It seems to me……

[cyberknight]

The biggest single part of my cycling is commuting usually twice a week - roughly 24.5km one way. There are shorter routes but they are much more crowded with cars. That commuting helps me to keep the motivation up for cycling even in the "dark" months.
A foretaste of what is to come from last week:
View attachment 744969
On weekends I will explore the smaller paths in the area here with the single speed bike(s) - just riding and looking out for some photographic opportunities, trying to get into woodland photography.

E.

dark ? half my commutes are in the dark even in summer , the joys of shift work

 

[Ming the Merciless]

It is good to carry on riding through the winter, but why would you ride for the same number of hours in a winter week plagued by freezing fog, torrential rain, strong winds, sleet, hail etc. as you would in a beautifully warm and sunny week in summer (if we actually had them!)?

You’re forgetting the clear crisp winter days, with barely a breath of wind. During the day glorious blue skies, at night in country lanes, the Milky Way above. Even rain and cold is no bother with modern clothing.

 

[sevenfourate]

You’re forgetting the clear crisp winter days, with barely a breath of wind. During the day glorious blue skies, at night in country lanes, the Milky Way above. Even rain and cold is no bother with modern clothing.

You’re right. I spend a fair bit of time working in the docks / Outer Harbour in Great Yarmouth. Not quite ‘offshore’ - but as close as it gets for a land hermit.

There’s no such thing as a bad weather day per-se. Only bad clothing choices. With modern, thin, lightweight, breathable, waterproof and insulated layers; the average U.K. cold / wet days really shouldn’t be progress stopping.

 

[All uphill]

You’re forgetting the clear crisp winter days, with barely a breath of wind. During the day glorious blue skies, at night in country lanes, the Milky Way above. Even rain and cold is no bother with modern clothing.

The bright winter days are wonderful.

This was taken on 2nd January 2022.

 

[ColinJ]

You’re forgetting the clear crisp winter days, with barely a breath of wind. During the day glorious blue skies...

If there is no danger of ice, then yes - great!

Even rain and cold is no bother with modern clothing.

Rain + cold = ice!

Rain + nippy/chilly, maybe not so bad?

Until one gets a puncture (or other mechanical problem) that is... I got a flat tyre on one winter ride and once the 'modern clothing' (decent winter gloves) came off I was in real trouble. My fingers rapidly lost all sensation in the cold and I struggled for over half an hour. I was very cold by then so I turned and went straight home to thaw out.

Definitely not so good on bikes without mudguards. And in an area with many steep descents and bikes without disc brakes - rim-wrecking! I have worn out front wheels in 2 months of descending wet, salty, gritty winter roads.

If I could afford it, I would have a dedicated winter bike - good mudguards, belt drive, hub gears, and disc brakes. Maybe then I would venture out more in winter.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Rain + cold = ice!

If cold enough for ice, it’ll fall as snow. If not cold enough for that you’ll be fine till next morning as the road temp will still be above zero.

 

[TheDoctor]

For personal reasons, I've done next-to-no cycling since 2020.
But I've done over 1000km since July, and posted about them.
These things go in, erm, cycles...

 

[Andy in Germany]

I tend to ride at least once every day because cycling is my main form of transport; yesterday I cycled to the bank to open an account, then to Lidl, and today I'll be riding my big Dutch cargo bike to carry a lot of old paperwork to recycling.

I tend not to take many pictures of this because I'm often trying to be on time for an appointment, and also because transport cycling is fairly routine. That said, members here have pointed out that where I'm riding is normal for me, but probably not most people on this forum.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Wrong fred

 

[slow horse]

I cycle year round, roughly every other day, though it depends on the weather. If I go more than about 3 days without getting on a bike I start to get very itchy.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Rain + cold = ice!

If cold is described as only 3C air temp and below

 

[markharry66]

Not cycled for almost ten years got back on th e bike at tail end of the summer. Still going strong, cycle four times a week into work and also Saturday. Enjoying every moment of it get pissed off when have to car into work.

 

[ColinJ]

If cold is described as only 3C air temp and below

I have been out (and crashed on ice) on sunny winter days where the air temperature was (mostly) around 5C!

One example: I was riding along quite happily in the sunshine until I turned onto a steep lane down the north side of a big hill. That is in permanent shadow in the winter so any ice that forms can take a long time to melt. I managed to find a patch of black ice in the dip at the foot of the descent where there was a pool of still, cold air. I got away with torn cycling kit, bruises, and a scraped bike, but it could have been a lot worse.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

where there was a pool of still, cold air

The 5C just describes most probable, plenty of dips like you found can have air 3-4C cooler. Unless you checked the air temp after you crashed.