Winter
 

In the PNW one can ride 11.5 months of the year usually if you don't mind the wet. The days are getting shorter here and my regular commutes will soon cease. I ride some rural and industrial roads that I'd prefer to avoid in the dark so as not to become a stain on the road. I rode more than ever this year and have seen health and speed gains because of it. I'll try to ride when I can on nice weekends but otherwise I'll be on the bike significantly less for the next few months. I'll likely get my bikes sorted mechanically over the coming season and not ride enough to break them as often.

How was your riding season and what does winter have in store for you?

Riding season was good 'cept a lessening of miles from July on due to a bad left knee. Still working it out but on the bike everyday.

Winter on the coastal NC scene is bike friendly. I hope to get my miles back up but will probably spend a good bit of time in the coffee shops. At home, wrenching as usual with a winter project in the box and lots of wheel building planned.

Personally, I look forward to fall and winter.

The sun rising so late is bumming me out for the commute. I had to get going in the dark even in August but being in the dark the whole time is a bummer. I'll try to motivate and get a feel for how it will be from here on out.For the afternoons and weekends I enjoy the cooler temps.

This was my best season so far, no more racing or training. For once I was able to slow down and enjoy the ride. I try to ride through the winter as long as the roads are clear. I avoid snow and ice.

Orion Rising = Ski season must be approaching.

Low mileage summer due to home projects and other aspects of life.

Spring was good but the wet bikes saw lots of duty.

I rode a lot less after buying my motorcycle in mid-july and preparing for my Vancouver island moto trip, but I did get in a fun overnight bike camping trip out to Snoqualmie and the Gigantic Bicycle fest. I cracked a bone in my hand skateboarding so I am going to sit out cyclocross season and just be a spectator. I need to get back on the bike and get in a few miles over the next month or so, despite it getting dark earlier here in Seattle.

Well it was 90 degrees here today, so the cold apparently will not be a factor for a while. I commute rarely, mostly since my work shifts are wonky and it is dark/middle of night when I finish most of the time. Also since my work schedule is weird, I often use work as a rest day from riding. Anyway my mileage dips some, occasionally a lot, during the winter, but I still ride year round. I put in 300 miles this past February, which is a good month for me at any time. I'm going to use the winter weather (which won't likely be until mid-late December here) to get some upper body fitness back and get back on the basketball court a little. I also like to do some cross racing, but I don't take it too seriously.

Worst season in at least 10 years.

Lots of life and work happening right now. Usually I ride from Mid-March until early November. During winter, I go to the gym, drink lots of coffee, and tinker with audio gear.

This year I'm just over 500 miles and I started in February. I live in Chicago and typically do around 1500 miles per season. Hopefully, I can keep riding until November and get over 700 miles.

I have a 120mi round trip commute to work, so no bike commuting for me... I was able to for a few years when I was much closer and loved it. Planning to get back to that at some point once the distance is reasonable.

This past spring/summer were great - I don't really track mileage, but it's safe to say this was my best season to date in terms of distance/climbing/speed/enjoyment. I suppose I should start setting goals for myself to help move things along, maybe do some actual 'training'. Hill repeats, intervals/sprints, etc. I've started running during lunch at work which seems to have helped on the bike.

I try to ride through the winter when possible, but mileage is certainly reduced. Mostly MTB and a single speed crappy weather bike, gym and rollers to fill in the space. I have a few projects I hope to wrap up as the days get shorter. Klein, Woodrup, and a single speed Motobecane Grand Touring that will see winter duty. I'm aiming to get the Woodrup finished for some fall riding. Holdups on those projects all circle back to needing to build a few more wheels. I also need to find time to get in some fleet maintenance and get the proper water transfers on the Raleigh. It'd be good to move along some of the hoarded parts I won't need until they're sold as well. No shortage of projects, only time.

Was upper-mid 80's here today, so hopefully we get a slow taper of temps and a long fall.

When I worked 12 hour shifts (5:30AM - 5:30PM), I'd ride both ways in the dark for many weeks.

Not an issue anymore, now that I'm retired. :)

Winter? It reached 91 yesterday in the D yesterday, the warmest day of 2017. It has been a wonderful summer, highlighted by dry weather, mostly low humidity, lots of sunshine, and for me, a nouveau petite amie!

Haven't thought about winter yet, but going on a road trip to look at fall colors in New England and NY next week.

I've finally gotten serious about bike commuting although late in the season. I have cycled to work since the last week of August this year and only once had to drive due to the intensity of the rain and the poor drainage along my route. My daily commute is a whopping 3 miles round trip. I kept telling myself since early spring this year that I would start riding to work but was so busy at work that I just kept putting it off. But I finally worked out the logistics and thankfully have lockers and a shower available at the office and was not only allowed to but strongly encouraged to park my bike in the office.

My plan is to outfit myself with the appropriate clothing as need arises and to only drive in when it is icy or there is deep snow. Thankfully in the worst conditions I can usually stay home.

Winter: a Southwest United States perspective
 

You ask an intriguing question.

Here in the great desert southwest (United States of America), our "winter" is much more pleasant weather than the latter part of a four-season climate's version.

During June, July, August, and often September, our temperatures after noon may top 100 degrees Fahrenheit. An extended bicycle ride in 100+ degree weather is not for the faint of heart.

In "winter" as defined "December solstice to March equinox" we have more comfortable weather and less rain than in our summer.

I hope this perspective is useful, or entertaining, or both.

Not a great year for total mileage (getting harder to sneak away for those 17-mile lunchtime jaunts I used to do) but this season was pretty good for group rides, three really nice ones with my fellow C&Vers, including two in my neck of the woods! That's trend I hope to continue.

Commuting is probably going to shut down for me within the next four weeks; too risky coming home in the dark on my twisty, hilly country road with scant shoulders. Rain will be a factor, too :(
[MENTION=319010]Narhay[/MENTION] : was last December - early Jan particularly cold up your way? I'm in the same region as you and we had over a month where the temperature never once got above freezing at my house in the foothills. (Although it thawed out a couple of days down in town, by the water.)

Me too. :o

My season started a mere 5 weeks ago due to an insurance company withholding care since January. The commuting season ends with daylight savings time. A dark rush hour ride scares me.

I can get a ride or two on the weekend but the egregious amount of salt they use for snow removal puts a limit on rides. With all the weight I gained this year, stress eating throughout the injury, I'll be on the trainer. I hate the trainer.

But I am refinishing the basement this winter so the trainer won't suck quite as hard.

This past winter we had more snow and more sub zero days than ever. When it was sunny it was freezing. When it was warmer it poured rain.

As it gets darker here it tends to rain all the time. Dark plus rain is not great for visibility and that's when I draw the line. A tiny blinky only does so much.

Winter is coming.

http://www.3mindsdigital.com/blog/wp...d543204b4d.jpg

I was able to ride just about year round. During Portland's Snowmaggaden, the easiest way to get to work was by bike. The only two things that stopped me from riding were sickness (a prolonged cold) and smoke-filled days during our extended PNW fire season.

I've still got a few good rides to do yet this year outside of my standard commute. I'll probably do a year end review at the end of the year.

There's no bad weather, only bad gear. I'll continue to ride as I see fit, regardless of what mother nature has to say about it...

Funny you should ask. My commute is 8mi. each way often supplemented with a train ride home for 5 1/2 of the 8 even so I ride 70 to 90% of the time mostly year around, less so this last winter.

However, I decided to end an almost 3 yr hiatus and return to the dragstrip in July to race motorcycles as I had done for the better part of 20 yrs. So in the process of this there was much rebooting, refreshing, upgrading, replacing, wrangling of gear, parts, pieces etc. This necessitated driving most days to chase all of the above stated things.

My riding has been almost nil, which was ok since the racing fills the same mental ask as the riding does. This last weekend was to be the last major racing weekend for this season so I was looking forward to getting back on the bicycle and getting after it and back on track while the weather is still good to carry me through the wetness that is coming.

I'm sure many of you know where this is headed as I went down at the track, cracked my pelvis and won't be back on any bikes for at least 6 to 8 weeks. Anyway I will supposedly be fine if I do what they say and take it easy which I really have no choice as it hurts like a hernia from h**l. I will be back on both bikes as soon as possible. ;)

Amen brother, that's the spirit. Once I got the gear sorted it was a piece of cake. ;)

This is going to be the lowest mileage in many years for me. Issues with medication side effects have taken somewhat high price, er, lots of mileage lost. Now its total loss of the current medication due to cardiac side effects making things interesting for a bit. Still rode yesterday after receiving the doctor’s order to D/C the medication, it helped clear out the bad stuff and delay the annoying tremors in my arms and legs for a few hours.

Thankfully we get a year-round “season” for cycling here in the SE USA/NW Florida. Better times are just up the road.

Bill

Ouch! Get better and reboot for next season!

I'll ride regularly until it gets down to about freezing, which actually occurs less than you would think in the Boston area. I tend to run more than ride through the winter. I'll also ride the wind trainer, but I can't stand that more than 30 minutes at a time.

Also me.👍🏻