Ok beat me up I'm a wimp I can take it. I will be embarking on my first commute to work on my bike this year. Haven't been on the bike since early November, I'm still having some knee and back issues but expect these to not be a problem as they have improved a lot and the gout in my right foot is almost a non factory so I am pretty sure its gonna be painful but I will be on my trustiest steed my 77 Schwinn Volare. Super Flash blinkies have new batteries and so does my blinky vest. Headlight battery is charging a we speak. I don't ride here in the winter since its usually so wet in the mornings and the afternoons for that matter and I can't see in the dark very well ( I leave the house at 4:10 AM) so if its foggy or rainy and my glasses get all fogged up I'm screwed. I've tried the looking over the top routine and it don't work. So all of you please wish me luck and pray I keep the wheel side down. I'm so stoked I didn't realize till about 2 hours ago when I made the decision to ride how much I miss it.

February is usually a great month to pick up the slack. Days are longer. The weather is somewhat warmer and occasionally more clement. This year seems to be an exception though. The groundhog didn't even bother to pop his head out.

Good luck to you!

Good luck and well wishes. With the right equipment most obstacles can be overcome.

Well don't it figure. I was all hopped up to ride this morning and from out of the blue yesterday evening after I made my first post my back goes haywire on me. No (*&^%$#@ warning or nothing. I was walking up the stairs (not running) and the first step I felt something funny in my back and I goes to myself " MMMMMM that felt odd" by the time I got up to the first floor of the house it wasn't funny anymore. I could barely get dressed this morning and can't really bend over so no bike riding this thing settles down. I've had this before and I have it again. Man I am so hacked off I could scream.

Hope you're back in the saddle soon. Back pain is a PITA and (for me) riding tends to alleviate it.

Once this thing settles down and I can actually bend over and get up and walk around like a person instead of the missing link I'll be fine.It just takes some time, usually a week of good stretching and Ibuprofen and it settles out.