All the things we hate about biking in the winter - cold, dark, snow, etc - I think I would trade for the unexpected annoyances of my first season commuting in warm weather:

* scores of unhelmeted, uninformed hipsters who seem perfectly content to ride the wrong way in bike lanes, to blow past you at a red light and through intersections

* sweat, sweat, and more sweat. especially on my brow, which briefly makes me want to join the ranks of those who refuse to wear helmets (only briefly). carrying a change of cycling clothes for the way home is no treat either

* joggers, walkers, dogs on the leash, and parents with strollers who feel it is their Divine Right to place themselves smack dab in the middle of the multi-use path and who are impervious to both my bell and my yell because of their earbuds. or maybe they just pretend not to hear me...

I can't wait until the chill is in the air again. in what parts of the country does it never get above 50 degrees? I may move there...

There's nobody biking my roads in the summer either, and I don't mind a light sweat.

Sorry, not joining this rant. I hate winter. I live for April through October.

That third bullet point is really an annoyance, I agree.

But sweat, I don't mind; and I don't care if some hipster cracks his head open.

Sorry, I can't join in either. Bitter cold, from November to March.....darkness, having to wear balaclava's, sometimes two, plus ski goggles, covering every extremity......<no thanks>....I am happy Spring and summer are here.

Sorry, I disagree too. I love Denver but the only time I feel that maybe I should try to make it back to Cali is over winter when I'm stuck not biking. Yes, some people can still bike in blizzards. I'm not one of them.

Up here in Seattle it's still in the low 40s in the mornings (sometimes still upper 30s), and barely making mid 50s at the hottest point most days. It doesn't keep anyone from going outside, though. People just adapt to whatever the baseline "normal" is. Around here, it means you'll see people out jogging in shorts when it's 40 degrees.

I can bike in blizzards, and it's fun. That doesn't stop winter from totally sucking though.

Personally, I like being able to feel my fingers at the end of a ride, thanks

You can come up here for the next week if you want, the snow from the last smackdown on Wednesday is just melting, and there are flurries forecast for most of the week....

I like Winter enough that every year it goes by quicker each time. At least I'm guaranteed on what to wear each day, unlike the transitional weather in Spring or Fall which keeps me switching back and forth in the types of outerwear I use.

Yes, that is a pain. I tend to avoid the pathways and use the roads more in summer for that very reason. Otherwise, I'm constantly going off the pathway to pass these people on the grass. Good for the cyclocrossing skills, I suppose.

Every season has its pluses and minuses. The trick is to remember and appreciate the good parts of whatever season you're in.

my last commute was 29 f....nobody but me out in these parts. I understand the sentiment of your post though...trade ya!

I ride all winter but I definetly prefer other 3 seasons when there is no snow on the ground. Personally I find those hot humid summer days just as challenging as riding through blizzards.

also can't join in on this rant. Despite similar challenges on my Boston commute. Not having to wear all those clothes for every ride, sunlight until almost 8 pm, a road ride after my commute. sorry, but I love the warmer weather and I rode all winter, too (didn't complain too much about that either) but I'll take the spring and summer.

I do like early spring and late fall weather. I enjoy temps in the 30F range if I am dressed correctly.

However, summer is pretty nice too.

Now in the spring, the wind, the wind.... I've been wondering how bad the winter really was after dealing with 35 mph head winds the last few days.

I think the drivers get a bit more nutty. And these days I seem to have allergies. But everything else about spring is pretty awesome.

I'll be looking forward to the fall weather and winter when it's time for them, but no sooner.

oh I forgot the allergies. allergies suck, and those pollen masks make my glasses fog up. another reason I'm holding my breath for fall

I think I'm getting better at winter riding but I don't miss it much. I do miss being the only cyclist around and getting high 5s from people thinking I'm cool and badass (*sigh* I'm not at all. The accolades were nice while they lasted).

But nothing beats spring's beauty. Leaves on the trees! Flowers in bloom! Wearing shorts!! I forgot how much easier it is to pedal with bare legs. Too bad about sharing the MUPs with MUP hogs but luckily my favourite MUP rarely has peds on it.

I guess I'm just quite laid back so I don't really worry much about the things you pointed out on here but I do notice them of course.

Here is more fuel for OP's fire.

1. Driver's now have their windows rolled down or don't mind rolling them down anymore.
2. The summer speeders are out
3. The traffic is getting heavier.
4. OH yeah, and then there are the smog days... easy breathing in the winter.

No MUP's or bike lanes in my neck of the woods(OK, ONE, and it's under a mile long and usually piled high with limbs and trash), and no other bike commuters (that I've seen)either. In the next week, the temps are going to be in the 90's already, and I'll look like I've been under the shower when I get to work, but I still prefer that to cold rainy weather.

I wouldn't mind a place where it was 40 every night and 55 every day. I, like the OP, prefer it cool. I think my favorite times of the year (both in general and for commuting) are late October-early December and late February-early April.

That being said, one thing (of many) that bike commuting has been good for is helping me to get acclimated to the weather conditions of each season just by being out in it more. While I'm not a fan of the heat, it doesn't bother me too much anymore (especially when compared to my wife who complains about it constantly [she doesn't ride]), and I chalk a lot of that up to being out in the heat doing exercise for 60 minutes every day. I used to have the same thing when I worked outside in the summer heat during breaks from college -- it helps you to get used to it.

Likewise, winter cold bothers everyone else a lot more than me. I think it's a similar phenomenon.

We're now in the +10C range during daytime (it was +3C when I left this morning), so I don't join the rant either. Yet. Come back in a couple of months, but right now it's pretty much perfect for commuting.



--J