Wintophobic or Middle-Aged?

[Boris Bajic]

I had to get to the next town (15 miles and slightly hilly) on Monday.

As usual, I rode with 'posh' clothes in a backpack for the meeting. Normally, this is a huge hoot along sinuous and smooth roads that I know very well. However...

The roads were wet and seemed to lack adhesion. There was farm mud on some faster descents that made it feel sometimes as though the quill stem had come loose.

The wind was blowing a little and there were occasional very powerful gusts that took me out into the traffic lane further than was helpful.

I was riding through the discomfort of a cracked rib, so my confidence was wobbly and my climbing ability was compromised.

Most of the time, it was raining that horrid, thin rain that hangs in the air and penetrates EVERYTHING. I call it Welsh Liquid Sunshine, but am aware that this phrase might offend.

So... I took the train home from my meeting. I knew I would before I got to the end of my ride.

Middle Age at work here?

Wintophobia?

Common sense?

It was lovely and warm on the train and I had a nice chat with another passenger about bicycles, but I felt somehow like a shirker.

 

[green1]

I'd vote for Wintophobia
I hate winter in this country, but maybe that's because I grew up somewhere warm.

 

[Globalti]

You did the right thing. There are times when it's better to opt out and come back another day.

 

[fossyant]

Man up you wimp

 

[Drago]

I'm disgusted. I feel violated just reading that.

 

[jazzkat]

As someone who 'manned up' on a recent ride, only to slip on some ice, crash and break my collar bone in two places, I can say with some authority - you did the right thing.

 

[gavroche]

pure common sense. Why risk an injury? Cycling is for good weather only.

 

[Rob3rt]

pure common sense. Why risk an injury? Cycling is for good weather only.

Best never ride our bikes or indeed do anything then! Cycling is an all weather sport, dress and gear up accordingly.

 

[lulubel]

In pain. Probably more tired than usual because you were fighting the pain.

It's just one of those things. I have days when I feel like cr@p and cba, and poor conditions just make it worse.

 

[Archie_tect]

If you'd wanted to ride home you would've. You didn't want to, so you didn't. Whatever's easiest and simplest on the day suits me.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

You are under no obligation to ride if you don't feel like doing so. The bike is the unthinking machine not you.

 

[Cyclopathic]

I'd have to opt for common sense. There is no merit in enjoying being cold and wet and uncomfortable, or that you should persevere when you feel the conditions are beyond what you are willing to put up with. It doesn't make you any less a cyclist or any less manly it means you have the good sense to know when you don't want to do something and avoid it. If for whatever reasons you didn't feel like battling through the elements for a second time you were absolutely right to get the train. Life is too short to spend it doing stuff you don't want to do especially when you have a choice. I hereby give you total and utter permision to feel absolutely fine about it.

 

[Brandane]

Nothing to do with winter. So I'll vote for common sense. My logic being that it rains a lot all year round - or at least it does in Ayrshire. Today I was out and had one of my most pleasant rides of the year, and I guess this is winter.

 

[Alan57]

Sometimes braving the elements makes you feel and think , "Sod it , do your worst I can take it" , other times it`s "What the hell am I doing out in this ? " The latter thought, for me, doesn`t happen that often and usually turns into the former. You just had one of those moments and made the right choice given how you felt , and theres always tomorrow to start again.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

It was common sense: the very same common sense you ignored on setting out in bad weather with a cracked rib