I ride down to about 30°F, but not in snow or bad weather. (So yes, I am a fair weather rider. ) This is my third season of winter riding and the first year I've had cold-weather tights (I have one pair); I still don't have a good riding jacket. The previous couple of winters, I made do with regular bike tights with sweats over them, and sometimes long silk underwear between the tights and the sweats. I layer on the top.

I rode yesterday and on Christmas; temp was about 45°F each day when I started out. I wore a turtleneck, a fleece pullover, and an insulted vest. Wool socks from REI, full-fingered gloves, buff under my helmet.

I looked ridiculous! The fleece was screaming pink, the vest is screaming orange, the buff, which I pull up over my face part-way when I start out, is red, the socks, which are pulled over the bottoms of my tights, are pale (not bright) lime green. At least the tights are black and not clashing with everything else! Oh, and the turtleneck? Pale pink yesterday. The gloves are black, white, and maroon; got 'em on sale, as I did pretty much everything else.

Unlike so many of you, I don't get any exercise except biking. I don't ride as often in the winter, and many of my rides are about an hour (so not very long rides, either), but I do ride. Riding makes me feel better; even when I drag myself out for a ride, I'm always glad I've ridden. (And if I'm not having fun after about six miles, I have no problem ditching the ride and going home.)

I think anyone who doesn't ride in winter shouldn't feel bad about it, especially if you're doing other things, even if the "other things" are eating cookies or reading a book! Life is too short to beat ourselves up over "shoulds." There's always spring, even if it's months away.