It’s easy to love sunshine, but I do love rainy winters days when I can curl up with a hot chocolate and good book. But this year it was hard to feel happy when while it was grey and wet outside and I was in lockdown. Full lockdown in Shanghai lasted 2 weeks and then we had semi-lockdown from mid-February for most of the winter here in China. As soon as lockdown was eased a bit I just had to go out and enjoy the outside even though it was a cold and rainy winter.
Cycling through winter can seem like a daunting idea, even for those who have been cooped up inside for weeks, but it was one of the best decisions I have made. With crisp morning air, the scrunch of leaves beneath tyres and lure of a steaming coffee post-ride, it’s well worth bracing the elements. As a wise cyclist once said, there’s no bad weather for cycling, just the wrong clothing. I wrapped up warm and went cycling through the deserted streets of shanghai each day for a couple of hours.
Winter is also a very special time to go cycling as the lack of foliage opens up the skyline in a way it doesn’t the rest of the year. Familiar views look even more spectacular when framed in a different way and you can spot things you may never have noticed before, such as a statue that’s normally hidden behind a line of trees or an interesting city skyline that’s suddenly revealed. I got to see the city in a different light and fell in love with cycling. It is something I have continued doing and it is a great way to explore this fabulous city.
What is your favourite time of the year to cycle?
Janaline's world journey 
I like the fall!
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Now I can see them – amazing that big hand/arm! Have a great weekend!
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Thank you, I hope you also have a fabulous weekend! I know, that huge hand is very striking…I definitely need to find out what the story is behind that hand.
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And tell us all!
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Late evenings! And – I wasn’t able to see your photos!
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Thank you so much, I have re-loaded the photos and hope they are all visible now. I hope you have a fabulous weekend!
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♥ Now I can see them! Great!
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My favorite time of day to cycle is late afternoon when the light is kind of glowy and the shadows long . For yr info ..I wasnt able to see yr pics only the first one at the top. 😃
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Late afternoon is definitely a beautiful time out! Thank you, I have re-loaded the photos and hope they are visible now. Safe cycling!!
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Wow! In spite of all the news we see about China these days, it is so nice to be reminded of the beauty of their architecture, and look back at the footprint of yesterday’s culture.
Great post, Janaline –thanks for sharing!
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Thank you so much. I agree, each place has something good and bad, and its sometimes hard to see past the bad to apreciate the good. Hope you have a fabulous weekend!
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I cycle all year round but then I do live on the sunny Cote d’Azur
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Oh wow that is fabulous!! I have not been able to cycle a lot in the humid shanghai summer and now that it is autumn I am looking forward to spending some days out cycling during the weekend! safe cycling!
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You too Janaline 🚲
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