Overcoming Obstacles: ’Tis the Season

By Lucy Burningham

BicyclingHub.com Encourages You To Ride More In 2013!

Let’s be honest. If you live in the Northern hemisphere, it’s a difficult time to get out and ride, no matter how much you love being in the saddle. Whether you’re staring out the window at lashing rains or blowing snowdrifts, or in the middle of making hot cocoa or beef stew, most likely every cell in your body is saying: “Stay indoors. Or else.”

Does this look fun?  Try Cyclocross to keep the pounds off
Photo Courtesy BikePortland.org

But the “or else” is your sliver of opportunity. Or else what? Or else you’ll pedal your way to better mental and physical health, which is just as, if not more, important than when it’s 70 degrees and sunny outside.

 Start with your state of mind. With shorter hours of daylight, many of us are fighting symptoms of Seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Easy cures? Going outside and exercising regularly

Exercise helps!  Then there’s your body. This is the season of potlucks, rich foods and holiday drinks, which means you’re likely to pack on some extra pounds. Getting on your bike will help prevent weight gain. Besides, if you keep up a regular riding schedule now, you’ll be the one dropping the pack during springtime training rides.

How to make it happen? These are our favorite ways to make sure we get out the door, Remember, riding is fun!

Bicyclinghub.com staff ride all year

1. Establish your riding posse. Organize a reliable group of friends, family or coworkers who aren’t above applying some peer pressure when it comes to showing up for rides.

2. Schedule regular rides that happen no matter what, which includes weather “events.”

3. Organize your gear ahead of time. It’s way too easy to get lazy if your favorite waterproof gloves are M.I.A.

4. Winterize your bike. Clean your bike and re-grease your chain on a regular basis. Consider switching to studded tires, depending on where you live.

5. As the Scandinavian say goes, "there's no bad weather, just bad clothing." From your head to your toes, BicyclingHub.com can help you stay warm and dry with the right clothing for winter.

6. Promise yourself a sweet reward. There’s nothing wrong with giving yourself a little treat for getting out on your bike, be it a snifter of scotch or permission to call in sick on a powder day.

What kind of obstacles have you overcome to continue riding in the winter?  We want to hear your story. Send us an email telling us how you’ve become a winter riding warrior to sales@bicyclinghub.com. We’ll be posting our favorite submissions in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.

Award-winning author and writer Lucy Burningham has been working as a journalist for the past twelve years. She covers travel, food, and craft beer for a variety of magazines, newspapers, and guidebooks. Her work has appeared in Sunset, Imbibe, Outside, Men's Journal, VIA, Edible Portland and Beer Northwest, as well as The New York Times, The Oregonian, and The Los Angeles Times. http://www.lucyburningham.com/.  Lucy is also the co-author of "Hop in the Saddle" A Guide To Portland's Craft Beer Scene, by Bike.