Members with cars who commute to work on cycle in winter - how do you do it?

[potsy]

Earlier this year, nice warm car sat at home, me happy

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Arriving at work feeling ready to take on the world instead of feeling like you just want to crawl back into bed!

^ This one for me.

The other reason is that traffic gets worse with the weather. I have no wish to sit bored in a box with the heating on to an uncomfortable level to stop windows misting up. I get there quicker, I'm not late like the drivers.. It's only 4 miles, last winter when the snow was a bit too heavy, I walked and quite often I walked the 4 miles in snow faster than people living in the same area drove in.

And finally I quite like the incredulity "you RODE here? On a BICYCLE? In THIS weather?". Go on admit it, you know just what I mean

 

[DCLane]

Why? I do my 10+ mile each way commute all year round because:

• I can get to work quicker than in a car and home in about the same time = time saved
• My miles/exercise is done and I don't need to go to the gym = more time & money saved
• No parking cost (£4 - £25 a day)
• Exercise keeps me trim
• I can plan out the day going in and deal with issues in my head on the way back = no 'stress' in the evenings/weekend
• A change of clothes in my rucksack (inside a plastic bag = dry ) means I'm not sat around soggy
• An underground secure bike store, drying room and changing rooms - thanks Leeds Met.

OK, I've a nice car at home which I do the school run in before getting on the bike but it's all worth it

And this:

And finally I quite like the incredulity "you RODE here? On a BICYCLE? In THIS weather?". Go on admit it, you know just what I mean

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

we dont have showers at work so a wet wipes wash down is all i can have but seems to be working

Get an old trigger spray bottle, fill with soapy water. Portable shower :-)

 

[Kies]

It isn't even cold yet

Get the clothes right and I find it very invigorating. Nothing like a crisp winter morning when the sun is out for a 20 min ride to work. It also keeps the weight off and the fitness up. Just be aware of ice.

20 mins - peice of piss. Try 1 hour 40 each way

 

[MikeW-71]

I was out for 2-3 hour leisure rides last year when it was -3C

 

[Deleted member 1258]

For very many years I was car free, I commuted in all weathers every day, these days I have a car as well, if its raining when I go out in the morning I'll use the car, other wise I ride, its much more fun, I usually ride four days out of five, its six and a half miles each way, the bike takes about twenty five minutes, the car takes about fifteen minutes.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I was out for 2-3 hour leisure rides last year when it was -3C

I normally do a long ride three Sundays out of four, in the winter I'll stay home if it gets too bad but I've been out when its been minus five and below, I think the coldest commute I I've done was about minus eleven.
I'll use WunderMap, just enter your post code or location, to check temperatures

http://www.wunderground.com/wundermap/

 

[Sara_H]

Its just a bit of water!

Preparedness is the key. Dry clothes to change into, hangers at work to hang wet stuff up on if you need to ride home in it. Buff, good waterproof warm gloves, merino layers, etc.

I've just ordered some Leggits to keep my tootsies dry and warm after spending most of the weekend with cold wet ones!

 

[Hacienda71]

It is a hell of a lot more fun than slogging your guts on a (hawk spit) turbo in the garage to stay fit during the winter months.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

It is a hell of a lot more fun than slogging your guts on a (hawk spit) turbo in the garage to stay fit during the winter months.

I do both most winters

 

[Cuchilo]

7 miles each way. Baby miles compared to you lot though

I'm trying though

7 miles isn't a baby ride to me . My normal rides are 1-4 miles each way and I go further if I feel like it . I go further because I enjoy it and I don't need to do it at all .

 

[buggi]

Where shall I start?

• The sense of achievement
• The fitness
• Arriving at work feeling ready to take on the world instead of feeling like you just want to crawl back into bed
• Watching the miles add up
• Feeling the speed as your super human legs propel you along faster than the traffic
• Knowing I can eat what the hell I like without getting fat
• Being able to justify my collection of bikes and constant tinkering
• Owning a low mileage car that will stay that way for many years to come
• Not being sucked into the new car for new cars sake trap that many people seem to fall for, why get a new car when you hardly use the old one?

There will be more if I think for longer

EDIT: By the way, I work 12hr shifts and have to leave the house at 5.45am when on days. It was great a couple of winters ago when the temps dropped to -10°C to -12°C!

what he said

 

[slowmotion]

By bike, I'm five and a half miles from work across busy London roads. I have a company van that I could could use at very little cost to me, but I don't.

It's more fun on two wheels. I don't like sitting in traffic jams for a minimum of 40 minutes each way, and a maximum of about 90 minutes when the traffic goes bonkers. ( On empty roads, I made the drive in about 12 minutes during the funeral of Princess Diana. I was a very bad person ).
The ride is exhilarating in heavy traffic without taking risks. A game of chess really, trying to anticipate what you need to do in the next second to get down the road safely. You arrive at work having used your brain, and got a rush of those chemical thingies that make you feel good from exercise... endorphins or something. It sets you up for the day. In the van, I arrived thoroughly exhausted.
Same on the journey home... you arrive happy, not with a feeling of traffic-induced grump.
If you have some wet weather gear and some warm clothes, it really doesn't matter what the forecast says. The only thing that might stop you is ice.

BTW, I don't hate motorists, and I have no strong opinions about AGW, big oil etc. I just like riding the bike.

 

[Black Country Ste]

Frosty mornings make my decision for me. I can either spend five to ten minutes defrosting the windscreen for a ten-minute journey or I can get the bike out and be at work in well under ten minutes.