It ain't cold enough 'till you can ride across the river!

Hello? Rule 5??

+1 I've been calling what's to come soon "real time" a long time. I've sailed an ocean and made landfall with a sextant and good watch (and we nailed our landfall target perfectly). Real time is the only time that matters for celestial navigation. Now some celestial navigation isn't very dependent on time (latitude in the Northern hemisphere when you can see the North Star) but the importance of the Sun's elevation at high noon and noon being exactly when the sun is highest is probably older than mankind. All the ancient clocks and many of the celestially oriented building the direction of high noon.

Yes, time zones are a bastardization of real time that help us communicate with other humans at distances that used to be hard to imagine. But high noon happening at 11:00am plus or minus? Just - no. I have no issues with businesses, etc. move their hours of operation to reflect the lengthening of days. Farmers have been adjusting their schedules to the sun for the past 10,000 years. But leave the clocks, which evolved from the sun dial, alone.

Sorta on topic - I had the thought that Portland's sidewalks soon will never see sunlight because of all the tall buildings. Sad.

Ben

Yes, it gets dark too soon and chilly here once the sun sets. I might be uncomfortable in the heat, but with the cold all my body functions shut down. I lose the feeling in my hands and face. My eyes water, my nose starts running like a faucet and I have to slow way down. The ride just becomes miserable. Better not to ride than to get home and feel, thank God that's over.

Blah, Blah Blah, you remember Canada EH? I do love this time of year just for the opposite reasons. I cycle all winter as long as the roads are dry and if it snows I break out the skiis and take the trails. I might invest in some studded tires this year and try biking more but we will see. May I ask, do they still call it winter where you are?

Absolutely!!

Winter is June 1 - September 1.

We call that white stuff ... snow.

We don't get a lot of it at lower elevations, but it's quite regular at higher elevations. And we tend to get a lot of rain ... very much like the Vancouver area in BC.

I'm a ways from needing the studs yet...... but they're ready. Had to replace the bottom bracket and crank after last winter.

I would love to visit that part of the world someday but that would mean one less bike for me. Priorities i guess. I looks and sounds wonderful. For now I will have to be content with Florida every winter.

I miss most the ability to come home from work, decompress a bit, and still have time to get in a decent ride in the warm sun. I do look for ways to embrace winter, but doing so isn't as easy and spontaneous as during summer.

I don't mind the winter here in 4 seasons country, but it seems like winter lasts way too long and spring and fall are not long enough. I just bought some Lake MXZ 303 winter cycling boots for morning rides before work. I had been using shoe covers for the past 2 seasons and they worked OK, but they are worn out and the seams are ripping on them. Backcountry had the boots for 55% off, so I couldn't pass it up... boots cost $230 at regular price and I got them for $135.

I like winter because of skiing. If it wasn't for skiing I'd probably hate the winter. Wish I could afford a fat bike right now.

In Pittsburgh, here. Almost all of my riding is commuting. If i take too long of a break from my bike commute, inertia takes over. The longer the break the harder it is to get back into the swing of riding. I try to keep going as long as i can into the winter. I'm lucky that there's a light rail station near my house. It cuts my round trip bike ride from 20 miles down to around 7 if the weather is bad.

I love it when the temp finally falls below 50 degrees. I can actually ride somewhere and not arrive soaked with sweat. When the temp gets down to the low double digits i start to think twice about taking the bike out. The worst weather though is 30 degrees and raining. Miserable...

I like all four seasons. Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, not so much.

Agreed, winter sucks - it's not the cold, it's the darkness. The cold actually keeps the trails more open! When it gets too nasty I just switch to winter hiking.

it helps to have a glove addiction. meaning, I have new gloves, so I am excited to try them out

I'm fortunate that I get to ride my bike to work daily, and I live in the mid-Atlantic where winters are negligible and mild, for the most part. Fall is my favorite season for riding. I have good lights and have finally perfected my array of layering and mix-n-match elements. The trick is re-discovering what worked for these temperatures 6 months ago. I've forgotten what I'd worn then.

Sure, for those of you with snow and extended deep cold...it's tough. I know that we have year round commuters who make ski masks, goggle, studded tires and winter boots work for themselves. You guys are beasts.

Everybody's Talkin
Harry Nilsson
Everybody's talking at me
I don't hear a word they're saying
Only the echoes of my mind
People stopping, staring
I can't see their faces
Only the shadows of their eyes
I'm going where the sun keeps shining
Through the pouring rain
Going where the weather suits my clothes
Banking off of the northeast winds
Sailing on a summer breeze
And skipping over the ocean like a stone
I'm going where the sun keeps shining
Through the pouring rain
Going where the weather suits my clothes
Banking off of the northeast winds
Sailing on a summer breeze
And skipping over the ocean like a stone
Everybody's talking at me
Can't hear a word they're saying
Only the echoes of my mind
I won't let you leave my love behind
No, I won't let you leave
I won't let you leave my love behind

Winter, with its snow, cold and ice presents unique challenges. With the right bike, tires, accessories and clothing winter riding can be as wonderful as warm weather riding. As a year-round commuter down to 10F, I enjoy a fair amount of satisfaction when I dress right, and master the elements.

Not only warmer temps but climbing is not in the lexicon. No serious snow in Florida but it can still get a bit chilly in Gainesville.

okay there is something about winter that I hate.

salt on the roads! even worse is that glue'ish stuff they put down called Liquid deicer!

Hah! I totally get that. I have new winter tires enroute from Germany, and they are motivating in the same way that new gloves are.

Modern LED lights have revolutionized my riding.

For those willing to invest, darkness is no longer an excuse not to ride.


-Tim-

amazing, aren't they. just the other night I was wondering if they will break into the automotive market