Interesting thing I've found is that the "balance of fear" tips in our favor in bad conditions. Suddenly, motorists become afraid of hitting cyclists. I get huge room in winter. Plus, they seem to think the crazy will rub off somehow.

This has been my experience over the last four winters.

After building up a bike specifically for winter commuting, I am looking for to it. Roller brake on the front, 3 speed IGH with a drum brake in the back, and then some knobbier tires once the snow flies and my bike will be totally ready. Hopefully, I will be too.

I hate the winters here in Pugetropolis but I built up a dedicated rain bike for this year so I'm gonna try to ride as much as I can get psyched up for. got all the raingear I need still need to figure out the footwear but since I'm gonna be riding platform pedal I think my goretex light hikers should be good with wool socks.

It's just different weather, and another series of days. I bought a new pair of fall gloves, that's about all the thought I've put into it. My studded tires were new last season so I don't have to worry about them for a few years.

I do like when it's dark longer, I like riding in the dark.

I think they assume that we might slide out of control and fall in front of them at any moment. Conversely, my biggest fear is not that I'm going to slide, but that the cars will.

I have a rule of thumb here, if it's past November I switch to a MTB. My cross would do "ok", but sometimes the snow hits hard and a MTB would be easier to ride in snow. We had a pidly winter last winter too and as I've heard, "No good deed goes unpunished."

I hate winter and everything associated with it. It'll be worse this year as I haven't biked to work in two years, and I've moved twice in the meantime, so I can't find any of my winter stuff. Gonna be expensive...

Here in Florida it has dropped from 95F with 90% humidity to the mid 80's. I can't wait for winter. Winter means highs in the 60's most days. I suffer through the summers to get to the winters. On unusually cold winter mornings I do have to put on full fingered gloves and something to cover my nose and ears but most of the time it's the same as I would dress in the summer.

We didnt have a snowy winter last year which was good for me. Yes, cold, rain and wind but no snow which played to my advantages. I was able to get used to commuting the winter time and low temperatures. I know I need to make some modifications like studded tires and a few other things but I am headed in the right direction.

The summer here is killer and so darn humid that riding home is not a lot of fun. Morning rides in the summer rock but afterwork it can suck plus a warm water bottle is OK but not great.

In the winter, I just need to take a little more time to think what to wear and how to layer. Some people thing I am nuts for riding in the winter but I dont care PLUS THE WINTER KEEPS MY WATER BOTTLE COLD!!!!!!!!!! :)

Actually that's one of my favorite parts of winter riding. Knowing that there's warmth on either end of the journey is more motivation for me while out on the road.

And a warm drink when your done be it coffee, hot chocolate or hot tea. :)

Or brandy... :D

hey, whats in my water bottle is no ones business! :)

Not really sure how I feel about the change from summer to fall and then into winter. Living in Maryland some winter days can be a bit cold. Just picked up a new set of winter gloves so I'm ready just not sure about the excitement level at this point. Hard to think about it when we still have nice sunny fall days.

I love commuting in the winter. Cars see you riding in ten degree weather and think "Man he is crazy." And I think "You're damn right I am"

I am all in for winter commuting. I just got my studded tires today. I'm looking forward to the challenge, the cold, and riding in the dark. Count me in.

looking forward to it, hoping we actually get some snow this year.

I dread it. I hate rain, and it will always be dark so I won't get my dose of scenery. I have to keep reminding myself that I could be jogging on a treadmill or something else equally bad.

You can do the same thing in the summer when it is blistering hot out.... stay in a room that is AC and use the hamster wheel. :) Riding in the winter will be ok, I promise. You will see new things, hear new things and become a better rider.

Our hottest day in 3 summers was 102. No biggie. I like it.

This coming winter will be my third of commuting by bike/bus. I don't have the will power to use a hamster wheel. If I'm going to work, I'm at least accomplishing something and saving several thousand dollars a year.

I'm REALLY looking forward to it! Cold is my time of the year! Last year's winter wasn't as cold as the year before, and this year is supposed to be a bit colder than last (I so freakin' hope so!). Two winters ago we had several inches of snow a few times, ice on the roads, and I was carless so we walked EVERYWHERE! It was great. This winter I hope to have my bike (savings are progressing HOORAY!) and be in a place close enough to my work to ride in. If not, I'm sure I can sneak out to the Silver Comet Trail on off days and ride, although the trail is 'closed' when wet or dark out (in cases of snow, too ... I hope we get more!)

If nothing else, I'll be taking short grocery runs a few miles away on some undulating roads. That's something I'm anxious to do!

I only started commuting in march so I haven't had the experience yet, but I do plan to continue through the winter. Probably not as frequently (I doubt I'll be brave enough to commute through snowy and icy conditions), and I'll probably take my bike on the light rail more often (cutting 5 miles off the commute)... though then again when I started I didn't think I'd be commuting the entire way as regularly as I am now, so we'll see...

I have some experience to call upon. I've been riding a bicycle year-round for just about 30 yrs now. (Not to mention also when I was a kid. But I didn't pay much attention to the details then.)


For the newbies who are wondering what to expect, I'll say that keeping cool is a much bigger problem than keeping warm. And this holds down to nearly 0 deg F. Even then, it's only your nose/face and hands/feet that are getting uncomfortable. The rest of you is still warm.

Riding in the dark, especially while the snow is falling, is a great, great feeling. Even moderate rain feels pretty good, if only because it's cool enough that you're not sweating to death in your rain gear.

Myself, I hate the Sun. In winter it's just not a problem unless you're riding at high noon. Then you might get some ice glare.

I agree with It's-Only-Me in fearing that the cars will skid near me. Some of the autos panic and slam on the brakes when they perceive a bicycle nearby. It's annoying, but it's not really all that common. Mostly cars are a bit more sympathetic to us in winter over summer.

It's a great, great feeling to be out in the heart of winter and think to yourself, "Why...I'm pretty comfortable!" I used to stop at a local McDonald's for an egg mcmuffin in the mornings and go sit on the frozen grass next to my bike in January. The people in their cars (who were miserable) thought I was nuts. But I felt just fine. And we're talking about the heart of a real mid-west winter here.

One of the other posters mentioned enjoyment at knowing the phase of the moon and such. Commuting you'll be paying attention to the weather, of course. And after a while you'll feel as though you know what tomorrow will bring without needing to check the forecast. And, more often than not, you'll be right.

When you get to work on the first truly nasty day and people say to you, "What? Are you crazy?" you can say to them, (stiffly) "Don't be crude" (then formally), "I'm just abnormal..." Everyone gets a laugh.

I suppose there's room to differ, but I say that winter riding is just fine. And I probably like it better than summer riding. At least I'm more comfortable most of the time.

I remember this! Never tired of it - every time it snowed at night during my college years I went for a walk or ride. Didn't have lights, but the fresh snow and street lights lit up everything so well that I didn't feel the need for a torch.