Winter bike commuting as an adventure

There are a lot of things that can change your perspective. Taking a full moon hike around your neighborhood, riding or running your regular trails in the opposite direction, or taking a bike commute and tossing winter at it.

Sure it’s not for everyone. And depending on where you live it might be more challenging or even frightening.

But it does change your perspective. First, it makes you slow down. After you have taken a few hard hits finding hidden patches of ice, it becomes a survival strategy. Believe me, you will fall.

Double the amount of time it might take to get ready. There is a saying in Norwegian. Det er ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlige klær.

There is no bad weather, only bad clothing. It sounds a lot better when the Scandinavians say it. You don’t need the latest and most expensive clothing to do it, just a lot of layers.

Since you have to travel a little slower, you notice more things. Landscapes, buildings, what people choose to put on the front porch for people to see. If you live in a place that gets snow as I do, you end up slowing down a lot.

Besides, were you really in that much of a rush to get to work? And the best part about riding to work is riding home. It’s a great way to forget about the three-ring circus that is your job.

So winter commuting can be that escape. The only thing that you can and should be focusing on is staying upright. Hard to worry about work when there might be a hidden ice patch somewhere.

Small adventures, every day. Do something different.