Randy Eggert wrote:I had a grad school professor in Chicago who didn't drive (everybody agreed Chicago was safer that way). To get to campus he biked every day--it wasn't far, less than a mile--even on the iciest, coldest days. When anybody expressed surprise that he'd bike on such a cold day, he'd say, "It's a choice between being utterly miserable for twenty minutes or in excruciating pain for five."
We don't have the ice and snow like in Chicago, but we get a lot of drizzle, especially in the cold 1/3 of the year. Some people are astonished that I would still bike to school on those days. If it's strong, hellish, downpours, I'll drive. Otherwise, I wear rain pants and a coat. I show up energized and happy, and leave the same way. I save money on the gym membership, and I'm also not polluting, using gas, and creating demand for more parking lots. I get my exercise on the way to and back from work and shopping. Otherwise, it's hard to get out into the cold, dark, drizzle and move my body. Helps fight SAD too.
John S
PDX OR