winter cyclists - what is the hurdle?

[girlsubobscura]

Oh, I also think you idea of middle(wo)man-ing the purchase of gear is a great Idea, and I would use that if someone did it at my job. Maybe you could make the gear guide a little like a sushi menu, with a column on the far right for people to check off specific items that you would be willing to acquire in bulk (like like gloves or the lights).

[surgtech1956]

I don't commute, because its a 37 mile round trip. I would like to ride as long as possible(here in Michigan). I think my biggest obstacle is going to be the colder temps. I think I have enough clothing, except for my hands and feet. Riding certain areas in the dark I'm not excited about - I will probably do an out and back route, rather than a dark bike trail.

[lauraelmore1033]

I can do wet OR Ican do cold, but I can't do both. Unfortunately, that is usually what we get around here.

[WindingRoad]

I would say probably snow stops me more than anything. Cold I can deal with usually. My commute is short only 3 miles each way but since I moved I have some steep hills to contend with so I'm not sure how that's going to play into things when we get the first snow. All I know is last year the entire east coast was shut down, I REALLY hope it's not another winter like that. I have all the winter gear but for this short of a commute I dunno if I will want to drag it all out for 3 miles. To be honest, I've been trying to come up with a good method of getting to school by running. The whole book issue is a pain in the butt! I have a small locker at school which I've debating on using and leaving my books there on a couple of nights per week. I can comfortably handle 5 miles of running now so I figure 6 should be doable especially broken up into to 3 milers. It's just the logistics are never in my favor.

[jelee1311]

I have never minded exercising in the rain as long as my hands and feet stay warm and my face doesn't get too wet. I think I like riding in the rain because it makes me focus on my riding. I also have a major aversion to riding on my trainer or rollers,I have too many distractions and I hate the gym. Riding in the dark is a trip once I got used to it,but I can see how it could freak some people out. I think what you are doing is pretty neat. I wish more people I work with rode good luck!

[lph]

I can answer my own question too, actually:

I've (finally) learnt that wet falling snow is, and should be, a showstopper. Bikes do not work well when packed with wet snow, bike riders do not function well when cold and wet, traffic is dangerous. Extreme cold (defined as anything I don't already have gear for ) is fun to ride in, a little scary if you have to stop, but usually dry and fairly easy as such, even though you spend a lot of time in just 2 or 3 gears. Heavy rain I don't like, the bike works fine but needs maintenance afterwards. Passable, just not much fun.

What shouldn't be a showstopper around here is (fallen) snow. Even though the snowplows take days, weeks or months sometimes to do my local roads properly, the bike path 300 yards away is more often than not freshly plowed. So even if I may have to carry my bike down there, it's good sailing from there on. Finding good bike routes is crucial to a good winter commute, though, the neato little shortcuts I use in summer can be inaccessible and some of the regular roads can be dangerously narrow.