Training & Nutrition - Question about keeping in shape during the winter

Hi
Should I buy warmer cloth and ride outside or should I buy sometype of indoor training machine ? What type is best ? How many hours would you ride and indoor device ? Any other advise would be welcome :)
Peace
Jar

Found cross country skiing a couple years ago. Skate style skiing will kick your butt worse than most bike rides. Many, majority, of serious riders in this area also Xcountry ski. Also have a couple bikes in the basement. Wedgie on a trainer and schwinn recumbent style. TV mounted on the wall. Easy to get an hour or two training while catching up on news and hunting shows. Good to vary training, winter is a good reason. Be sure to find something you don't have to force yourself into. Most of all, don't let the dark and seasons put on weight.

Do both. I ride outside whenever possible but sometimes it is too wet, dark or cold for my taste. Then the indoor trainer comes in handy.

55/Rad

The answer depends on your mindset. I would rather ride in the cold than sit on a trainer. An hour on a trainer could be death by boredom for me, even with TV. You may love it. There is a web site with some really good off season training routines I'll post a link if I can find it later.

The three aspects of my health as pertains to cycling are my weight, my cardiovascular fitness, and my strength. During last season, I found that my weight was just about right and my cardio fitness was very good. However, my strength held me back. This winter I am at the gym hitting the weights to strengthen my legs while I'm also watching my weight to make sure that I start the season next year without having to lose major pounds. However, I've found the hardest thing to do off season is maintain cardio fitness. An indoor trainer DOES NOT work for me in this regard. I've found that the "step mill" at my gym is great at getting my heart rate up there and I'm also going to look into spinning classes. It's tough to keep your form during winter when you live in the Northeast.

-mark

I want to get a trainer for the winter in the northeast as well. It will become very difficult to ride outside. what are good trainers?? fluid, mag, rollers.......?? I may x-country ski a little as well as downhill.

Commute to work by bike and you'll stay in shape all year.
The holidays are coming and you know how much you're going to eat. ;)

If you can't or don't want to commute, buy warmer clothes and dress in layers.

My plan is to do the trainer, try spin classes, xc ski, and hope for some weather that lets me ride a bit.

I'm also hoping to work on developing more core strength and exploring yoga.

I can't stand a trainer and usually sound like a broken record with this: Build up an inexpensive fixed gear bike for the winter. Best bang for the buck, IMHO. And no pesky derailleurs to mess with cleaning up when it's wet. Trust me, riding fixed in the low 20's keeps you plenty warm. Got me through last winter and, yes, we have winter in Arizona. Arizona != Phoenix.

I can't stand a trainer and usually sound like a broken record with this: Build up an inexpensive fixed gear bike for the winter.

After a full season of racing, most people need the break. The last thing they want to do is come home after work and ride in the dark when it's five above, there's ice on the road and a twenty mile hour wind's blowing.

I do a combination of both. During the workweek I ride for about an hour on the trainer 3 times a week. Then on the weekend when the sun is high in the sky I bundel up and do a fast 20 miles before I freeze my toes. REally need winter cycling shoes this year.

I'm going to mix it up. I'll run more and do more swimming at the gym. Our winters aren't that cold, just damp, so I bought fenders for the commuter and I'll try to take as many detours as I can. I've got a stationary trainer but I can't stand the boredom.

Doesn't all the sex with your girlfriends keep you in shape?

We get a lot less rain that Northern California..Most years at least..The thought of riding in snow, sleet..That's biking..
Our climate..Move to Southern California..YOu will need arm warmers though..But then...There very little unused land left for development..Might have to camp..

The trainer is the only thing that keeps me sane during the winter. I've already started using it since I get home from work around 19:00 and it's pitch black by then. An hour three times a week should keep me reasonably in shape along with the Sunday ride that I'll do until the roads become too dangerous.

After a full season of racing, most people need the break. The last thing they want to do is come home after work and ride in the dark when it's five above, there's ice on the road and a twenty mile hour wind's blowing.


The original post talks about warmer clothes being an option, which sure makes it sound like it might not be as harsh wherever the poster is. And if you're taxed after a full racing season, gear it lower and spin more, work on form. You can get more out of less time on a fixed as well, making it more feasible for a lunchtime quickie to work.

If it's common knowledge that jarhead's a Cat 2 living in Alaska, my apologies. I can only go on the information I'm privy to, though.

Doesn't all the sex with your girlfriends keep you in shape?

Yeah, but my wife gives me a hard time about it!

If it's common knowledge that jarhead's a Cat 2 living in Alaska, my apologies. I can only go on the information I'm privy to, though.

The story gets better and better each time it's posted.

From this thread (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=65123), he lives in the Pocono's and hasn't raced a day in his life. Which is not to say that the original question in this post isn't legit. I'd just rather not see this get out of hand.

-mark

I would go with both.
I wouldn't go out in the rain during winter though....not fun.

I like to ride in the cold. Also, I've been running more as the days get shorter (fewer safe riding opportunities, and I don't mind running with a Maglite). For some reason, I I'm all that interested in an indoor trainer.

i've been running more, too. the training tools on nikerunning.com have kept me in line.

Both

Get yourself a gym membership. :)

You'll want to get your money's worth.. so you'll be motivated to go pump iron, jog on treadmills, or use ellipticals. If they have a pool, not only will the water feel good, but you'll be exercising as well.

;)

-Matt

Mountain Biking!! Of course, it stays above 30 F most winter days here. January may be tough for a couple of weeks, but I have a trainer.

"doesn't bet below 30 degress much" "don't ride in the rain" guys, anyplace that doesn't get below 30 much, where it rains in the winter, really can't count as winter riding. We have that kind of weather in July.

It really depends on what your winter is like:
How cold/damp/windy/snowy/rainy/icy.
icebike has lots of good winter cycling info and will give you some examples of how "there no such thing as poor weather, only poor clothing"..
If you can ride during the winter, then its better to ride outside.
If winter sports are a viable option, then XS skiing.
The pool is a good place for a workout.

I found that I didnt have to buy any special winter cycling equipment, just make use of my sports/outdoor gear.

i've been running more, too. the training tools on nikerunning.com have kept me in line.


Yep. Running is great.

There is something wonderful about the minimalism of it. It is one hell of a workout. And it can be done under conditions that few cyclists would endure (unless they are getting paid).

Also, running allows me to spend some quality time with my dog. She doesn't mind running in the rain either. (My wife thinks we're both kinda funny that way.)