To Commuting Cyclists, Whither Winter

[jyl]

Here in Portland, and in many places, the seasons are turning.

For the last few months, I've ridden into work in near daylight (I go in at 5:15 am) in shirtsleeves or a light windbreaker. Returned home under bright sun (I usually leave work at 3:00 pm), sunglasses on, panting in the heat. Riding the stripped-down vintage race bike, admiring the supple legs of the lady riders in shorts.

All that is coming to an end. It is now almost dark when I ride in, and I'm wearing a light fleece vest under the windbreaker. There are some warm return rides, but also some gray, windy rides.

Soon I'll be pulling on the yellow rubber rain jacket and the rain pants. Booties, thicker gloves. A hat under my helmet, then a balaclava. I'll switch to the fendered mountain bike with the twin headlights.

Riding out into the pitch black rain, face and glasses streaming, shivering with cold, stiff legs pedaling hard to warm up. Riding home will be a headwind fight, no bare legs to ogle.

I don't know what I think about this. Commuting in the Portland winter isn't all bad. There is something exhilarating about forging through rain and dark, sprinting through the storms, arriving at work breathing hard and ruddy-cheeked - I like that. I don't drink as much coffee in the mornings any more, no need for it. The Calvinist side of me appreciates the adversity and challenge.

But there is a dread, or at least a sorrow, as well. Gone soon the easy glides into work. Wet gloom and the threat of black ice ahead.

How do you feel about commuting at this time in the seasons? Are you looking forward to winter? Or hoping for a long warm fall? Or do you live in Southern California?

[vash]

i dont mind the inclement weather. (but our winter is a cakewalk compared to your weather)

what i hate are the short days. darkness bums me out.


and the lack of watermelon. wah!

[aigel]

SoCal and only ride for pleasure. Pleasure includes nice temperatures. If it is hot, I swim or run on the treadmill inside. It never is cold. Used to NorCal and rode to work year round - but skipped the wettest days during rainy season.

I think I'll take this thread as inspiration to take a leisurely evening bike ride with the dog ... it just hit 75 outside at 8:15.

G

[VincentVega]

I havent done it in year but remember enjoying toughing out the first few weeks of winter. Eventually I knew I rode 1 day too long and hung up the bike for a few months.

[Nostril Cheese]

I'm stoked. A few months of bicyclists off the roads in Portland. Now I can actually get somewhere without fear of running someone down because they aren't paying attention.

[HardDrive]

NW winter? I'm on my CycleOps thanks:

[red-beard]

Geez, we are having sub-90 degree weather for the first time since spring. I think we might have over nights in the upper 50's. The serious training season is about to start!!!

TDD is almost here!

Tour de Donut . Home . A fun donut eating contest and bike ride benefitting the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana

[snbush67]

Winter is easy, just HTFU! I do the 5am, 17mile ride in 1 hour and the return ride at 3pm. Weather is great both ways here (Honolulu ), sometimes some strong winds and some momentary pockets of precipitation.

[Dantilla]

I used to commute by bike quite a bit on a route that went across a long bridge that was always backed up with heavy traffic.

In Summer I felt pretty smug peddling so much faster than all the lemmings sitting there in traffic.

In Winter, I sat in my warm truck, enjoying my coffee, feeling pretty smug watching the lemmings that are riding their bikes out in the rain, scowls on their faces, teeth chattering in the cold.