Bike abandonment

[Jen12]

I feel like a terrible cyclist! I haven't been on my road bike for months! I'm totally a summertime rider. I don't like riding in cold weather. I use my beach cruiser for errands on nicer days, but when it comes to distances, it's hibernation time.

Am I alone in this?

[Penny4]

You are not alone!!
I went for a ride yesterday and it was about 45 - 50 F and I decided that is probably about my limit. I was dressed appropriately, but I don't really have the right gear for much colder weather, and don't want to spend the money, since we have short winters. I'm praying for spring to come quickly!

[grey]

Right with ya. I have the trainer set up in my living room. Signed up for the Indoor Challenge. Rode outside the first day of December... do you think I have put in five minutes since? Noooooooooooooo.

In all fairness, I've also been busy.
In all honesty, instead of posting here, I could be on my bike.

[bmccasland]

Fair weather riders Unite!

I'm trying to do the indoor challenge, but I didn't set a high goal for myself either. :rolleyes: Part of the theory is that I'd work out twice a week at my office's gym. Bike is in the living room, and really, there's no good reason that I don't put in some time every evening. Except I'd rather ride outside. Riding inside is exercise, riding outside is fun! And I hate exercising for sake of exercising.

[jyyanks]

The only reason that I am riding my rollers is because of the December Challenge that Veronica started. Otherwise, I would be lazing around eating cookies all day. Wait a minute, I am doing that too but if it wasn't for the December Challenge, I would ONLY be sitting around eating. It's definitely a challenge and I have to force myself.

[Tri Girl]

I'm with you!
I commute all winter, but will rarely even touch my tri bike until spring.
Yes, I could put it on the trainer. Yes, I probably should. Yes, I set a ridiculously high number for the challenge, and no, I won't reach it. :rolleyes:

I'm with Beth: riding inside feels like exercise. I'd rather be having fun. And even tho my commute is only 3 miles each way- at least I have fun for those 30 minutes a day. Can't say I'd be having fun on the trainer for 30 minutes (heck, I wouldn't be having fun for 5 minutes on the trainer). I thought the indoor challenge would motivate me. I was wrong. ;)

[emily_in_nc]

I am the same!

So I moved to Belize, where I can ride my beach cruiser year round. :D

You are not alone! :rolleyes:

[Dannielle]

I cannot bring myself to ride when it's below 60degrees outside. I miss it...but I get too miserably cold.

I really love spin class too (which I rarely do in warm weather) so I just accept that each has it's season in my world.

[limewave]

I don't like riding in the winter either! Truth be told, I get burnt out if I do one thing for too long. I actually look forward to "running season" in the winter time. And cross country skiing, snow shoeing, and laying around reading a book :)

I tried doing a winter ride last year and I ended up crashing really hard on an icy patch. That squelched any desire to attempt to ride year 'round.

[indysteel]

[QUOTE=limewave;617454]Truth be told, I get burnt out if I do one thing for too long. I actually look forward to "running season" in the winter time. /QUOTE]

I sometimes get a few winter rides in, but I like doing something else--running, hiking, spinning, yoga--come winter so the break is good. Life's too short. If you're not having fun on some level, why do it?

[roadie gal]

I've been on the trainer since our first snow in October. We don't have any snow on the roads now, but we still have ice and the sand that they put down for traction. I'm not willing to take the chance of sliding out on either one of those.

[Reesha]

I don't like riding in the winter either! Truth be told, I get burnt out if I do one thing for too long. I actually look forward to "running season" in the winter time. And cross country skiing, snow shoeing, and laying around reading a book :)

I tried doing a winter ride last year and I ended up crashing really hard on an icy patch. That squelched any desire to attempt to ride year 'round.

I envy anyone that can cross country ski and snowshoe. Sometimes I pine for the day I will return to 6-7 month winters :o

[kaybee]

Another fair weather rider here. I haven't been on my bike since October, and I don't feel the least bit guilty about it! I do run, swim, and do weight workouts in the winter. I just can't keep my hands and feet warm on the bike when it's below 60 degrees...

KB

[missjean]

My poor road bike has been sitting all alone for a month now. I don't mind cold weather - usually I will ride my mtb bike in the woods - but I just seem to have fallen out of the habit of riding! To tell the truth, I'm pretty disgusted with myself for not going out for a ride. I have the time, I just don't have the will power. :(

[Crankin]

My sentiments are pretty much like Limewave's. I am not a total cold wimp and have not put the bike away yet because we haven't had snow, except for the weird 10/31 storm. But, I started back to spin and I so want to x-country ski and snowshoe. I need the mental break. I am not sure if I could ride all year round.
I have 37 miles to reach my "reach" goal of 3k miles. I am going to have to do them all Saturday, looking at the weather.
However, my ability to ride in the cold has increased tremendously. You just need the right clothes and attitude. For me that means accepting that the rides are shorter and much slower.

[Velocivixen]

I have not ridden my bike since September. My favorite month of October my seasonal affective ds. Had kicked in and my light box was not ordered in time. I saw people riding bikes on those lovely sunny crisp days and felt very guilty that I just didn't have it in me to get out there.
As an aside, I kept going to the gym this whole time and have lost 10 lbs. I feel like a bad bike owner for not riding.

[Dog]

I was a fair weather rider until this year. I didn't have the proper gear for riding in "inclement" weather. That changed when I bought my Surley LHT and invested in some winter gear and found that I still enjoy riding outdoors (I'm preparing to do some touring). But, nothing beats cycling in shorts and a t-shirt :D

[tangentgirl]

Don't feel too bad. The great thing about your bike is that it will still be there when it warms up, good as ever.

[featuretile]

The weather is colder in the winter in central CA, but not near as cold as the snowy places elsewhere. I feel fortunate that I can ride all year round. Lately, it has been in the low 40's in the morning at the start, but warms up to the mid 50's by noon. With the sun out and the right clothes, it is fine.

You need full gloves, tights, and an insulated biking jacket or some layers. Once I start riding (since there are a lot of hills) I get warmer. If it were overcast and cold, it would probably feel too cold. Anyway, once I drag myself out there, it always feels worth it by the time I get back.

So, it might be worth getting out there even if it is below 60. If it gets below freezing, then it's time for the trainer or the gym....

[owlice]

I ride down to about 30°F, but not in snow or bad weather. (So yes, I am a fair weather rider. :) ) This is my third season of winter riding and the first year I've had cold-weather tights (I have one pair); I still don't have a good riding jacket. The previous couple of winters, I made do with regular bike tights with sweats over them, and sometimes long silk underwear between the tights and the sweats. I layer on the top.

I rode yesterday and on Christmas; temp was about 45°F each day when I started out. I wore a turtleneck, a fleece pullover, and an insulted vest. Wool socks from REI, full-fingered gloves, buff under my helmet.

I looked ridiculous! The fleece was screaming pink, the vest is screaming orange, the buff, which I pull up over my face part-way when I start out, is red, the socks, which are pulled over the bottoms of my tights, are pale (not bright) lime green. At least the tights are black and not clashing with everything else! Oh, and the turtleneck? Pale pink yesterday. The gloves are black, white, and maroon; got 'em on sale, as I did pretty much everything else.

Unlike so many of you, I don't get any exercise except biking. I don't ride as often in the winter, and many of my rides are about an hour (so not very long rides, either), but I do ride. Riding makes me feel better; even when I drag myself out for a ride, I'm always glad I've ridden. (And if I'm not having fun after about six miles, I have no problem ditching the ride and going home.)

I think anyone who doesn't ride in winter shouldn't feel bad about it, especially if you're doing other things, even if the "other things" are eating cookies or reading a book! Life is too short to beat ourselves up over "shoulds." There's always spring, even if it's months away.

[redrhodie]

Owlice, it sounds like you looked cute, not ridiculous. And I'm sure you were visible! Good job!

[owlice]

hahaha, redrhodie!! Thanks. Yes, I'm definitely visible!! Sometimes the fleece is bright lavender, and sometimes it's burgundy; both of those look just dandy with the orange vest, too! :D

The screaming pink and orange together always reminds me of ice creams/sherbets for kids -- you know, the bubblegum and orange flavors that are intensely colored. I definitely show up! And if there's a chance I'll be out riding after dark, I'll often wear a hi-viz vest, too, in screaming green or yellow. I may be a fashion disaster, but I'm comfy, visible, and warm, which are the things that really matter to me.

[Jen12]

I looked ridiculous! The fleece was screaming pink, the vest is screaming orange, the buff, which I pull up over my face part-way when I start out, is red, the socks, which are pulled over the bottoms of my tights, are pale (not bright) lime green. At least the tights are black and not clashing with everything else! Oh, and the turtleneck? Pale pink yesterday. The gloves are black, white, and maroon; got 'em on sale, as I did pretty much everything else.



An ensemble like that really demands a photo.

[owlice]

An ensemble like that really demands a photo.

lol!!! Soooooooo not going to happen! (I'm sorry!)

[radacrider]

If our winter is anything like last year's, here in the pacific nw, then I'll be able to keep commuting through the winter. I don't do much riding outside of commuting. We had some cold mornings recently, but right now they are wet and upper 30s. If we do get ice or snow, I typically telecommute as it is just safer all around.