I think 'enlightenment' needs two steps.

The first is the realization that cold and/or damp, even wet, is much less uncomfortable on a bicycle. But that's not enough on it's own. For instance, we're in that deep freeze right now that most everyone has been hearing about. (Early Jan., 2014) As a result, I did a bunch of snow shoveling today. Burning calories, I was dressed more lightly than many folks might have done yet I was still more than warm enough. Yet it still wasn't all that much fun. Not bad, but not 'great'.

A bicycle ride, though, has something beyond merely being more comfortable (for given conditions) than others might suspect. I'm not articulate enough to describe that. And I don't need to; anyone reading this already understands.

When we're riding, we're more comfortable and more 'happy' than an outsider is capable of understanding.

Since they don't understand they are forced to think that we're either lying or crazy.