Lately with the cold and dark closing in on us I've been getting my extra miles in the morning by riding around the neighbourhood roads. I'm able to get in 25-30 km of quiet riding on very familiar roads early in the morning, but I am never more than five minutes away from home, just in case. I don't bother to carry any tools with me. Then when it's time I head home, pick up my backpack and ride the 20 km or so straight to work.

Somehow I am comforted by being so close to home, especially under adverse riding conditions--wet roads, darkness, cold.