Fall and Winter Commuter Challenge!

[kfergos]

I forgot my bra this morning!

Thank goodness I keep an entire spare set of clothes at work just in case!

[Biciclista]

well, this morning i broke rule #1. I rode in the dark and the rain!
It was not raining when we got up, and it was still not raining when DH stuck his
head out while i was eating my breakfast. SO i got all dolled up in my
hat, longfingered gloves, raincoat and rainpants. And sure enough, less than 2 blocks from my house it was raining. A few blocks later, DH put on HIS raincoat, because he WAS getting wet.

So now i have all my gear spread out in our little locker room in hopes that it will dry by quitting time.
It's supposed to rain all week, today might be the only day i ride.

[Geonz]

I've been known to drape things near enough to the 'puter so the heat helps (no locker room, and the'puter is under my desk and out of sight). Gore-tex and its imitators *rock* when it comes to being wearable home, too... rain slows me down but doesn't stop me!

[SouthernBelle]

Kinda dumb yesterday. On a whim, I decided to ride my roadbike in rather than the commuter, Ole Blue. This is no problem in the summer. But as I got ready to leave, I realized, "Duh, no lights."

Fortunately, I ride in well-lighted areas.

[kfergos]

Today I rode in heavy drizzle with a nice strong tailwind part of the way. About four miles into my ride, a guy flagged me down. He was standing next to his pickup truck and waving a piece of paper. When I stopped*, thinking he was in trouble, I found out that he wanted to help me. He explained that he went by me every day, that he lives in my town, and asked if I wanted a ride. His reasoning: (a) The weather's going to be getting colder soon; and (b) He's afraid I'm going to get hit by a car.

It was a very nice thought, but a little strange, too. I told him I'd ridden through winter before, and that I tried to be as safe as I could. Most of all I said "I do this because I like it." Then I thanked him several times for his nice thought. I don't know if he really understood why I'd choose to voluntarily ride in 55 degree rainy weather: His offer sounded, to me, like he thought I had no other choice but to ride.

* Stopping was exciting in and of itself: the road, freshly paved, had probably not gotten really wet before. I skidded, then started to fishtail a little bit before I eased up on the brakes. The disc brakes on my new bike work great even wet, but boy do they howl!

[Biciclista]

got in two commutes this week YAHOO!

[Geonz]

I get the offers for rides, too.
Car-culture people can't imagine voluntarily riding in less than ideal conditions... or that oh, for the sake of other values, I'm willing to risk riding in traffic. (No, I don't put myself above them. These are just my choices. I just wish more people could comprehend them )