You still riding?

If you're a year-round bike commuter in Milwaukee, you already know that from now until the thermometer hits 65 again you will be the regular recipient of one question from co-workers and acquaintances.  That question is: "You still riding?"  I suppose it beats the stock "how's it going" or "what's up" that usually follow the initial greeting, but after a while it becomes a tiresome question to answer.  I know that I should relish the opportunity to share with others the "good news" about bike commuting and how it is surprisingly easy to do even during the winter (if I can pull it off, believe me, anyone can).  But it does get awful tiresome.

If in a feisty mood, I'll respond with snottiness.  For instance:

"You still riding your bike to work?"

"Yep.  You still driving your car to work?"  

       or...

"Hey, I saw you riding your bike today!"

"Oh yeah?  How 'bout that.  I saw you driving your minivan today!"

But that's not a nice way to behave, so usually I answer the question by reciting my general winter riding rule: "I ride unless it's below zero."  I'm not even sure if that's really my rule because, come to think of it, I haven't had many opportunities to ride below zero (although it does sound unpleasant).  Maybe I share that rule with others because people are comforted by the idea that even insane people have boundaries, however unreasonable those boundaries may be.

I know the real winter weather hasn't yet begun, but riding around in the chilly weather has been so fun lately, my answer ought to be "Hell, yeah, I'm still riding!"