It’s 6:15 am and another day to pull on all the riding gear for my 20 mile / 1+ hour ride into work. As of last week, my ride is now in total darkness because when I arrive at the office at 7:30 or so, it is still dark outside. It is much colder now too, around or below 32F / 0C in the mornings. I bundle up in thermal everything but still arrive at the office with frozen toes, fingers and face. I look back and long for the days when I just rode to work in a jersey & shorts just 6 weeks ago.

It was raining a bit with a small amount of snow all the way into work today. I’m starting to dread the inevitable as it will get colder and worse when the roads/trail get covered in snow. Last year I bailed in Nov and stopped commuting until spring. I really want to continue commuting this year but the motivation factor is slipping.

How does everyone keep motivated to commute this time of year?

Maybe I’ll drive tomorrow…. at least I will be warm, dry & can listen to the radio on the way in while sipping a hot cup-a-joe.

T.J.

Around here, this is the best time of year. It's crisp in the morning so you don't get all hot and sweaty on the way in. It's fun riding with lights, at least until the novelty wears off. Even snow is fun the first few times. For me, the hardest point is at the end of the winter when there's no novelty, just cold, wet and dark.

On the difficult days, I tell myself that if I let myself back out today I'll always find a reason not to bike, then I won't be a regular biker anymore, and I'll lose all the benefits. I also have a consecutive bike-to-work-day streak -- currently over 500 -- that I'm trying to maintain. Basically, it's the same motivational tricks as AA.

Daaaang, 500 consecutive bike-to-works? That's awesome. I doubt I can get more than 20 or 30 at a time, just because minor things happen (have to drop my wife's car at the shop on the way to work or whatever) This is my first winter so I can't offer any advice... although I'm trying to always buy clothes in advance of when I need 'em. That way I won't be like "I can't ride because I am not well enough equipped."

I just keep doing because I know in a few weeks I'll be hanging up my helmet until spring.

Wow! Over 500 streak. Keep it up!

I've never been to AA before but I understand the consecutive days motivation factor. It is not possible for me as I have to drop off the kid or drive to a off site meeting somedays. I like your " I tell myself that if I let myself back out today I'll always find a reason not to bike, then I won't be a regular biker anymore, and I'll lose all the benefits." thinking. I will keep this in mind tommorow. It is forecasted to be 20F or -5C tommorow morning but at least it is not suppose to rain / snow.

Thanks & keep up the streak!

T.J.

When I look out the window pondering these newly cold mornings, I think of the days that truly suck... when it is below zero (F), or when passing cars will generously spray me with grey slush and salt.

I think of frozen fingers that can no longer grip the handlebars and brakes, ears that have turned into a delicate glass that would shatter in the slightest breeze, toes that are simultaneously numb and burning.

I think of clothes soaked in heavy, freezing rain. I think about putting my feet back into those socks and those shoes and those leg warmers at the end of the day.

I think of snow storms and black ice and drivers paralyzed with fear and stupidity... the days where riding to work would be suicidal at best.

And then I'm happy to get in every 'easy' mile that I can.

Hope that helps.

I just like to think that I'm more "hardcore" (for lack of a better word) than all the other guys who are hanging their helmets up for the winter. Yeah, its a bit of snobbery, but it keeps me going. Last year I biked whenever the roads were clear, no matter what the temp. The lowest I remember was 17F and man that was VERY cold. This year studded tires are going to be used so even if the roads suck I can still bike in. I also am better equipped with clothing.

I don't have a drivers liscence, and public transportation is waaay too expensive...

WOW 500!!! KEEP GOING !!!!

I will have to figure out how many days I am going at it...

I started June 22, 2005 100% riding to work. My Goal is to do it 1 year!
(it will be 4 months here in 2 days) 100% commuting on my days off also!
I haven't bought Gas since early June!

You gotta keep going!!!!

I rarely have problems with motivation because I love riding the bike. However, I'm with both rjkresse and rykoala. I rode to and from work on the worst day of rain and flooding in NYC, where the conditions were so bad that I broke a spoke and sprung loose my cyclocomputer transmitter (on different wheels no less). That ride will make most of the winter feel easy! Every once in a while a ride like that stays with me for a while, providing additional motivation. Also, being one of the few if not only riders I see pumps me up like nothing else. I think of Lance riding to some insane spot in the dead of winter, pausing at the top to take out the cell, calling Jan to ask, "Guess where I am?"

I suck. Y'all are kickin' me arse.

I consider the alternatives. Trudging to the train. Waiting for the train. Setting in the smelly train. Trudging to work.

Driving and waiting on the bridge for 45 minutes, then driving around for another hour looking for a parking spot.

That's motivation enough for me.

Like oboeguy said, I love riding. I especially enjoy commuting this time of year because I can go flat out and keep cool, rather than getting really hot like during the summer. Haven't started adding many layers yet. I am looking forward to the snow too, just something different to ride in/on. Plus it's always much quieter and peaceful.

I didn't catch the snow this morning, I must have just missed it as I arrived at work at 7am. Looks like it may be off and on throughout the day. Doubt anything will accumulate for the ride home.

I guess just having finished building a new bike also adds to the motivation!

BTW, where are you commuting from and to?

Same for me and the bus. I can't stand the bus. I can't stand walking to the bus stop. I can't stand waiting for the bus. I can't stand paying to ride the bus. I can't stand riding the bus. Most of the time I have to stand while on the bus. And I can't stand walking from the bus to work.

Hm... I really have bus issues. But it's motivation to ride.

I commute from Panorama Hills N.W. to the Foothills Industrial park around 52st & 70th Ave. S.E.
I take the Nose Creek pathway 90% of my trip.

Hey, nice to hear from a fellow Calgarian.

T.J.

I love commuting and winter in Pittsburgh puts a damper on things. First it doesnt stay cold, so you have to deal with slush. I like riding in snow, but you get less road. I do own a spin bike and I figure that I will just do an hour on that every day and I wont lose too much ability.

I did shell out some money on a burley gore tex jacket and pant set and I hope that that will keep me going. I'll probably have to dump my tires soon they are kinda worn continetal "double fighhters" and switch to something a bit more agressive and heavy.

The admiring faces and kind words of the Barista Babes and customers at the local coffee shop is something that I miss when I dont bike commute. I think that motorists have more respect for the un-fair weather cyclsists, at least in Pittsburgh.

That sounds like a pretty good commute, it's nice you can keep on the pathways for most of the ride.

I come from Tuscany to downtown (8th Ave 7th St SW) and it's usually around 20km, give or take, depending on the route and if I go offroad or not.

Not having a car keeps me motivated. Last night on the way home from work it rained like mad. My underwear got wet. My shoes had water inside them. I couldn't have got any wetter if i had jumped in a river.

I, like most folks here, love to commute. It gives me a chance to gather my thoughts on the way into the office and be better prepared for the day. Even if all hell breaks loose, I've already started my day off right with my commute and I'm not as phased. I love riding home because I arrive there in such a great mood. I've had a time to burn off any frustrations I had during the day and not had to fight traffic. I get to spend more time with my daughter & wife in the evenings becasue I already got in my miles for the day and do not have to spend hours in the basement on the trainer.

I like the cooler weather too but latley I've just been feeling cold and tired of commuting. Maybe I need to give my system a chance to get use to it or get a few more layers on. The motivation has been droping for the last couple weeks and I'm concerned that this November will end up like last.

Help!

T.J.

Okay, I'll take an alternative viewpoint here. If you feel like driving to work once in a while, then go ahead and do it. Listen to the radio, drink the coffee, and relax. Nobody is keeping track of how often you ride but you. There is a long winter ahead of us, and if you hold yourself to an unreasonable expectation, you'll burn out. Sounds like you're just about burnt out already.

I get tired of riding sometimes, or don't feel like riding in the rain, so I take the subway. Usually by halfway through the morning commute on the subway I'm dying to get back on the bike again.

Variety is the spice of life - heck, maybe leave 4 hours early and walk sometime.

I figure the answer is the same as when my boot recruits used to ask why I was pounding my head against the wall - cuz it feels so good when I stop!

Personally, I like the challenge.
There are days when I know the challenge will cause undue difficulties. Those days I either bus or drive. Anyhow, I have more of a problem with not riding enough than too much.

I don't have a parking pass for my work, and it's too late to buy one, so driving is actually much more of a pain in the @$$ (and way more expensive) than commuting. Even in the snow.

That's kept me in the saddle for every day of work for the past year and a half.

Opposite weather here, but motivation in the summer sort of compares. (... though not really. I'm Northeasterner by birth, and cold is way more de-motivating than hot.)

Anyway, in the summer, when it is above 105F almost everyday, I take a certain stoic pleasure in knowing that isn't as bad as everyone thinks it is, and in accepting the elements and adapting to them. If I dwell on how much I hate it, that makes it infinitely harder.