The "Positive things about Winter commuting" thread.....

[Cubist]

It's fun to grow a beard, and then to grow an icicle on it.


.

Jeezus! How long is your commute?

No queue for the shower, room in the bike rack, shameful glances from all the colleagues who bought ride to work bikes and are having to pay to park their cars again, conversations about why are you still wearing shorts, it's 5 degrees out there.....

 

[Panter]

Ah, you say that now - wait until the morning when there's icicles hanging off your handlebars...

That's alright, just extra hand positions.


There you go you see, something positive

 

[Wheeledweenie]

Watching commuters swathed in enormous coats and scarves waddle into packed tube carriages all squashed like sardines while you whizz past the queue of traffic formed as lots more people get into their cars.

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

Ah the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, you get one free when you sign on around here.
People actually have photos of them on the spare wheel carriers of their Shoguns.

Them's the ones, probably. I'm never sure which is them, and which is Pit Bull. Either way, they must be handed out free round here as well. They seem to be obligatory to the "two rolls of carpet and can of lager" blokes.

I'd forgotten the comments from colleagues. How could I forget that? Favourite one last year: "bet you're glad you left the bike at home today?" - "Er, I didn't; why do you think I'm dressed like this?".

 

[jonny jeez]

I've got one and I didn't even have to come up with it myself.

Met a pal last night who says he thinks he's coming down with something, what with all the germs on the trains and stuff. His words were "here come the winter colds"

I've had fantastic rides in this week, bright sun and cool air that really does make you sweat less (especially upon arrival)...Loved it!!


and totally GERM FREE!!!

 

[mattybain]

I've got one and I didn't even have to come up with it myself.

Met a pal last night who says he thinks he's coming down with something, what with all the germs on the trains and stuff. His words were "here come the winter colds"

I've had fantastic rides in this week, bright sun and cool air that really does make you sweat less (especially upon arrival)...Loved it!!


and totally GERM FREE!!!

+1 on that, everyone around me has colds but between the cycling and the running I am manage to sweat all the germs out!!

 

[HJ]

The fair weather cyclist don't get in your way...

 

[summerdays]

4) You can console yourself with fond memories of summer when..
- it wasn't cold enough to freeze your doodahs off
- you could ride without 6 layers of kit
- it didn't take 20 mins to get ready to leave the house
- you didn't need your bike lights
- other road users could see you and you them more easily
- the road surface wasn't icy (won't be long now...)
- you could commute to and from work in daylight that made you feel almost human
- the rain was a lot warmer
- you didn't need to carry as much weather gear in your bag 'just in case'
- p**ctures were easier to mend because you could see what you were doing
- your bike didn't get a daily clarting in gunge and salt from the road

(Sorry - what was this thread called again?...)

I'm with you on this topic....

Have the following summer to look forward to

Yep agree with that ... it does make you appreciate summer.

The only thing I have been able to come up with was that due to exercise we hopefully have a better resistance to fighting off colds in winter time, and getting some fresh air (as opposed to sitting in a stuffy car/bus/train etc).

 

[silverbow]

The only thing I have been able to come up with was that due to exercise we hopefully have a better resistance to fighting off colds in winter time, and getting some fresh air (as opposed to sitting in a stuffy car/bus/train etc).

I think, although I'm not exactly sure, that the change in temperature (off bus into cold, then on to train then back to outside and cold) is a significant factor in contracting a cold. The only downside is that your immune system is lower directly after exercise, although people who exercise generally have a more efficient immune system on the whole.

 

[Downward]

At least when it rains you don't moan about it being a crap summer.

 

[al78]

The satisfaction of being able to leave the house, get on the bike and go rather than having to scrape a small glacier off the windscreen first.

 

[fossyant]

Quote:
Originally Posted by fossyant
When it's cold out, steam pours off you sat at lights, or when you are locking up the bike.... everyone else is shuffling about feeling cold, and there is gallons of steam coming off you - love that...it's cool.

That sound brilliant! I've never seen that happen, but I certainly am looking forward to it, I'll mind to stay away from Churches, and the like.
/QUOTE]

It's great......you get columns of steam pouring off you.
I've had colleagues say 'your on fire ? - bit warm then ?' Another colleague whilst out walking in winter saw a load of riders climbing a pass in the Lakes, he said the steam was just pouring off the riders.

 

[fossyant]

Doh - messed up the quoting !

 

[BentMikey]

Just tell any observers not to worry, and that you're running a fever.

 

[andrew-the-tortoise]

Laughing at colleagues who moan about an 'icy, slippy car-park that is dangerous' when you have just cycled 12 miles through snow & ice and survived and will be doing the same on the way home.