Originally Posted by
noglider
And daylight hours, too, I imagine. Do you take 80 mile rides before March or April?
I do. We've been doing 45 miles on the weekends so far, but that will increase in January when we start our winter training series. That ends with a century toward the end of February.
I don't get cold hands, feet, ears, etc., as long as I don't ride more than 5 hours in the rain below 36°. Those conditions are really rare, so I don't have to go snowshoeing on very many weekend days. I can spend 15 hours on my bike with my plastic saddle and padded shorts just fine, just not at this time of year. 7-8 hours is plenty.