On October 26, bicycle commuting crossed a demarcation line. The change-over to standard time is when many of us hang up our bikes as if winter has arrived. OK, we all know winter is coming, but it's not here yet. Why quit so soon? Why not think of November as a time to warm up to cold weather commuting? Our fall temperatures are only chilly, not frigid! Let's get our attitudes in gear, folks! You know I hate being lonesome out on the road.

Naturally, I strongly recommend continuing to do your healthy, environment-friendly bicycle commute even as days grow shorter and temperatures cool. Why not keep trying until you know you cannot or must not? Fear is not the same as knowledge. What do we need to do here to continue our healthy lifestyle?

Shortening days mean that we must pay attention to our visibility.

· Wear light-colored clothing, preferably reflective clothing.
· If you use a backpack, be sure it is reflective too.
· Have a good headlight - enough to illuminate the pavement. (6W to 10W)
· Be sure your pedals have amber reflectors on both sides. (Georgia law)
· Consider using a reflective ankle band. (rotating reflections get motorists' attention) Cooler November weather means our wardrobe must also evolve:
· Break out those nylon cycling jerseys that are too hot for sunny summer days. You will look so competent.
· Long sleeves and long pants are fine when afternoons also cool down enough.
· Begin to layer your clothing with items to peel off if the afternoon is warm.
· Use a scarf or close-fitting knit cap under your helmet for chilly mornings. (we lose most heat from our head)
· Tuck a neck scarf into your light-colored, reflective jacket to preserve body heat if we have a cold snap.
· Have several glove options. For November, we probably will only need lightweight liners with fingerless gloves, or perhaps regular full-fingered gloves.
· Wear goggles. I use clear lens goggles year around to keep road dirt out of my eyes. In cooler commute conditions, goggles keep your eyes from watering.

This is all it takes to edge your way into being a member of the Standard Time Commuting Club. You might be surprised at how far you can extend this experiment with cooler weather commuting. Clear through January and February perhaps? Stay tuned for the next installment of how to keep hanging in with bicycle commuting when the faint of heart give up.