Cold weather, short days, snow coming=crabby!

[redrhodie]

I love riding in the fall and winter for a few reasons:

Other riders (who don't ride all winter) see you as a die-hard, which is fun for me because I'm so not. I wouldn't ride if it wasn't fun.

There's little chance of getting passed when you're the only one out there.

You warm up without getting sweaty.

The roads are aren't as bad (at least around here) as you'd think. The salt and sand can be a bummer because you have to clean your bike more, but that's a great excuse to buy a winter bike. There will be days where you just won't be able to ride because of the weather, but there are lots of beautiful sunny days with clear rodes that are just perfect if you're dressed right.

You feel so much better than you do during a winter spent bundled up indoors, eating too much holiday junk, and getting too little sunlight.

For me, a big perk is that traffic is far less around here in winter. Riding without the summer crowd is a luxury. I'd rather be a little cold than have tourists constantly cutting me off.

[roadie gal]

When there's snow on the roads it's just too scary to ride outdoors. I've got my road bike on a trainer and a bunch of Spinervals. It's the only way I can ride in the winter.

[redrhodie]

Oh, I thought of another reason I like to ride in the winter...

If I don't do some kind of riding, spinning, whatever in winter, that first spring ride after taking months off is PAINFUL (in my experience). You remember all you could do at the end of your last riding season, but all the gains you've made will be gone, and you'll be back to square one physically.

[OakLeaf]

It's not the cold so much for me, it's waking up before sunrise, and having to rush. I'm a huge believer in natural light and keying my body to solar and lunar rhythms, so it p*sses me off anyhow to have to choose between riding and natural awakening. And I just do not do being in a huge rush the second I wake up. Not when there's nothing enormous at stake, anyhow.

I don't like to ride in the wet, but that's true even when it's warm - yes it's freezing when it's cold and wet, but it's really the cleanup I mind the most anyhow. And as far as ice, I haven't ridden on ice since my second year in college when I hit black ice and wrapped my front wheel around my forks. No thanks.

[Skierchickie]

I cope by.......GOING SKIING!! Cross country skiing is my first love, biking is a not too distant second. We don't have snow yet, so this time of year is kinda hard, but I'm doing a bit more mountain biking now. A lot of years I just sort of turn into a slug for a couple of months, but I am doing better this year. We haven't had too much of the 40 degree windy rainy crap yet. Once winter is here, I'll be all set. I really like having different sports for different seasons - keeps me from getting burned out. I tend to get bored with my regular routes after a couple of months.