Does anyone else miss winter biking?

[Selkie]

Overall, I like riding outside in winter, so long as it stays above 32 degrees. The cold weather means even greater solitude, and being outside at that time of year can be lovely (particularly when the holiday lights are in full bloom). Most importantly, I can "mouth breathe" w/no worries of ingesting moths (happened this year) or other bugs.

Last winter's weather was not too conducive to outdoor cycling, but I admit that I simply couldn't bear the thought of riding when temps went below 32. Too much having to watch out for icy spots, and the thought of cold, painful hands were deterrents that kept me inside from around T'giving thru mid-March. Since I'm an endurance rider, my shortest rides are about 30 miles, so eventually, the cold sets in. All that time on the trainer w/Coach Troy paid off, and I gained cycling fitness.

This year, I'm going to try to be better and ride outdoors at least a couple days a week, surface conditions permitting. I have excellent winter gear, so there's no excuse.

I think several seasons of riding no matter what the temperature burned me out on winter riding. I needed to get out of that mindset of "having" to ride, no matter what the temps, so long as the pavement was dry & safe.

[Aggie_Ama]

On the weekends only. I like that I can sleep in if I want and go ride at 1:00 in the afternoon. But during the week when I get to work as the sun is just peeking up and leave when it is setting, no don't like it at all. Plus if it is a wet winter like last year I can't mountain bike. Then there is the inevitable bronchitis I have gotten the last three years that keeps me doing nearly nothing for a month.

I like fall pre-daylight savings when I can sneak out to the local trail or for a quick road ride after work. The traffic is lighter once the kiddos head back to school. I don't like either extreme - summer or winter. I do like the shoulder seasons.