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-   -   Two things I miss about winter commuting. (https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/724617-two-things-i-miss-about-winter-commuting.html)

L.L. Zamenhof 04-02-11 10:08 AM

Two things I miss about winter commuting.
 
1) More parking space for my bike.
2) Seeing the snow and rain shoot out of the front fender.

Go!

Arcanum 04-02-11 10:12 AM

I miss...um....yeah, I got nothing.

Mind you, "winter commuting" only ended for me a week ago, and things are still on the cold and wet side.

canyoneagle 04-02-11 10:31 AM

1. Riding in total darkness. I enjoy the sense of solitude - lets me come into the day in a better way.
2. Riding when it is snowing. I love it. Not when the streets are rutted with wet glop, mind you. My favorite winter riding conditions are when it is warmer (hovering around freezing), the streets are wet from the first flakes, and the snow is coming down hard.


I don't miss the extra time and hassle of getting everything together and getting dressed for various conditions.

jeffpoulin 04-02-11 11:11 AM

Gotta say I love spring. Don't miss winter commuting at all.

exile 04-02-11 11:59 AM


Originally Posted by L.L. Zamenhof (Post 12447622)
1) More parking space for my bike.
2) Seeing the snow and rain shoot out of the front fender.

Go!

At least your finding some positives in winter commuting. But don't think its over just yet. It seems every year around here we have some sort of weather hiccup.

andrewmc 04-02-11 04:27 PM

1) the total absence of bicycle rush hour
2) not worrying about getting sweaty

colleen c 04-02-11 04:51 PM

I miss how easy it was getting a seat on the train during the winter. There were only a few bicycle using the limited seat that are sideway. Now with the nicer weather, the train are much more crowed with more bicycle.

Another thing I notice is that driver are more agressive now with the spring weather. They seem to be giving less space when passing. Not sure if it is related to the fact that the street has more cyclist, but it just seem that driver treat us different between the rainy winter season and sunny spring/summer.

Blues Frog 04-02-11 07:29 PM

I miss the dark and snow when it provides some solitude. I also miss the entertaining comments, " You mean you rode a bike all winter?" Even though mine is the only one in the bike rack all year long since the winter of '07-'08.

FunkyStickman 04-02-11 07:37 PM

I miss being able to ride for an hour and not be drenched in sweat.

xB_Nutt 04-02-11 09:58 PM

Frozen water in the water bottle...

asromzek 04-02-11 10:50 PM


Originally Posted by CrimsonEclipse (Post 12449927)
70 degree and overcast.

Man, I can't wait for that in June...

Squirrelli 04-02-11 10:54 PM

Running over thin ice puddles.

I don't, however, miss black ices. Curse you, black ices!

B. Carfree 04-02-11 11:08 PM

I'm going to miss reading all the super-hero exploits of those who live with a real winter. We don't do winter here, just a cooler, darker version of spring for a couple of months.

garagegirl 04-02-11 11:24 PM

It's basically still winter here, but I will miss feeling morally and physically superior to those of weaker stock. :D
I feel like I'm in a secret club. Everyone else is complaining about the cold, and I'm just extremely happy that it's 40 out instead of 20

WalksOn2Wheels 04-02-11 11:33 PM

Well, being in Texas, I will miss not being hot. We rarely get snow/ice so it's pretty much year round riding. The only day I took the motorcycle over the bicycle (I have heated gear for the motoscoot) is because the windchill was 7 degrees. And I would have done that if I felt like I had the clothes for it.

SO now it already feels hot when it's only like 85-90. It's gonna be rough once we get those regular 100 degree days and nights where it's still 90 degrees at 10 p.m.

garagegirl 04-02-11 11:50 PM

I would take a 30 degree day over a 100 degree day anytime

Jim from Boston 04-03-11 04:28 AM


Originally Posted by garagegirl (Post 12450015)
It's basically still winter here, but I will miss feeling morally and physically superior to those of weaker stock. :D
I feel like I'm in a secret club. Everyone else is complaining about the cold, and I'm just extremely happy that it's 40 out instead of 20

:lol: That's pretty funny. As an early-morning commuter, I'm still wearing my winter jacket and paraphernalia for rides around 30° and yet in the afternoon, when it's in the 50s people tell me I must be enjoying the nice weather. :rolleyes:

rumrunn6 04-03-11 05:49 AM

I miss the wicked strong legs come spring

uber_Fred 04-03-11 08:11 AM

I miss the balaclava keeping the wind noise out of my ears.

I miss having the following conversation over and over with people who ski:
"Isn't it too cold to be on a bike?"
"Don't you ski?"
"Yeah, but that's different."
"So, you're saying that it's too cold to be doing an activity that keeps you exercising the entire time that you're outside, but it's not too cold to stand still in line for 45 minutes, so that you can sit in a chair hanging in the air for 20 minutes, all so you can get 10 minutes of exercise."
"Well, uh..."

I miss having my Clydesdale-sized lycra-covered butt covered up with longer pants.

newenglandbike 04-03-11 08:13 AM


Originally Posted by canyoneagle (Post 12447679)
1. Riding in total darkness. I enjoy the sense of solitude - lets me come into the day in a better way.
2. Riding when it is snowing. I love it. Not when the streets are rutted with wet glop, mind you. My favorite winter riding conditions are when it is warmer (hovering around freezing), the streets are wet from the first flakes, and the snow is coming down hard. I don't miss the extra time and hassle of getting everything together and getting dressed for various conditions.


Amen! Riding in the winter can be sublime. Once you get into a routine, being dressed for the weather comes naturally and doesn't take any time at all (wool). Same with navigating the snow- riding in a storm in the dark is great when you have good studded tires and a decent light.

Things I DON'T miss about winter... road salt.

scroca 04-03-11 09:57 AM


Originally Posted by L.L. Zamenhof (Post 12447622)
1) More parking space for my bike.
2) Seeing the snow and rain shoot out of the front fender.

Go!

You forgot about all the clothes you have to put on and how long it takes.

dcrowell 04-03-11 10:31 AM

I miss the sound of studded tires. I miss the people who think I'm crazy when I arrive at work with a coating of ice or snow on my jacket.

That's about it. I'm ready for the warmer temperatures. 70F today!

powitte 04-03-11 11:30 AM


Originally Posted by scroca (Post 12451034)
You forgot about all the clothes you have to put on and how long it takes.

Yes, a pain, but a pleasure at the same time. My favorite part about it is the gear--the tires, the gore-tex, the lights, etc etc. Having the right equipment to ride home in a raging blizzard gives a man a real sense of satisfaction.

The adversity of it all is half the fun

nelson249 04-03-11 05:47 PM

I miss empty trails. Now they're full of fair weather cyclists, dog walkers, moms pushing baby strollers the size of a Nimitz class aircraft carrier and senior citizen group walkers.

canyoneagle 04-03-11 07:46 PM


Originally Posted by uber_Fred (Post 12450700)
I miss the balaclava keeping the wind noise out of my ears.

I miss having the following conversation over and over with people who ski:
"Isn't it too cold to be on a bike?"
"Don't you ski?"
"Yeah, but that's different."
"So, you're saying that it's too cold to be doing an activity that keeps you exercising the entire time that you're outside, but it's not too cold to stand still in line for 45 minutes, so that you can sit in a chair hanging in the air for 20 minutes, all so you can get 10 minutes of exercise."
"Well, uh..."

I miss having my Clydesdale-sized lycra-covered butt covered up with longer pants.

LOL!
The skier comeback is nice, too.


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