1. It makes you feel like a bad-ass to know that the cold can’t beat you.
2. There are fewer riders, so more room on the road.
3. You never have trouble finding bike parking.
4. You’re more likely to avoid colds and the dreaded flu by using independent transportation, and staying active.
5. The cost savings are even greater when you ride in all seasons.
6. Friends and peers may think you’re nuts, but they’re secretly impressed!
7. It’s all about the layers, but it’s not as specialized, or complicated, as you might think.
8. Staying active helps keep your spirits up on even the shortest, darkest, dreariest day.
9. You’ll be warmer riding your bike than standing at a bus/streetcar stop, or waiting for the car to heat up.
10. Bike shops are way less busy in winter so they’ll be able to service your wheels in a flash.
11. If you can handle the weekend traffic on a local ski hill, you can probably handle winter riding – it’s just as exhilarating.
12. Some days, it’s safer to walk or take transit than to ride – doing so does not make you any less bad-ass 😉
You are the baddest of the badasses.
Always been an all season rider and see it as a personal goal to be the last one to change from shorts to the long leggings. There is no better feeling that setting out the door at 6am to fresh untouched snow and to see no one for hours as you cycle across a city.
There are also many health benefits such as your body works much harder when cold but it really isn’t about the keeping fit, it’s about reminding yourself you can and you don’t just give up at the first sign of difficulty.
Great article, look forward to seeing you on the roads some time 🙂