Here we are! The weather is finally
starting to transition from the long summer days filled with warmth
to the short, chilly days of winter. As many of you know, I'm not
the biggest fan of winter. It is often the time of year when people
such as myself pack in for a few months, and slowly watch the pounds
pile on from extravagant holiday feasts and lack of exercise.
I've had thoughts about joining a gym
over the past few weeks, but then I remember how much I hate them.
They're often florescent lit, reminding me once more of my day stuck
at work, and how the sun barely shows itself anymore after five.
Instead, I've found myself biking home in the dark. This may sound
dangerous, and I was a little nervous on my first ride out. What
I've noticed though, is compared to the summer months, there is
significantly less traffic on my commutes. No one really wants to be
out when it's cold, dark, and sometimes rainy. Hell, even I don't
really WANT to be out on those evenings either.
These rides in the dark have been some
of the best cycling experiences I've had recently. You get the cool
bight of the air rushing along you, the odd tranquility of having
normally busy roads to yourself. Then there's the sensation of only
knowing what's a few feet in front of you from your lamp. The way it
makes me feel is fantastic. It is nearly the complete opposite of
the gym, and I couldn't be happier.
People are already starting to look at
me like I'm crazy out on my bike with this weather, but the worst is
still to come. With a few extra minutes of planning in the mornings,
I find I can adequately dress myself for almost any weather. From a
simple windbreaker, to layers, to wool garments when it gets REALLY
cold, I am putting in the effort to not let the forty pounds I've
lost over the past few months sneak up on me again.
And you know what the best part about
all of this is? The absolute joy of still riding my bike, despite
the weather! There are few things getting me through my stresses
recently, but every day I ride my bike to work, class, or errands, I
know that I can always look forward to my ride back. Heck, the other
day I even took the long way home.
To anyone reading this that's thinking
about putting the bike “up for the season,” do yourself a favor,
and don't. Go to your local bike shop and strap some lights on that
sucker, pick up some warmer clothing. Get out there and enjoy the slightly more empty streets! Push for a new personal record, and enjoy the nearly sweat free experience, or simply go out and let the experience take you where it will.
Now since I'm trying to be informative about my posts too, I'm linking a clothing temperature chart I've used over the past week or so. I pulled it off of the bicycling subreddit, and found it very useful!
The only thing about this chart I've found, is that it tends to lean a little on the side of caution when it comes to how much you should wear. I've been taking off the layers part way through my trips and stuffing them in my messenger bag. That being said, try it out and see what works for you!
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