Does anyone else miss winter biking?

[PamNY]

Granted, this has mostly to do with urban biking. In winter the crowds are gone. But it's not just the crowding: in winter, the people who are out are so cool, for the most part.

Runners signal turns on the bike path; only the regular bike commuters and competent roadies are out. Everyone keeps an eye on each other.

It's so nice. Makes me wonder if there are good parts of winter biking in other/different type areas?

Pam

[redrhodie]

I do. Not only is it less crowded (here, it's tourists that leave) but I love the cold weather. I like my winter cycling clothes better, the knickers, wool jerseys, and knee high socks. I'm faster in winter, and I get less sweaty. And, from Nov to March, I rarely get passed by other cyclists.

The things I don't like as well-- my nose runs constantly when I ride in the cold, and I miss the late sunsets of summer. There's more student traffic, which isn't that different than tourist traffic. More layers means more laundry. Ice keeps me inside. Even with all that, I do prefer winter for riding.

[ame]

Absolutely. I love the crisp weather. The Sunshine Cyclists go into hiding. I am not constantly battling the heat, so I go faster. However...I have less daylight to ride in :mad: so my Manic Monday Diva ride is going to go away (which is my version of therapy).

That said - my favorite day to ride is Thanksgiving morning. I get the turkey in the roaster and the ham in the oven...then I ride throughout town with no one rushing anywhere smelling all the great smells on the frosty air. Plus, it's my birthday...so bonus! :D

[zoom-zoom]

<--- wishes she has a bike that could take studded tires

I LUST for a cyclocross bike. Even when the roads are clear we have a LOT of very rough chip-sealed roads and unpaved 2-tracks that would be nice with a 'cross bike. I run all Winter and ride on the trainer, but it sure would be nice to be able to run outdoors, too. I am pretty certain that my next bike will be capable of snow riding. Winter in MI is too long to not be able to ride outside.

[OakLeaf]

No.

Next question. ;)

[Eden]

The rain.... the grit.... the darkness (at 4 freaking 30 in the afternoon....)

nope can't say I miss it much... (but I do it - all winter long, I commute and train)

I like riding at night in the summer though. Nice temperature, few people out - very peaceful (except the weird dog walker... he sounded like maybe a touretter? - kept yelling "boy-lights" at me....)

[Zen]

No.

Next question. ;)

I must echo this sentiment.

Too much laundry in the winter! I don't have last winters laundry put away yet!

[tulip]

<--- wishes she has a bike that could take studded tires

I LUST for a cyclocross bike. Even when the roads are clear we have a LOT of very rough chip-sealed roads and unpaved 2-tracks that would be nice with a 'cross bike. I run all Winter and ride on the trainer, but it sure would be nice to be able to run outdoors, too. I am pretty certain that my next bike will be capable of snow riding. Winter in MI is too long to not be able to ride outside.

You live in Michigan and don't have a winter bike?? Get yerself an old beat up mountain bike and some studded tires already! You do not need a fancy cross bike--just a winter bike. I may even send you my studded tires (we'll have to discuss that in private).

---

I don't like the lack of daylight in winter. Nor do I like cold toes. I do like Fall, though, with the crisp air.

[zoom-zoom]

You live in Michigan and don't have a winter bike?? Get yerself an old beat up mountain bike and some studded tires already! You do not need a fancy cross bike--just a winter bike. I may even send you my studded tires (we'll have to discuss that in private).

Heh. I was eyeballing some used ones on eBay, but hubby put the kibosh on that, since we just bought a 'spensive tandem. That can take cross tires, too, but 90% of the time we can't both go ride and I gotta go solo, due to the rugrat.

[tulip]

Since you can't ride the tandem, sell it and get a winter bike. Or XC skis. That's what I would do if I lived in a snowy place. XC skis, a studded tire mountain bike, and snowshoes.

Okay, so maybe I'm a little nostalgic for winter. I've been collecting my winter supply of kindling for my wood stove, but I haven't gotten any firewood yet. Soon.

[zoom-zoom]

The XC skis are the likeliest option. I actually have skis, but outgrew the boots after pregnancy (they were already a hair small, but that really messed up my feet). They have rusted old 3-peg bindings, so those would need replacement, too. But the gals I ride with on Tues. nights XC ski on Friday nights all Winter, so that would be extra fun with that group of ladies.

[ny biker]

Cold air hurts my lungs when I ride. Besides I usually get pretty burnt out by the time cold weather arrives. So I switch to different activities in the winter, although I will go out for a weekend ride if temps go above 50F. Of course if it's that warm, there are swarms of clueless people out there with me...

[soprano]

It is currently 99 degrees out. Day before yesterday it was 105. Damn, do I want winter to hurry up and get here! It's the nice season in these parts.

Lately the bike racks have just been empty. It's too hot.

[shootingstar]

Hmmm... I only like winter cycling in our area ..when no rain and no black ice.

Cold rain while cycling is nothing to miss and feels worse than soft flurries on a mild winter day.

[NbyNW]

Cold air hurts my lungs when I ride.

Me too. That's why I bought a trainer when we were still getting snow in May.

[sarahkonamojo]

Depends on the winter.

Sarah

[lph]

Oh, riding in to work on a dry, clear morning, just below freezing, feeling your whole body warm up and start working, but not getting overheated, watching those gorgeous pre-dawn pastel colours... is wonderful!

I don't miss winter as such, but it definitely has great points.

[callmej]

I must echo this sentiment.

Too much laundry in the winter! I don't have last winters laundry put away yet!


Zen - you make me laugh so much! I'm always behind on my laundry.....

[crazycanuck]

I think it's just about spring down this way & have to say the "winter" in Perth has been marvelous. It's been a bit nippy at times in the mornings (ok 3C isn't that cold :o) but it warms up quickly enough so it's all ok.

We're a bit low on total rainfall :(

Ahhhh :)

[katluvr]

I miss SPRING riding. Or Fall. Just very hot right now. Hate riding in the cold, I too have a trainer, us it winter & summer when weather is at its extremes. Yes, I am a fair weather cyclist.
K

[buffybike]

I've only been riding for a year and last winter (if you want to call it that in Florida), I only rode about 5 times between December and February. It's not that I don't like it, i just don't have the clothes! As a new rider, getting all the gear really cleaned out my account. Then to buy tights, long sleeved jerseys (that I only need 3 months out of the year), full finger gloves, etc....? This year, however, I'm ready to continue training throughout the cold months. I can't imagine giving up riding for 3 months again--it's my lifeline to sanity. Particularly through the holidays.

[blackhillsbiker]

I was just thinking how much I miss winter biking on my way home tonight. Hot, sweaty, too many kids/dogs/packs of tourists on the paths. I love the quiet, I love merino wool, biking by the light of my headlight...

Deb

[Melalvai]

But it's not just the crowding: in winter, the people who are out are so cool, for the most part.
Um, duh, in the winter the riders are not only cool but cold! :D Actually that's not true, staying cool enough is the trick in winter.

The thing is, I'd really miss the winter right now, because it's so hot, except that the memory of the cold riding is still very fresh in my mind. It wasn't very long ago at all.

I like being the elite hard core commuter cyclist in the cold, hot, rainy, and/or windy weather. But I sure enjoy the fair weather and miss it like a long lost friend when it's not here.

[Jolt]

I've never ridden in the winter, so I can't say I miss winter biking, but I kind of do miss winter running right now! I'm sick of the heat; it really makes running harder for me and I do much better in cooler weather. I don't know how those of you in southern states do it...guess I'm just a hot-weather wimp. Looking forward to fall--that's my favorite time of year.

[Bike Chick]

Winter riding??? That means being on the trainer and, no, I'm not looking forward to that. The days are getting shorter and it's depressing me:(

[Miranda]

I don't like the lack of daylight in winter. Nor do I like cold toes. I do like Fall, though, with the crisp air.

+1 to this :)

omg, I LOVE Fall :cool:

S.A.D. with shorter days, not so much :(

[JennK13]

Depends on the winter.

Sarah

spoken like a true Coloradoan!! ;)
and I must agree - or even more so, depends on the day....

[denda]

Absolutely, NOT!

[bluejellybean]

I like the changing of the seasons...but that being said, I'm a summer person and am gonna hang on to it for all it's worth! Winter will be here soon enough!

[schnitzle]

Ugh, we had such a rainy spring and early summer this year, I'm dreading winter and the sun going down at 4:30pm. I love nice crisp Fall days, but too many of them are gray.

[DarcyInOregon]

The number one reason I am devoted to winter cycling is that I always seem to lose a bit more weight during the winter months, and I am still working on getting the last of my excess body fat off, so this is an important factor for me. When the temperature starts to go up, the weight loss ends. I think it is because my body has to work harder when cycling in the cold and wind and rain, thus I burn more calories, and thus I lose a bit of body fat. It keeps me motivated, that is for sure.

I have learned not to take the bike out on high wind days, when the temp is below freezing, or when the sky is black with rain clouds. I live in a moderate winter climate, so I can put in a lot of miles during the winter months. On the off days I do other activities. I've had quite a few winter rides where the rain was coming down so hard and fast that I had to seek shelter for an hour or more, waiting for the rain to get less fierce.

[Crankin]

I like "cool" riding, not really cold. I usually ride through the first week in December and pick it up again the first or second week in March. Fair weather? Maybe. But, I ride in colder temperatures than a lot of riders I know. We are just coming into my favorite cycling months, September and October. Sure, the volume of my cycling goes down, but I am still out there. My favorite cycling temperatures are 50-65.
I might head out on a warmer, sunny day in January or February, if the roads are not full of crap. I ride my hybrid on those occasions. But, once the snow flies, it's all about snow shoeing and x country skiing. The season is very short here and I really look forward to the change. In the fall I do more hiking, too.

[Selkie]

Overall, I like riding outside in winter, so long as it stays above 32 degrees. The cold weather means even greater solitude, and being outside at that time of year can be lovely (particularly when the holiday lights are in full bloom). Most importantly, I can "mouth breathe" w/no worries of ingesting moths (happened this year) or other bugs.

Last winter's weather was not too conducive to outdoor cycling, but I admit that I simply couldn't bear the thought of riding when temps went below 32. Too much having to watch out for icy spots, and the thought of cold, painful hands were deterrents that kept me inside from around T'giving thru mid-March. Since I'm an endurance rider, my shortest rides are about 30 miles, so eventually, the cold sets in. All that time on the trainer w/Coach Troy paid off, and I gained cycling fitness.

This year, I'm going to try to be better and ride outdoors at least a couple days a week, surface conditions permitting. I have excellent winter gear, so there's no excuse.

I think several seasons of riding no matter what the temperature burned me out on winter riding. I needed to get out of that mindset of "having" to ride, no matter what the temps, so long as the pavement was dry & safe.

[Aggie_Ama]

On the weekends only. I like that I can sleep in if I want and go ride at 1:00 in the afternoon. But during the week when I get to work as the sun is just peeking up and leave when it is setting, no don't like it at all. Plus if it is a wet winter like last year I can't mountain bike. :( Then there is the inevitable bronchitis I have gotten the last three years that keeps me doing nearly nothing for a month.

I like fall pre-daylight savings when I can sneak out to the local trail or for a quick road ride after work. The traffic is lighter once the kiddos head back to school. I don't like either extreme - summer or winter. I do like the shoulder seasons.