Winter is REALLY here

When I started road cycling last summer, people kept telling me how I wouldn't be doing it over the winter. I'm not used to having 4 seasons (or even cold weather) so I really didn't know what to expect. The entire months of November and December were full of me wondering when it was going to get cold. But, it's almost the end of January. I rode the trainer that I borrowed one time for 20 minutes just to see what it was like. With everyone else saying it's too cold, I'm kind of proud to say that I rode my bike almost every day through the winter. Since I've come back from century rides with discolored toes, I've recently discovered the comforts of toe warmers. I feel like even if it's 20 degrees outside, I don't care as long as my hands and feet are comfortable.

There is one thing I fear on the road though, especially when I'm riding solo. I fear that I'll get a mechanical that I can't fix, and I'll be in some place where I don't know I am. I'm afraid of getting a flat in the cold too.

I'm pretty sure riding through the winter has made me a stronger rider. I think how serious someone takes cycling is proportional to the amount of time they spend on the bike in colder temperatures. I see lots of people riding when it's around 60 but only the most serious ones when the high is 21. For example, Harlan was one of the few people I saw out in the woods last Sunday when it was pretty cold. It was only after that day that I started wearing toe warmers. Also, Tyler goes riding even when it's raining and Colin goes riding when it's snowing.

But that's not to say that I can't wait for warmer temperatures and longer days though.