Be honest...

I fell badass when i step in the bar with icicles growing off my eye lashes

Alright! Rattking is in the house. Thanks for all the Beam on that Saturday Night ride that rode to the party at One on One. I'm definitely a badass when I ride in the winter. I love the looks I get from people still on their way home from work in their cars. I just wish they weren't so focused on trying to run me over.

I get laughs from the kids I work with, amused grins from one security person, a comment about how I'm the only serious commuter left from another (which isn't quite true, by the way), and disapproving head shakes from the coworkers. I guess that makes me a lunatic which is pretty close to badass, right?

Yeah, lunatic is probably the best word for it. My coworkers, roommates, and friends all think I'm nuts. As for my family, my parents tease my brother for being a wuss because HE thinks I'm nuts for riding in the winter.

I don't give a damn how cold it gets, I'll ride anyway.

Besides, any excuse for gear is an acceptable one in my book!

Yea I'm badass When I pull up to an atm machine at the bank wearing full gear, a balaclava, goggles and helmet.
I have no idea of why everybody gets so nervous.

Hardcore is the comment that I get the most.

I commute in the winter, and I have to. I don't have a car! So I'd be number one and two for the options you can pick?

Koffee

Same here. Actually, it's more like, "Dude, that's hardcore."

You could take a bus or buy a car....

Or jog! thats a hell of a work out too, as much as riding in the snow is.

It's actually going to take me longer to get around if I take a bus, between getting to the bus station and waiting for it to come, and doing at least one transfer. And for that, I would have to pay $1.75? It's totally not worth it. Biking is easier, faster, and a lot more healthy. So biking is the way to go for me.

Koffee

When the roads were clear two weeks ago, I gave my children the option of riding a bike or push scooter, to a friend's house. There are always options!

P.S. Why do my kids hate me?

I think I got this exact quote today at a stop sign.

3 people at work told me that I was insane.

for riding to work in 5 cm of snow? weirdos.
Well, i do live in vancouver, so 5 cm of snow is almost like the coming of the apocalypse.

Riding in winter isn't that unusual around here, but I do get my share of "you're crazy" or "you're a freak" -comments. But they are said with a friendly and/or respectful tone (I think ).

I ride because it is my primary means of transportation.

--J

[edit] I finally read the question (after replying to it, yay me!) and noticed the operative word "commute". I don't commute in winter, but I do my grocery shopping etc. by bike. [/edit]

I love riding/commuting/touring in the winter. The only thing I get nervous about is the traffic. My commute to work is 14mi. I notice it doesn't get as cold here as it does where some of you live! We got down to 10 F this week. That's cold for the Midwest. Normally 20s and 30sF in the winter. Not too bad. Nice and brisk. Makes for a good ride.

I ride for all the regular reasons; not because I have to. However, it is kind of cool that most people think I must be just a little on edge....I like that.

yep, count me in.

i feel stupid when i head out and i'm freezing for the first few miles, then once i warm up i feel okay. i only feel like a bad ass when i'm asked where i was for the last couple of hours.

Yep. Badass.

I could drive a WRX, but I can't be bothered. Though I'm getting worried about the amount of snow on the trail I ride.

This morning I almost snowballed my chainring.

It takes me 20 min to get to work on bike, an hour or so by bus (though that might have changed now that I don't work third shift). There's a half hour layover in there. A half hour standing outside? Hah!

So I totally know where you're coming from. I was just saying you could do something different to get around. Some people actually live in cities where there isn't any public transit at all...

You should have seen my chain at 3:00am today! It was jumping madly all over the rear cassette. I was saying shift you MF or I'm going to toss you in the ditch

So I had my performance review today. My boss (who I walk past every day in my knickers carrying my helmet, by the way so I'm not sure how she could have missed it) asked me if I was still riding. We talked at length about how I pick different routes and bikes based on the weather, yadda, yadda, yadda.

The whole thing kind of floored her which isn't out of the ordinary except for the fact that this woman has completed like 20 Boston Marathons and just this holiday season climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and she thinks I'm badass? Wacky.