Depends on the winter.
Sarah
Depends on the winter.
Sarah
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.
Winter riding is much less about badassery and much more about bundle-uppery. - malkin
1995 Kona Cinder Cone commuterFrankenbike/Selle Italia SLR Lady Gel Flow
2008 white Nakamura Summit Custom mtb/Terry Falcon X
2000 Schwinn Fastback Comp road bike/Specialized Jett
Absolutely, NOT!
pedal pusher
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!
2011 Specialized Ruby Comp, Specialized BG Lithia w/ hollow Cr-Mo rails
2009 Specialized Myka FSR, Specialized Windie 143
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.
I'm not so lean and mean, but I am large and in charge!
Jamis Citizen 1 Femme
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.
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.
2015 Trek Silque SSL
Specialized Oura
2011 Guru Praemio
Specialized Oura
2017 Specialized Ariel Sport