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

[MrGrumpy]

If you say so but why take a risk??? I aint no fair weathered cyclist neither but self preservation dictates!

 

[MarkF]

Easy, buy a Jeep Cherokee, they are very useful utility vehicles, but only do 15mpg. You only use it when absolutely necessary, it's got to be snow or ice that forces me off the bike and into it.

 

[Hip Priest]

I love it when there's some extreme weather and I get to work on my trusty bike. Cold, wet, windy or all three, when I arrive at work it feels like you've poked Nature in the eye and run off giggling.

Last year we had the 'Great Toon Flood' when the heavens opened over Newcastle and most of the region was underwater. Approaching 5 o'clock everyone was saying 'Ha! I wouldn't fancy cycling in this. You're going to get soaked...etc' Then the morning after, everyone was talking about how they got home, and saying things like "I had to wait ages for a bus, I didn't get home 'til 9pm!" or "That's nothing! I got stuck in the car on the coast road. Was 10 o'clock before I got in." Then they asked me what time I'd got in and I said "Half five, as usual".

 

[captainhastings]

Been cycling to work for few months now. I don't have to for any reason but I enjoy it and it saves me going for a run after work so I actually have more time in the evening. Only about 8-9 miles each way but 2 of them are dual carriageway. I could avoid it by taking a large detour but I can't decide on that one yet.
Just using plenty of lights and high vis at moment.
As for icy roads in the winter not sure on that one yet we will see.
Also still figuring out the right gear to wear for the wet weather

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

Cause 'when the going gets tough, the tough get going'!!!

The more adverse the better for me, I moan about the weather all the time but I love severe adverse conditions like a foot of snow.

But I agree with all the points raised, but you work so hard to get the fitness why loose it over winter because it may be dark and cold?

 

[MrGrumpy]

Yer but it doesn't snow that often ;-) even in the frozen north! To be honest the weather's usually not too bad up till xmas once into jan and feb though it defo changes. Oh and the bridge shuts more often on winter as well which is the biggest pita. Geeze im sure I wrote this all last year in a thread in CC ?? ;-)

 

[HLaB]

Yer but it doesn't snow that often ;-) even in the frozen north! To be honest the weather's usually not too bad up till xmas once into jan and feb though it defo changes. Oh and the bridge shuts more often on winter as well which is the biggest pita. Geeze im sure I wrote this all last year in a thread in CC ?? ;-)

You forgot to say it's flat down here, so on the rare afternoon that 3mm of snow is causing driving chaos its actually quite easy to stay up right on a bike plus you seldom have to worry about ice under the same said snow ;-)

 

[MrGrumpy]

Trying not to come up with too many excuses ;-) going to feel guilty the next time I cannot cycle in due to the weather with all the die hards on here.

 

[terry_gardener]

i have found this thread very interesting, i am thinking of commuting when work build the new bike rack/shelter sometime this month, however looks like all the temps will be let go at the end of the year, hopefully it will be the same as last year and taken back on couple of months later.

 

[simon the viking]

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

Cracking idea..... might try that

 

[Glow worm]

Interesting to see some posts above saying 'But some of my route is unlit' or similar. But? But?! The best part of my commute by far is leaving the town and getting away from the streetlighting and into places where I can see the stars properly. I hate the fact that in 20 or so years of cycle commuting, the stretches of proper dark have subtly decreased bit by bit.

As for driving- I have a neighbour who drives everyday to Cambridge where I work - and I genuinely feel sorry for the bloke stuck in all thoise queues every day.

 

[HLaB]

Trying not to come up with too many excuses ;-) going to feel guilty the next time I cannot cycle in due to the weather with all the die hards on here.

Don't be, weather is nothing down here and on the rare occasion it is bad you can take non technical routes

 

[[Philip]]

Ah this is quite an inspiring thread!

I have the car/bike battle but enjoying the bike more and more and got caught in a storm a couple of weeks back and loved it! I am looking forward to some hardcore weather to get out in. I leave very early, in work by 7 mostly. Thank god for flexi! The road is almost clear then.

The main things I get out of cycling to work is:

Saving 30 quid a week on fuel
Sorting out my morning 'to do' list in my head en route.
Feeling like I am controlling my day, not being held up by traffic etc. It's MY journey and I'm the boss
It takes me 5-10 minutes less to cycle than drive

The thing I still hate, it trying to get a shirt in my bag without it looking a mess when I get off the bike!

 

[MikeW-71]

I leave all uniform at work and swap it out when I take the car in. Also leave a stack of food in my locker so I don't need to take stuff on the bike, just me.

Takes me half the time to drive, but I enjoy riding in more.

 

[Linford]

I have to agree on the old shower thing. Got one at work lovely after the ride nice and refreshing. My route is back streets well lite cycle path (could do with new tarmac though hint hint Bristol council ) through Ind est and about hailf a mile on a unlte track

You have a shower in work

What line of work..coal mining?