You still riding? and the winter mix.

It never fails that someone asks this question when fall approaches. Two years ago, I stopped riding around the middle of September. I was living in North Central Iowa, and this time of year is when harvest starts to get going. The roads become much more treacherous, and now we have aggravated drivers having to wait for farm equipment being moved from place to place. Combine this with a lone cyclist just trying to get home, and we have a Molotov cocktail. My first season of cycling ended when the above got the best of me. Last year, having more experience with commuting, I made it through early November. I remember riding on frost covered roads, clear roads with snow in the ditches, and through light flurries. I never experienced the true biking on snow covered roads. Hopefully, that will change this year.

Having moved to the city, I don't have to deal with Farm equipment, or the traffic due to the Indian creek trail. I look forward to experiencing the cooler temps, crisp morning, and the warming effects of the commute. But there is a conundrum involved, I have no experience riding in the conditions I am expecting in the winter. Nor am I equipped as I would like to be. I have been debating weather to purchase a pair of nokian studded tires for the 'dale. But at $74 a piece, this is a pricey expenditure. I would also need to find an additional set of wheels as I would only ride with the nokian's when the weather dictates the need. Oh what to do, what to do.

The other thought that has been running through my feeble mind is can I pick up a used mtn bike to use this winter. the more I think about this, the more in this direction I am leaning. I have wanted an additional bike in the stable for a while now, it's just finding one that I am willing to live with. I guess only time will tell.