Anybody start summer commuting & plan to continue?
 

here's hoping the cycling community picked up some new commuters this spring & summer & that some will try to continue thru the rest of the year!

I specifically got my velomobile to extend my riding season to hopefully 12 months.

So, yes? :D

I started this spring and I would like to continue all year weather and conditions permitting.

I started commuting a couple summers ago.

Last fall I just didn't stop.

Kept going right on through winter.

I must admit I slowed down a tad in February. 4 degree mornings are a bit rough.

Here it’s the summer afternoons that give me pause. But it helps they’re the ride home. So you’re committed

Well I’m not new to bicycle communing but have returned to it after a long recovery from a double hart bypass. Life is good and I’m still this side of the daisies.:)

I started cycle commuting in May, but just one day a week so far. I plan to keep it up as long as I can.

If its not pouring rain or snowing I'm riding. I rarely drive anymore knowing everywhere I need to go is within a few miles from me

I did a few split commutes last year & a handful of round trippers this summer. dawned on me the other day, that I might be able to do a few more. but I must admit, my storage for clothing at work, is not strained by what little I wear in the summer. aka stealth commuting

I don't remember what season it was when I started commuting but it was a December when I resumed bicycling after a long pause. Riding in the cold seemed easy to me then until the snow and ice came, and it was harder to adapt to the warmer weather as I ran out of layers to remove as it warmed up in the spring. Commuting in the cold is still easier for me, I'll take the tradeoff of more time to get dressed over more sweat any day.

Started commuting again after a year break. Moved into a foreclosure last year. Big lifestyle change. It’s actually faster for me to ride to work at this point. Riding to the gym 5 days a week vs a drive is a wash. I made the excuse of a new bike this fall. The plan is to make my current bike do winter duty.

I commute twice a week, but it actually only is once. I drive my truck to work with my bike on it, and then I ride home. The next morning I ride to work. I love it, but my wife is preggo and almost due. I think I am addicted. It is a mixed feeling. Super happy the baby is coming, but not riding. definitely not playing golf. But, when they are older I plan on commuting more often.

The wife and I started commuting (nearly) every day when school ended last spring. We’ve continued in to this school year and plan to continue through “winter”.

We’ll see how it goes once it dips below 40*, 9 miles each way in cold cold rain is going to be tough.

I haven't had a job to commute to in a long time, but I started taking classes in college, so I started commuting to them in the last week of August. So far, I have ridden every day and have been enjoying it. The alternative to riding for me is taking the subway. I plan to be as tough as possible in the face of weather. When there is slush on the ground, I can take Citi Bike, as the bikes are heavy and sure-footed, and I won't be risking my bike.

I started commuting this summer and I’m at three days a week. It’s only seven miles round trip, but we’ll see how tough I am once winter hits. Street parking in Boston is an urban nightmare, so it’s nice to have the option to ditch the car and hold on to my precious spot. I’m currently riding 700 x 25c Schwalbe Lugano. What are people running for winter tires?

Last year I rode till February when too much snow made it impossible to share the roads (safely) with cars. I hope to continue as long as possible this year as well.

That's me. I started this summer but still only ride 2-3 times a week (9miles each way). My ride on Tuesday got a little sketchy in the dim lighting. I had only my rear blinkie on and a hiviz tshirt.

It's getting cooler so i ordered a hiviz jacket and additional front/rear blinkies. I'll keep my current rear light as a slow pulse or steady light and i also have a front headlight to actually see with. So two lights front and rear, one blink, one steady. Maybe i'll put the rear blinkie on my helmet.

Now i'm working on my side-view reflection. I'll prob get those 3M reflective tape squares to put on my spokes.

Maybe i'll bring out my mountain bike for a snowy commute once or twice, but i don't see that happening too often frankly. :)

I changed jobs this summer and started commuting to work (10 miles each way). It’s been a lot of fun. Had my first heavy, cold rain the other day, and since I was riding home from work, I didn’t care one bit. I also like to tell myself on my way to work that because I leave about the same time each day, that perhaps there are drivers in cars next to me that see me every day and wish they were me. Makes me smile.

Been commuting year-round since 2002, in the mid Atlantic, the northeast, and now the south. I wouldn't have it any other way:)

Just started commuting at the start of September. Plan on riding through the winter. Any glove suggestions would be appreciated.

everyone's "winter" is different. have you browsed the winter subforum?

https://www.bikeforums.net/winter-cycling/

for threads like this one about gloves

https://www.bikeforums.net/winter-cy...er-gloves.html

I recently posted about some cheap gloves I've used a lot but I can't quickly find it right now. basically I had written that I liked using some cheap football fan gloves, for most of last fall & winter. so I would suggest using what you might already have. up North where I am, some ppl also use barmitts (which are great for rain) &/or expensive cycling gloves

good luck with your personal journey

I broke my wrist in August 2018 and didn't start biking until next April. It was a very wet winter and cold spring and I was not motivated to start biking. A friend at work had a pace maker installed at that same time and he never really started biking. I have 2500 miles this year, hoping to get to 3000 and if it doesn't rain a lot I'll make it. I biked to work all winter two winters ago. The purchase of Shimano winter cycling shoes made the world of difference keeping my feet warm. Another difference was splurging on a $100 (on sale) Castelli winter jersey. It was warm enough that 80% of the time, it was all I needed for the 22 mile ride to work in the morning (Train most of the way home). Finally, when it got really cold here (sub 40F), fleece lined skull cap under the helmet. That old wive's tale my mother used to tell me really is true: you lose a lot of heat through your head; wear a hat. Rain, however, is showstopper for me :-)

I actually do plan to ride through the winter. Although Atlanta winter is not the same as Grand Rapids winter, it's still sucks. It's cold, and it rains a lot. My old bike ran into shifting problems below 272ºK, so I'm curious to see how the new bike does in the chill.

I've been looking at some clothes for winter cycling, and I'm not liking my options. I can look like a middle-aged super-hero cosplayer in spandex, or I can look like a smooth-brained hippster in overpriced jeans.

For now I am just looking for:
Gloves, full finger, cycling.
Hat, stocking, warm.
Mask, cold weather, neoprene (non-heroic) - although I find this one oddly tempting LINK
Jacket, rain repellent, safety yellow
Pants, rain repellent.
Bands, pant leg restraining ]LINK

I... I can't do this one... I just can't LINK

And since I'm spending that money, I'll get a new set of lights. My current lights are pathetic.

Check out the threads in the Winter Cycling forum. You'll find some good suggestions. But every rider is different. My feet are cold below 60F, but my hands stay pretty warm :-)

One thing I learned as the weather got colder is that a fleece lined skull cap made the world of difference keeping heat in. Adding a skull cap kept the front of my thighs from getting cold! My outer layers tend to be cycling specific for the features, but under layers can be any technical clothing. I've picked up inexpensive clothing at Marshall's TJ Maxx, etc. Cold weather Under Armour long sleeve jerseys for $15-20! Unfortunately, it rarely gets cold enough here to warrant that heavy an base layer.

I've been year-round for a while. The last six years were a short commute in western Wisconsin, and this year is a longer (18-20 mile RT) in North Carolina.

I didn't even bring my winter bike down here, though I brought a gravel bike and set of studs just in case of ice. So far, I pulled out the Level 1 Winter gear, but haven't used any of it other than the tights. I doubt I'll get below Level 1, but brought some Level 2 just in case. I doubt I'll need the ski goggles, but one never knows.

I think winter commuting here will be lovely and delightful!

Hi [MENTION=347107]wipekitty[/MENTION],

I note that you describe winter clothing in levels 1 and 2...any more? I have posted about my apparel for all year round cycling as levels 1 to 6. My sister-in-law lived for a few years in the Raleigh-Durham area, and I seem to recall that area was prone to treacherous ice storms coating the roads in Winter. :eek:

Keep us posted.

Every year at this time I get to commute to work for six weeks. I ride the five and a half miles to the Salvation Army headquarters in the city. I drive the bell ringers to their assigned stores. I'm know is the office as the designated Atheist. Every year I have to remind my coworkers that everyone is an Atheist. I just believe in one less god than them.

My levels are perhaps not as refined as yours - but run something like the following. I used to live in western Wisconsin with no household car, so the levels needed to cover down to around -15F. Over around 45F, I get away with normal cycling gear, like fingerless gloves, knee warmers, sleeves, and a wind jacket. Then the fun starts:

Level 1 (low 40s to low 30s): Wind jacket with wool baselayer. Tights, full-finger gloves, thin wool socks with booties, ear covering, sunglasses.
Level 2: (low 30s to low 20s): Vented softshell with wool baselayer. Thick wool socks with booties, add silk liner to full-finger gloves, add balaclava.
Level 3: (low 20s to maybe 10 above): Vented softshell with thicker wool baselayer. Thick wool socks with booties and toe warmers OR winter boots, heavy GoreTex ski gloves, add snowboard helmet and ski goggles.
Level 4: (10-0): Vented softshell with multiple wool baselayers. Winter boots, add single liner to ski gloves, add outer layer (rain pants) over tights.
Level 5: (below 0): Vented softshell with multiple wool baselayers. Winter boots, two liners in ski gloves, outer layer (rain pants) over tights, additional face cover. In western Wisconsin this kind of temperature usually means high winds, so the idea is to eliminate skin exposure.

I've heard that as well. Fortunately, my workplace is pretty good about shutting down for inclement weather, so I should not need to commute much, if at all, on the ice. I brought the studded tires just in case, because I've been commuting for so long that my winter driving skills are pretty much nonexistent!

Your scheme then is apparently specific for winter cycling. My system is year round and by 45°F, I’m into my level 2, with similar apparel, though I wear at least lightweight knitted full-finger gloves in the 50s – low 60’s; and I still haven't bought Winter boots. :rolleyes:

I probably mentioned this over in the Winter forums a few times, but I definitely tend to run hot! I'm of the school of 'fifty degrees, bare your knees', and my hands are usually warm enough with fingerless gloves over 40°F...unless it's raining, or I'm descending for over a mile. I've spent the last two months in North Carolina wondering how the other cyclists are not absolutely sweltering.

I'm too cheap to buy winter cycling boots - I go with normal winter boots and clips/straps once it gets snowy. I once tried SPD-SL in the snow, and that was a dumb idea.