Winter Bike To Work Day?

12/06/11 #235

Arrgghhhhh. I did not ride today. I planned to ride after I had lunch with some friends, and in fact I brought my bike along. The company was good and the time passed by and it was 3pm with sunset at 4:53 and launching into drizzly darkness just challenges my assumptions.

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I discovered a new concept on the Google the Internet: Winter Bike To Work Day. How cool an idea is that?

December 14, 2011 is Ft. Collins Winter Bike to Work Day.
January 18, 2011 is Boulder Winter Bike to Work Day
March 3rd is the date for Madison, WI WInter B2WD

Chicago has done Winter B2WD on Jan.20th, no easily found info on this winter's upcoming date, but here's a photo from 2010 Winter B2WD--


I hope we can have a Winter Bike To Work Day in Pittsburgh. It delivers a few benefits:

• Public awareness and media coverage of bicycling
• expanding awareness of bicycling and commuting into winter months
• motivation and celebration of bicyclists
• Chanting We're Here, We Steer, Get Used to It! (needs a little work)

1/7/2011 Five Days No Riding

218#
Haven't ridden in almost a week. Hi temp of 24F, it's just hard to get up for a windchill of 19F.

The hardest thing about riding in the winter is deciding to get started with putting on all the clothes, which takes about twenty-five minutes.

Tights and pants.
Under Armour, wool sweater, short-sleeve bike jersey (for the pockets).

At the bike, check the air, check the light batteries.
The feet get wool socks, shoes, and neoprene booties.
The head gets a balaclava, and then the helmet with helmet cover.
Put my glasses/ keys/ cellphone/ honey packets in the jersey pockets.
Put on the windshell jacket. Put on the glasses.
Gloves. Out the door.
Start the GPS, start the computer, double-check the rear lights.
Ride.

To me, it's a bigger challenge to start getting dressed than to start out the door and up the first hill.