My body has gotten pretty used to having a 45 minute bike ride every morning. I’ll bike all winter as long as the roads are clear, but in Chicago the roads aren’t always clear. Two winters ago I went almost the entire month of December without being able to bike at all, because it was snowing every three days. If I didn’t have such a long ride, I’d probably be more willing to risk biking more often. I’m still not sure it’s a good idea to bike tomorrow, but it’s been so many days that my legs kind of ache, and my mood is definitely suffering. You don’t realize how dependent you are on those endorphins until you stop getting them.
I used to have Dance Dance Revolution games to get me through the winter months. We don’t really have room for exercise equipment, but I can stash a dance pad away pretty easily. And DDR never feels like exercise, just like a fun game. But we upgraded to a PS3, and my dance pads won’t plug in to it. It’s just a matter of deciding if I want DDR for the Wii (or “Just Dance” or whatever else) or for the PS3, eventually I’ll get off my butt and go buy it. In the meantime, if the weather holds, the roads should be clear enough for me to bike for the rest of the week at least. Maybe tomorrow’s comic will be about how I gear up for a winter bike ride? :)
In other news, I FINALLY satisfied my craving for dolsot bibimbap. I’ve been thinking about that for weeks now. So good on a cold day. And I managed to only have two pieces of fudge! Tomorrow, I will have only one.
You are braver than I! I tried going biking a few weeks ago in winter weather (just the cold and wind, no snow or ice) and it was 90 minutes of pure hell. I think I’m so used to running in cold weather versus biking that I wasn’t expecting my feet to feel like blocks of ice the entire time… oof.
I know what you mean, Greg! I usually wear tights, and leggings, and socks over that, and my feet stay pretty warm. Two pairs of socks should do it! The only thing I spent folding money on for winter biking is the gloves, when it gets really bitterly cold I just can’t bike without good insulated gloves.
Get Schwalbe snow studs! They are expensive but amazing.
Beyond this, as a winter cyclist in Calgary, I recommend: roomy winter boots with fat platform pedals (otherwise, yes, your feet will be blocks of ice), long underwear if it’s < -15'C, full fenders, a balaclava and big fat mittens. And if you can do it, get a fixed gear bike for winter.
With the right gear, winter cycling is lovely. Without it… not so much!
Aww, that sucks. Here, when it snows (which is rarely since it usually just rains) you can still bike in it. Everyone in their cars freak out, but on a bike you have good control compared to driving. Also I have good tires for gripping the snow and even do pretty well on ice. If I couldn’t bike to work I’d go crazy. Transit keeps getting worse and it takes me at least three times as long to walk to work by which time I’m frozen through.
I just hate the wind. It makes my 15 minute ride into more like 20 or more if I’m already tired and I have trouble remembering to leave the house earlier on windy days.
I have Just Dance and I really love it!
MC, do you need a dance pad for Just Dance?
Saw a copy of Ouija Interviews at Challenger’s when I was introduced to Patrick. Wished I had bought it but when we got back to Donovan;s she said she had it. I took it to the bar and read it and Loved it! YOU HAVE AN AWESOME TALENT GIRLFRIEND!
Sheila.
!! :D Thank you Sheila!! :D You made me go all blushy!
Hey Sarah–you can always try zip ties: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/12/zip-ties-snow-tires/