Cyclocross - Cabin Fever

For those living in the northern zones, wondering how many cyclocrossers have cabin fever? With a foot of snow and ice outside, I've got my '07 Tricross Comp on a Kurt Kinetic Pro Trainer. As great as the trainer is, it's just not the same as the favorite fine-packed gravel trail currently under thick ice. Even with TV or music it's boring as hell, and just can't get the workout of the real thing. Also have an '08 Comp waiting to hit the trails.

Anyone venturing out there with their cross bikes? Everyone keeping in shape using their trainers, or what else to keep from becoming a Pilsbury dough boy in the winter months? Maybe I need to move to Arizona instead of hanging around in the midwest.

BTW, '07 Comp seems significantly heavier than the '08. Didn't think a triple ('07) would add that much more weight over a double ('08).

Yep, I rode mine 14 miles into work today...it was 18 F.
But we don't keep our snow and ice. It has been clear for a week and I am joining a buddy after work for a night ride in the local mountains. He will have his full suspension MTB but I will be on the Kona Major Jake with zip tied fenders and city tires. Should be a lot of fun! I think it is above freezing out there right now but won't be by 6:00 pm.

Studded tires! I put them on my Cross Check and ride the paths and can still work on intervals and all the good stuff. Plus those things have so much rolling resistance, when you put you knobby cross tires on, you'll be super fast!

same here. i bought some winter gear planning to ride, but the snow has been sticking around way too long. Tomorrow should be the start of a "warm" period. For fine-packed gravel I'm guessing you ride the forest preserves in lake county? I go to deer grove and the gravel chunks are more rocky.

You Midwest guys definitely have a different kind of winter than we do here. I travel to MPLS for work quite often (I was there a couple of weeks ago when it was -21F).

I took the Kona with Michelin Transworld cities on an mtb trail with ice/rocks/snow last night and those tires performed suprisingly well. I had them at 80 psi and am certain they would have performed even better had I dropped them down to 60 or so. They climbed some pretty significant technical sections over snow with no problem. The descent was also no problem for them even in the dark.

I also have the Nokian 106's on a different set of wheels but I find that I hardly ever throw them on. They are nice to have for bad ice days, however. But, in truth, I have so little trust in drivers on ice that I usually prefer to be in my steel cage on those days. In the last 2 snow days I have ridden, I have had 2 drivers pass me while sliding sideways. Both were rear wheel drive vehicles (a pickup and a camero). I think the cars go sideways because the drivers gun the engine to get around me....morons!

Pretty close, black_box. I ride the Illinois Prairie Path in Dupage county out to Elgin and Geneva. I hear Lake county has nice paths too, though. I never saw such well maintained and extensive paths, mostly old railroad lines, as has Chicago far suburbs and adjoining rural areas.

You guys have a great solution with studded tires. The Tricross Comps come with fairly thin, low tread tires, a bit more for road than trail. You've got me interested. The Chicago winter wind can really cut through, so layering's a key.

On that topic, Minneapolis weather can be brutal, sawtooth. You'll have to share some hints and tricks on keeping warm during your rides. My neighbor swears by battery-powered electric socks when he goes cycling in this weather with his heavy duty snow-tired MTB.

Sunday was our first warm day in a while, so I hit up about 75 miles of back roads, dirt roads, mud, shouldering over icy patches of trail, etc.

I run 2 miles a day at lunch on a treadmill; weight train 2-3 days a week with a 5x5 program incl legs with 2 days rest in between. I just started swimming 20 laps once or twice a week, sometimes after one of the weight training sessions; and finally if my right forearm is up to it, an hour of solo racquetball once a week. I'm freakin' going crazy that I can't get on the bike for some commuting yet.

On that topic, Minneapolis weather can be brutal, sawtooth. You'll have to share some hints and tricks on keeping warm during your rides. My neighbor swears by battery-powered electric socks when he goes cycling in this weather with his heavy duty snow-tired MTB.

Sorry Richard, I did not mean to mislead you. I actually live in Boise and only travel to MN about 25% of the time. Our work schedule when we are out there does not jive with commuting. But I am in awe of the guys who do ride all the time out there.!!!!

I really like the battery socks idea. Feet are my biggest issue.