I've rode regularly thorugh a couple winters. Then I skipped a couple winters just because I felt like it. Now I think I'm going to ride this winter unless I don't feel like it. Sure I'm stronger at some times then I am at others, but I always seem to be plenty strong enough. Call it having a solid base built up if you want to. Riding is enough a part of my life that I never really worry about not being good enough even if I don't get around to riding for a while. I know that eventually I will ride again, and again, and again... Seriously, some of the best cyclist I know are folks that don't make a big deal out of going out to do some riding, but instead have made bikes an integral part of life that hardly bears thinkings about.

Heat, done that, snow, done that, bitter cold, done that, rain, done that. The idea that these things are that big of a deal hardly enters my mind anymore. I know what I need to do if I want to ride on any given day. So if I want to ride I simply do what I need to do. On the other hand I cringe at the idea of having to go ride or do some kind of exercise so that I can be a better rider or maintain some level of fitness. I'm good enough to do the things that I want to do and that is good enough for me.

I guess what I'm getting is not to rule out just taking it easy or riding some of the time when the weather isn't at it's worst. One of the best thing I did was manage to shift bicycling from being something that I have to stay in shape for into something that I do because I want to.