I live in Vermont and this week we got our first snowstorm which dropped a foot in my town. It means the end of riding for the year. I got very lucky and had three consecutive days of nice weather and went for short rides each day. The rides were short because the sun sets soon after 4 p.m. We get about six months of ride-able weather although the calendar dates between the first ride and the last ride my say it's longer. I checked my computer and saw that I've ridden 1,756 miles this season which started in late April. This is a lot for me as I'm just an older out of shape (59) recreational biker who got back on the saddle just a year or two ago. Biking is doing wonders for me in many ways. I aspire to ride 100 miles a week so it looks like I fell short a bit on that. Next year I'll break the 2,000 mark. I promise. Thanks Bike Forum, for being a biking buddy.

Get some warm clothes and ride.

Hi practical, good post. Congratulations on your 1756, I'm sure you'll hit your 2000 next year - maybe more!

Oh yeah - Don't listen to 10 Wheels, he lives in Texas . A nice wind trainer may be an option to keep your bike legs strong during the snowy months . . .

I second that! With the right clothing and the right tires, you should be all set.

Come down to Arizona! It will be 75 degrees all this week and you can top off your 2000. We'll take good care of you!

Saw that same storm. Dressing warm and heading out Sunday (might hit 45° here). I hope to get 2 or 3 hundred miles before 2015.

Move to El Paso TX.


73 Sunny right now...going for a ride.

Ended with 26 miles. Sunny 76*F

Our high in El Paso will be 71 with no wind. I cry my eyes out every day for these poor guys who live in snow-land lol

Thanks for the replies. I'm looking for a place to retire and nicer weather is at the top of the list when considering locations. Tried using a trainer but I found it too boring. I officiate basketball games in the winter so that helps. I'll leave the winter riding to vehicles with four wheels. (El Paso sounds real nice right now.)

been as cold as 9 degrees F here,,,been riding right along. Did 20 this morning,,was warm 36 F
I never stop riding, of course there might be some short periods where it is almost impossible to ride but never more than a few days without riding.

I love El Paso, but my adult son lives in Phoenix - Lemme tell ya, if you want to retire into the southwest the place to go is either Phoenix or Tucson. Both cities are very bicycle-friendly. El Paso is a no-man's-land for cyclists, apart from the excellent weather.

VT, fit some studded tires on the rims so the Ice doesn't take the wheels out from under you..

Here, 46 degrees north latitude, it mostly rains, but rain then dipping below 0c, and I get out the studded tire bike.

here in vero beach, fl we are going to have highs around 78 all week. winter sucks lol.

I tried a mountain bike on the local streets last winter.... but did not enjoy the slipping and sliding. In fact... I even sold the mountain bike in the spring (I still have several road bikes). But today I've been scouring Craigslist... looking for a good mountain bike.... again. But this year I plan to try the [park controlled] mountain bike areas. I've been told... that they get enough traffic/use that they remain usable all year.

I have also been spinning on my rain bike that I have hooked up with the trainer in the garage. And I work a little harder on core exercises and weight and resistance training too.

Hi BF friends i stopped cycling a month a go here in Norway. To little sun and to cold and snow in the air. Bet i loved Texas, but instead am trying to keep my self in shape with sking this vinter. Well i vill try, havent been sking for 25 years hehe. the skiies is allready in the house. Sow right now i want more snow. Somebody her done some ski training in the vinter for keeping fit?

I'm quite familiar with your snow problem. As you can tell from my handle I too lived in the snow country of Maine. In my case for 61 years. Then with retirement and a move to North Central Fl, next to the 46 mile Withlachoochee State Trail I have been able to ride all year. In fact today headed out for a 40 miler with Mrs. Downeastter. Back in my working days 1,000 miles was a good year. This year the hope is to complete 10,000 miles. I figure that's not bad for a 65 year old guy with a bad heart. So while the bike is away dream of the good old days...... ahead.... retirement in a warm bike friendly environment. Good luck with your inside training..... Oh and I don't miss the snow or the associated COLD weather.

Still biking just to the North-East of you. No snow on the ground yet, couple of icey mornings but still on the weather roller coaster here.

Two months ago I was thinking that my riding season would be done with first snow fall. Well, that came and went two weeks ago and I'm still riding. I've decided that I'm going to keep riding throughout the winter. I've got fenders and snow tires on my commuter bike and I can't foresee any weather-related reason to stay off the road. Well,..I suppose if we got a foot of snow I might think twice. It'd still be better than driving in a foot of snow, I guess.