[Grenouille]

What do folks do for training in winter?

Yeah, I know, lots of folks cycle in snow and below-freezing temps, but for wimps like me living in New England, any workouts that are particularly good or bad?

 

[Nigal]

I use a cheap roller trainer from Performance. Wears my ass out.

 

[Xela]

I like the Carmichael (Trainright) DVDs.

http://www.twospoke.com/forum/f40/carmichael-training-dvds-climbing-3052/

 

[jeepster93]

I run, and use a trainer.

This is running season.
The races are this time of year, through the early summer. Shouldn't run long distance in much over 65*.
I have a race in Phoenix in a week, the PF Changs 1/2 marathon(13.1 miles)

 

[IanHighfield]

Grenouille, I live in Old England and I'm faced with the first winter of my life with real snow on the ground all the time. (sucks) Mostly I ride rollers but any standing trainer will get your blood moving and keep your seat in shape. I do a fairly extensive weight regiment with my trialling team five days a week along with 5-10K of jogging every day.

I do not run in summer but do in winter. We also rent indoor velodrome time and do sprint work on the boards along with general horse play. It's nice to ride inside on wood when it's cold outside.

So do trainer time, run, swim, lift, shovel the forking snow. It's not hard to stay fit. And most of all, lose all the weight you can if you need to lose.

 

[HandsomeRyan]

One word- Cyclocross.

 

[TxCyclist]

Luckily our Winter is very short but I work out with weights when it's too cold to run or cycle. If I don't do some form of workout in a day I have a tough time sleeping at night.

 

[whyeyebike]

I have a love/hate relationship with my trainer. If I can get the motivation to get on it, I usually can get a pretty good workout from it. I am thinking of getting rollers in order to amp up my winter training.

 

[Xela]

I have a love/hate relationship with my trainer. If I can get the motivation to get on it, I usually can get a pretty good workout from it. I am thinking of getting rollers in order to amp up my winter training.

What rollers are you considering? From Twitter, it doesn't look like you've had much of a motivation problem lately. :thumbsup:

 

[whyeyebike]

To be honest, all I really have done is look at rollers (mainly online). I haven't done any research on them. And I have to say, I have been pretty motivated this winter. Its a heck of a lot easier to get on the trainer if I am consistant and don't go to many days without riding.

 

[camilo]

XC skiing. Winter = winter sports; summer = summer sports. Biking is a summer sport, skiing is a winter sport.

 

[CTD50]

Nope, sorry, I ride as close to year-round as surface conditions allow; plus, my job is hands-on, can get physical sometimes.

Temps today went from 15 degrees below normal this morning to normal for this time of year by late afternoon -- felt tropical to me coming home today!

 

[lowracer1]

I use the imagic virtual trainer with fortius software and compete in online racing or do time trials against other riders downloaded from the imagic archive.

 

[Grenouille]

You guys inspired me. 34 deg and cloudy out there this morning, but I did an hour just to say I did it. Felt great.

(PS how many fingers and toes am I supposed to have? I'm counting 18 post ride, is that enuf?)

 

[Grape Ape]

18 is more than enough, I have seen people who have been playing in ponds with snapping turtles live a fulfilling and happy life with 3 toes and 7 fingers so 18 is a real good number.

 

[camilo]

You guys inspired me. 34 deg and cloudy out there this morning, but I did an hour just to say I did it. Felt great.

(PS how many fingers and toes am I supposed to have? I'm counting 18 post ride, is that enuf?)

Ah, the next step is to get better gloves and some shoe covers! There's no reason to have cold hands or feet. If conventional long fingered cycling gloves don't do it, look at real winter skiing or other gloves with a leather or similar palm (for grip), the only question is can you shift with the bulkier fingers.

If you don't find a shoe cover that does the trick, look at fully insulated, over the ankle XC ski boot covers. They will work great with cycling shoes, you just need to modify the sole area to make a hole for your automatic pedal cleats (if you use them).

Have fun (I still prefer XC skiing in the winter, but biking's OK, and no need to be cold).

 

[Grenouille]

just kidding about hands/toes, gloves/thermal socks are OK. Bought a balaclava post-ride, my neck and cheeks were cold. (Now my kid cant decide, do I look more like a bank robber or a terrorist)