Winter commuters
#1
Thread Starter
Daily Commuter
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 387
Likes: 1
From: Pueblo, Colorado
Bikes: Surly Steamroller, Gary fisher wahoo
Winter commuters
I started commuting last summer. I have learned a lot and had a lot of fun. But as it becomes spring I feel I like winter commuting more then summer commuting. Does anyone else feel like this?
#3
The pleasure of commuting in natural light is worth any penalty higher temps inflict! Cold and dark, bleah. In the heat of summer, I can commute home in the same garb I went into work with, and that garb is appropriate. That is a darn nice thing. But the spring and fall produce the nicest days, you just have to be able to add and shed clothing for the temp swings. I might imagine that someone lattitudinaly deficient might feel different.
#4
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 6,431
Likes: 44
From: Minneapolis, MN
I think this happens every year, but not just for commuting. Every fall I feel like the summer was really long as winter will be short. Every spring I feel like winter went on foreeeeeeeeeeeever and summer will be over in no time...
#5
53 miles per burrito


Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,489
Likes: 0
From: Dallas, TX
Bikes: Land Shark, Trek 1000, Iron Horse Rogue, Novara Randonee
I guess a preference for winter over summer riding depends on your location and the scenery. I like summer commuting over winter any day. However, if I was able to enjoy what Colorado has to offer, maybe I'd think differently.
#6
Thread Starter
Daily Commuter
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 387
Likes: 1
From: Pueblo, Colorado
Bikes: Surly Steamroller, Gary fisher wahoo
#8
53 miles per burrito


Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,489
Likes: 0
From: Dallas, TX
Bikes: Land Shark, Trek 1000, Iron Horse Rogue, Novara Randonee
#9
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,556
Likes: 1
From: Boston
Winter has the joy of an empty bike trail. It's nice to have the whole road to yourself
.
Summer wins though. You get up, shower, eat, throw on clothes and sandals and ride. In the winter I have to check the weather to figure out how many layers I have to put on.
. Summer wins though. You get up, shower, eat, throw on clothes and sandals and ride. In the winter I have to check the weather to figure out how many layers I have to put on.
#11
Thread Starter
Daily Commuter
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 387
Likes: 1
From: Pueblo, Colorado
Bikes: Surly Steamroller, Gary fisher wahoo
I love colorado it does have some great scenery. Maybe i'm the only one who likes to ride in the winter haha. I've got to get all my money out of the stuff i bought for winter haha
#12
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 433
Likes: 0
From: Iowa City, IA
Bikes: 2008 Surly LHT, 2008 Trek 7.2fx
Eh, I enjoy winter commuting enough, but it was a great relief when I got to pull off the studded snow tires and start wearing shorts + t-shirt. I look forward to next winter's commute, but old man winter can take his time getting here...
#13
I've had some very pleasant rides in the Winter but I've also had some of my longest and most nerve racking commutes when the roads are bad.
The plus to both Summer and Winter is that I can wear the same clothes both into work and on the way home. In the Spring and the Fall it often warms up enough during the day that I end up hauling half my clothes home instead of wearing them.
The plus to both Summer and Winter is that I can wear the same clothes both into work and on the way home. In the Spring and the Fall it often warms up enough during the day that I end up hauling half my clothes home instead of wearing them.
#14

We are moving into winter now and I've got no idea where the summer went. All my plans of getting out and about on my days off sort of vanished and I'm actully disapointed in myself.

For those of you enjoying spring right now STICK TO YOUR PLANS FOR ENJOYING THE SUMMER, IT MIGHT BE BLOODY SHORT!
#16
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,896
Likes: 7
From: Raleigh, NC
Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia
I enjoy riding in all of the seasons. They all have the pluses and minuses. I like riding in the cooler temperatures of winter, not getting all sweaty, and drinks staying cold. Riding in the dark can be a bit boring, but you get used to it over time. Spring is ideal when the weather is nice, but you also get wild swings in temperatures, some very windy days and more surprise rain showers. Summer is best for morning rides, but afternoons can be miserable when it's really hot and humid or thunderstorms pop up. Fall is probably the best season for riding in NC, except for the rapidly shortening days and loss of light in the mornings. Also, it takes a while to acclimate to the temperatures when it starts cooling off in fall.
#18
Older than dirt
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,342
Likes: 2
From: Winchester, VA
Bikes: Too darn many.. latest count is 11
#19
multimodal commuter
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 19,810
Likes: 597
From: NJ, NYC, LI
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
After a long cold winter, I love the spring. But then the bugs and the goslings and the fishermen come out, and I'm so relieved when summer comes. But the heat gets tiresome, so I'm always happy when it turns to fall. And then, winter, what fun! Riding in complete darkness is a blast, and I don't get all sweaty.
Pick one? Nope, not me. I like the changing seasons.
Pick one? Nope, not me. I like the changing seasons.
#20
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,324
Likes: 3
From: UK
I hate the winds in spring and autumn, don't really like the cold of the winter. But I love commuting with the sun on my back
either way I still commute all year round though - no amount of cold or wind would make me prefer public transport!
either way I still commute all year round though - no amount of cold or wind would make me prefer public transport!
#21
Elemental Child
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
From: Minnesoter
Bikes: 1989 Schwinn World workhorse, 1979 Trek Summer Bike, 1995 Schwinn Moab that never gets ridden
This is about how I feel. It's good fun showing up to the office and having coworkers exclaim "You rode your bike in this!?", but I greatly enjoy cornering hard without having to worry about black ice under a light cover of snow or anything like that. Being able to ride with minimal gear is nice, too.
#22
up hill both ways
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 102
Likes: 1
From: DC/Arlington
Bikes: KHS Flight 600 (sold); Giant ATX 760 (stolen, then retreived!); Schwinn Tempo; Schwinn Breeze (on loan), Lemond Fillmore, Cannondale Capo
At first I thought the OP was nuts, but I'm reconsidering as my allergies are going off and it's 87 degrees as I prepare to bike home...
#23
wannabe
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
From: San Diego
Things I don't like about winter commuting:
1. Frozen hands
2. Rutted ice in the morning darkness
Things I like about winter commuting:
1. Solitude
2. Buzzing studs
3. Making the first track through the snow covered trail
It appears I have more likes than dislikes but generally I prefer warmth.
1. Frozen hands
2. Rutted ice in the morning darkness
Things I like about winter commuting:
1. Solitude
2. Buzzing studs
3. Making the first track through the snow covered trail
It appears I have more likes than dislikes but generally I prefer warmth.
#24
Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: KCMO
I prefer the spring and fall. But between summer and winter, I will take summer any day of the week.
There we're several days this last summer where it was 105 degrees (41 Cel), without heat index or humidity, upon leaving work. Just jam a half gallon of water into your stomach and then start peddling.
Then again the 20 degrees would kill me..
though my limits are closer to 80 and 20
Then again the 20 degrees would kill me..





