feel all "smacked back into perspective" . As a society we don't know what tough is. I know I am generalizing but on a whole we live a comfortable life because of the sacrifices and back breaking work that our previous generations endured day in and day out and for that I am thankful.

Dave