It's certainly OK to take some time off!

I find that setting goals for myself helps keep me on my bike - especially as we lose daylight and warm weather. I actually brought my bike with me today - it's waiting in my car hoping along with me that we get the 60 degree weather (last blast of warmth) that's forecast for today and hoping even more that the current fog/mist dries out so I can take a lunchtime ride! But the goal I'm trying to reach right now is to get 4000 miles in by the end of the year. It's well within my sight - only 158 miles left - but at this point it's very weather dependent...

Of course it's quite possible that knowing I have to take advantage of nice weather when it comes - given that winter is on its way - helps keep me motivated. I assume that you're somewhere in the southern US given your statement that it was 80 degrees (we haven't seen that kind of temps here in the northeast for a while...). I have a natural weather-driven down period, although I do try to ride on the weekends year-round. I stay inside when the roads are salt and snow-covered though. But being in a place where the weather nicely supports cycling for more (all?) of the year means that you have control over your lighter cycling time periods. Which also means that you need to allow yourself to take breaks based on your own desires and not the dictate of the weather wizard!

It sounds to me like you have accomplished a great deal with this year's cycling, and you deserve a break / rest!

--- Denise