Quote Originally Posted by Desert Tortoise View Post
Sun-I know that sounds crazy, especially to northerners, but out here in southern Arizona it sucks the life out of me. The sun is very intense here and the longer I live here, the harder it gets. I have to be out by 7am or I just start dreading the whole thing. The exception is winter when mornings are in the 30s or 40s.
Same with west Texas. I can be out for 30 minutes and get burned in the sun here. We're at a higher elevation than southern AZ too, which doesn't help with the sun thing. I cannot get sunglasses with lenses dark enough to not have to squint the entire time.

Wind is my major reason for not riding. There is nothing I hate more than a time-sucking, energy-killing headwind. It's so relentless. It blows you all over like you're some kind of drunk on a bike. And then it shifts directions when you're ready to turn for home. Around here the wind is usually never less than 10 mph - almost always above 15 - and never in the direction I want it to be. There is a flag outside my apartment window that I use as a wind speed meter (the weather.com reports are always 5-10 under the actual speed) and if that thing is straight out flying, I stay home.