mac

I would need to get up pre-dawn to ride my bike 1:15 to the office where it would still be dark when I get there. Every day when I'm sitting at my desk staring out the window around noon, I keep saying that I'm going to ride my bike to work tomorrow. But when my alarm goes off @ 4 AM, it's freezing cold (40's) and dark outside and I just cannot motivate myself to get out of bed, much less ride to work. Summer-time is a totally different story when it's nice and warm even during the nights and the days are long.

So how do you guys motivate yourselves to get out of bed? I really could use the exercise, but it's just so damn cold and dark! This gives me even more respect for our Navy SEALS who train in the ocean in this weather. The cold weather really is a demoralizer.

KrisPistofferson

Dude, you live in LA. I used to hitch hike to SoCal to get out of the cold. Put on some mittens and a windbreaker, and ride. I'm not from Manitoba, either, I'm from Tennessee.

The Seldom Kill

I've long since banished the psychological distinction between light and dark, something that I find very easy to do in the city. Now it's just a matter of the cold and some decent clothing takes care of that.

I also can't stand the feeling of watching cyclists whip by the bus while I sit, stuck in a traffic jam with no real control over my movement.

Best advice that I can give you is to develop a reward mechanism and stick rigidly with it. Think of something that you would really like, of a modest price, and buy it for yourself if you manage to commute for a week.

Cyclaholic

There's girls out commuting already when you are just waking up, doesn't that make you feel like a wimp? C'mon man, stop being a momma's boy and grow a pair.

chipcom 

Cold? Forgive me if I have little sympathy. Perhaps it would motivate you if I told you to change your custom user title to something more appropriate, based on your post, like "Live lazy, die wimpy" ?

ItsJustMe

I don't like getting out of the warm bed either. I have to remember that I have **NEVER** wished I drove when I rode, and always wish I had ridden when I drive.

It's tough to remember that when the bed is warm and the wind is howling. But dude, some of use do it when it's -10*F out, you can manage it at 40.

Not to sound cliche, but "just do it" don't think about it. I passed the hump when I decided to think in terms of the bike as the NORMAL way I get to work, and the car as a crutch I use when I am very sick or have to run long errands or carry heavy stuff.

max-a-mill

man up!

DataJunkie

I love it when it's 15F out. It has been 40F in the AM lately and it is too warm for me.
As for the dark, my eyes are overly sensitive to light and I have wonderful night vision. Thus, night is a great time to ride. Except for oncoming traffic.

I motivate myself easily since I love riding. Plus, we have one family car. I would rather leave it with my wife and son so she can run errunds.

PaulH

Driving is much more of a hassle for me than riding. It is only a five mile trip each way, so driving is not as practical as it would be on a longer commute. Besides, I have to fix breakfast for my daughter and walk her to the school bus stop.

Paul

balto charlie

It's only 1 minute of pain. Just getting out of bed, out the door is hard...the rest is easy. I know that once this threshold is crossed It'll be good. But it's still hard to do. Kinda like being born, you're all warm in the womb then some friggin Dr. is smacking you on the a$$. Rude awakening. Charlie
PS: We had rain and 40's this AM in Baltimore, I thought it was balmy. it's all what you get use to. I'm from LA and remember shivering as a child when the temps dropped below 50.

ItsJustMe

That's the strategy I used in college. I made an effort not to think of what I was going to do all day, I just said "All you need to do is to go get in the shower." If I thought of it as the end of being nice and warm in bed, I wouldn't want to get up. By limiting my vision I managed to take one step after another and get going.

GGDub

+1. My wife commutes all through winter up here. Her record so far is -25c (-13f). On top of that, up here at 52 degrees north, the sun doesn't rise till after 8am and sets before 5pm. Oh yeah, and to top it all off, the first 15 minutes of her 45 minute commute are all downhill, which makes it REALLY cold.

timmhaan

first, get everything ready the night before. tires should be pumped, water bottle filled, etc. lay out all your clothes so when you get up to take that morning pee, you'll see everything layed out all ready. get dressed immeditately (before eating breakfast). it's a bit harder to wimp out if you're already dressed. next, don't waste time - just be all business, grab the bike, and head out. for me it's like jumping into cold water - best to do it quickly and get the shock over with. good luck.

TheAnalogKid

When I began commuting last year, it was 20 degrees outside. It wasn't so bad then.

va_cyclist

Y'all are STUDS. I can barely get out of bed to drive a car to work sometimes.

lala

I feel you regarding the dark. I'm luckying tho in the fact that I have "semi flex hours."
But buck up, the days are getting longer now!

Edit: oh yeah, and buy some thin wool layers, you'll be fine!

michell610

You are right on, the biggest obstacle is getting dressed, once you are dressed it is too hard to wimp out. +30degF, 15mph headwind.

Crazy Cyclist

I am from Manitoba, and believe me, you guys don't know what cold is. Right now it is -2, but last year at this time we had -30 and 50CM of snow. I expect it to cool off by Saturday. It should be around - 10 - 15.

Jacoby

I motivate myself by buying a new magazine every week I ride to work. I am in chicago so it's a bit colder here than there.

If my 4'2" self can do it so can you.

ShavedNProud

Try going to bed wearing all your clothes, that way it is easier to get up in the morning. Personally when I bike in the winter I like to wear my hunting camo gear, so the night before I go biking I wear it all, even the orange vest. I get some weird looks, some people point and laugh, but joke is on them, I'm the one getting healthier!

DataJunkie

Temps are relative to whatever you are used to. Heck, when I was a kid in Washington State we had a very cold arctic blast. I had the pleasure of riding in -35F daytime temps for a couple of days.

Hmmm...my conversion site says that = -37.2C. I'm thinking that is incorrect. odd

DataJunkie

LOL!

Awesome username. Dare I ask what is shaved? No....nevermind

FatguyRacer

+1

I've taken to lunch hour training this winter.

mac

I slept in this morning again. In fact, I was even a couple of hours late driving to work today. It's nice that my boss is on vacation.

It's the morning darkness that really gets me. If it's bright and sunny out but still cold outside (50 - 60 degrees), I'll go for a ride. I was thinking of getting a lightbox and setting it to gradually turn on 1/2 to 1 hour before I get up in the morning so I'll think it's late morning. Anyone try these?

DataJunkie

*confused*

I'm assuming you are male. Hopefully, it is either your head or legs.