MinnMan and kr32, Riding in cold weather is not too difficult if you have the proper equipment and mental attitude. Overdressing is just as bad as underdressing. When I first began riding in cooler/cold conditions I would overdress and during some rides become extremely uncomfortable. I didn't realize it was overheating until I finished and began taking off some of the layers and felt the instant relief. Cold with no wind is a better riding condition than cooler with winds, after a few rides you will be able to access the conditions and dress and put the right mental perspective on how you will ride. Riding in 15 -20 degree temps with no wind is much better than riding in windy 35 degree weather.

I have a long email list of riding buddies and usually one or two will be available to ride along. We do ride at night when possible on lonely country roads with little traffic and great visibility. Daytime rides on weekends are catch as catch-can.

From reading both of your post over the past few months it seems you want to raise your riding game. To garner success it will take riding year round both outdoors and indoors to keep the metobolic changes continuing. The cold weather rides are not for performance but rather for the zest of riding and building a strong base from which you will further develop in the Spring and Summer. Keep in mind the cold rides will not be fast and will be difficult to be longer than 2 - 3 hours. Riding the trainer and rollers at that time is when you do the hard work. You can work on cadence, pedal form, single leg drills and even do a verity of intervals from sprinting to Z3 tempo to low speed power. I've found that just getting on the trainer and riding for X time and watching the clock is extremely difficult both mentally and physically. A structured workout that includes a warm up, pedaling drills then some interval work with recoveries will have the time fly by. Just my 2 cents.