General Cycling Discussion - Anyone in a winter slump? I cant get out of it.

I am in such a rut, i have no reason to be. I have a good job a few minutes from my house, pretty girlfriend, new car, lots of toys (xbox, pc, etc.). I think its that i have nothing to look forward to until summer. The trainer is boring as hell, and by the time i am out of work at 4:00 it is to cold to ride. I think it is lack of physical activity. Anyone in such a rut or am i just a miserable person.

The http://www.activebody.org/index.php site really helped me push back the trainer humdrums. Once you get back into it, your body will respond. Also a great video motivator from me was the Hawaiian 2003 ironman dvd. Have you tired x-c skiing? definately gets the lungs pumping. Maybe the key is just to get outside

I'm being held hostage by negative degree windchills in Chicago.
b4 it turned really hazardous, i'd bike 3 days a week in 15 to 20 degree wx..I don't mess around in minus 17 weather..it's frustrating because its interrupting the continuity.

Try running or skipping or doing some light weights at home.Maybe join a club and go swimming a couple times a week.Go to a spinning class.Relax and enjoy some quiet time with your girlfriend.You're gonna be busy in the summer.

It is 29 now going up to 37. i may go for a little ride or run later. i want to do the NY marathon this year but its a lottery so i dint know if i can get in. I recently purchased a set of Ksyrium Elites, Dura-Ace rear der, and Ultegra brakes so i am eager to try them

My advice: move somewhere a little warmer! It doesn't have to be Fl. or Ca....I live in NC. The Winters get cold here, but none of that negative temp crap. So far this Winter I have not missed a single 50+ mile outdoor weekend ride.

Although moving is an option, but just because your cold......?

I look forward to winter. I can finally get away from the bike. I look forward to summer because I finally can get back ON my bike.

Change in season is good for ya. But the duldrums do set in. Spin class (what I do) is a good way to keep a base fitness and the instructors are motivating. Going to the gym for weight resistance will keep the fat off elsewhere.

But you have to get outside and blow some of that winter stink of ya!

Skiing, like previously mentioned is a good choice. Snowshoeing my favourite winter activity, is another and a bit less expensive. Skating on a frozen pond is even less expensive. If you have a mountain bike put some studded tires on it and go off road, if the snow is packed down (if there is snow).

Get yourself one of those sleds and go sliding with that girlfriend of yours! Great fun! Perhaps you'll have a wipe out on the way down the hill and end up on top of each other and....ya know............(wink wink nudge nudge).


Digger
P.s.
If you do go sledding and.....ya know.....be mindful of your sword, they shrink in cold weather. :eek:

Get yourself a beater and ride in the winter months. Commuting is a great way to stay on the bike during these duldrum days. I love this stuff right now, it's July and August when the humidity is high and you sweat just standing that I can't stand.

Give me -30 any day.

Some winter mtn biking is always fun. It's been too cold here too, but when I get a chance I go out and fall down a lot. I refer to it as extreme training for bike handling. And if I get anything out of it I can say I am much better at falling without hurting myself. LOL

Can't you play racing games on your X-Box with your trainer? That always sounded like fun to me.

I was in a rut at the end of December then I found out racing season starts in Jan. so even when it's cold or almost dark out I hit the pavement for a quick hour ride.

Get yourself a beater and ride in the winter months. Commuting is a great way to stay on the bike during these duldrum days. I love this stuff right now, it's July and August when the humidity is high and you sweat just standing that I can't stand.

Give me -30 any day.

I agree with NAISME for the most part. However, -30F is a little extreme for me to wish for. I'll take it if it is to be, but to wish for it... that is another story.

I am commuting all winter as well. I also work on resistance training and core building when it is completely unsafe to get out on the bike. (mainly road conditions around here)

Arrrgh! I'm in a "slump" forced on my by muscle spasms in my neck; I've been living with excruciating stretching exercises and instructions from the physical therapist not to ride. I've missed several fantastic days for cycling.

I was...but now I took up snowboarding. If things go well I will have a sport for every season...try something like that possibly?

I hear you. Winter can bring on the blahs.

Sometimes I have to make time to ride in the day, because after a couple of months riding at night all the time is just too gloomy. And sometimes I've got to exert myself to make even that happen.

This much can be said for bad moods. They lift!

I am in such a rut, i have no reason to be. I have a good job a few minutes from my house, pretty girlfriend, new car, lots of toys (xbox, pc, etc.). I think its that i have nothing to look forward to until summer. The trainer is boring as hell, and by the time i am out of work at 4:00 it is to cold to ride. I think it is lack of physical activity. Anyone in such a rut or am i just a miserable person.

Hi. I totally understand what you're saying and how you feel, except for the fact that I just went through a bad break up, have an older truck, and a job about a half hour away by driving.... :(

I've always been one to think that people who don't have winter take summer for granted, so I was thankful for that reason. It is nice to have variety, too, with changing leaves and what not. This winter has been different for me. Now that I've decided that bikes are my definite hobby (always have been, but just never a conscious thought before) and something I want to do with my life, I feel forcefully separated. I envy people who's passions aren't affected by the weather. Sure, I have a "bikeshop" in my basement, and yeah, I could go out and ride, but I really don't want to when it's cold. I also always thought it strange that people would move to get away from winter (it is only about 3-4 months anyway, right?), but I'm seriously reconsidering that previous thought.

Good luck man, and hopefully we can make it through this arright... ;)

P.S. I can't speak for you, but for me it's definitely NOT a lack of physical activity-I'm a loader at FedEx, LOL.

Jessica

Set yourself a goal for April or May.

I and my wife are going to do the Santa Fe Century in May, so our goal is to be in top shape by then.

Also, do you use videos/cd's with your trainer program?

I find the Spinerval's to be much more motivating than simply pumping on the bike. You will do slow speed, high cadence, low resistance, high resistance, simulated races, all in an "interval training" milieu.

I set myself goals for particular videos. To be honest, I can not keep up with the folks on the advanced training video I have. The folks in the videos are all good racers and triathletes, etc. Even they get pretty exhausted.

How about a cadence of 140, holding it for 1 minute?

Anyway, I will quit with my sales pitch. It is just that they help me a lot, and I have gotten through this winter in far better condition and attitude far better than any recently.