X-LinkedRider

Not that I ever completely stop riding, but being that I live in the Northeast and it snows from Nov-Mar, cycling is not always the first choice. What else do you guys do in the off season? Ski, board, skate, run? I just hit the slopes with some family/friends yesterday. Here is a video I put together.

crazzywolfie

bike. the only way i will stop biking is if all my bikes break to the point i could not fix them or build a new from all the broken parts. i bike every where weather or not there is snow on the ground or not. if you saw my bike right now it looks horrible. all the salt and sand has made it rust a lot. i am hoping to media blast it this summer and repaint it again for next winter.

wahoonc

Bike...

Aaron

Paul Y.

I'm southeast PA. I bike as much as possible. As long as the snow is off the
road shoulders I'll ride. Otherwise shovel snow.

cachehiker

I chase loose women.

tsl

Off-season? What is this thing you speak of, off-season?



We even have group rides all year here.

Just HTFU and ride.

X-LinkedRider

As I stated in the OP, I never stop riding. It is just that, the opportunity to ride IS there all year, where the opportunity to Ski is NOT there all year long. Riding is my primary sport for sure, but if I have to stop enjoying other things I like as much, that isn't HTFU that is Giving TFU.

Machka 

Off season??

When I lived in Canada, I cycled outside and walked 2/3 of the year and cross-trained for 1/3 of the year by cycling outside, cycling inside, weightlifting, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, walking, and yoga.

Here in Australia, in addition to cycling, walking, and weightlifting, Rowan and I have taken up canoeing and golf ... early days for both of those things ... I'm definitely no expert. But it is something different to do rather than cycling all the time.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/1430288...7623927024320/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/1430288...7625477482949/

X-LinkedRider

Sweet pics Machka. I am a fan of paddling myself when the temperature is right. I spend my time in a kayak more than a canoe however.
This video is from this previous summer at Spruce Lake in NJ/USA.

Camilo

Winter = skiing (mostly nordic for me); summer = biking. Why bike in the winter when you can ski?

I also do core training year around (started with PT for back injury, now it's a habit) and try to hike and paddle also in the summer.

But I don't "train" - I do all these things to stay fit and enjoy them, not to compete.

crazzywolfie

if my snowmobile was not 3 hours away i would be using it.

CNY James

you winter cyclists (in places that have real winter) are dedicated. I can layer up and shield my skin from the cold but the cold air im sucking into my lungs is what takes the fun out of it for me...

I snowshoe as much as possible & manually removing Syracuse's 130+ inches of snow from my 20x100 foot driveway is a good way to keep myself from becoming too stagnant.

I ride on the trainer a little too bit but not enough to say it replaces my warm weather cycling.

rdtompki

There is no off season, but we're looking into joining a gym for more core work and a 1/week or so spin class. December is about the only month in which it's a bit difficult to find an organized century.

irwin7638

What off season--go play in the snow!

RonH

Its not as cold here as in PA (cold is relative) but I just layer up and ride when the days are sunny and winds are light.

knobster

I scale back on my riding a lot. It rains a lot here in the PNW and while I could easily ride in the rain, I don't like it. I usually switch to running as it's not as bad to run in the rain verses riding in it. I also do a lot more resistance training (P90X) and this is when I do most of my Triathlon training.

X-LinkedRider

It's funny how a thread that asks the question, 'What else do you do?' turns into a HTFU and ride thread. It is clear that people read titles, and then respond without any need to actually the the whole thread or even just the OP.

Lets rephrase. We all know you bike, this is the bike forums. The question is WHAT ELSE DO YOU DO? If you do not Have an OFF SEASON, then the question most likely doesn't apply and therefore an answer of keep riding is useless to the thread.

But I can almost guarantee 4 more pages of people saying just ride as though they are better more dedicated cyclists than everybody else simply because they can display their lack of literacy skills.

cachehiker

I xc ski, backcountry ski, telemark ski, snowshoe, and do yoga and dumbbell workouts in addition to riding on the studs about once each week and spinning on the trainer about once every two weeks. I burned out on running, don't do it in the winter, and rarely get more than a few runs in between spring and fall. Recent medical issues are hampering these efforts this winter, but I'm still getting stronger every week since my surgery in October and that's what really counts.

Oh, and I hang out at the bars, throw darts, drink beer, discuss religion, debate politics, listen to the bands, and chase loose women.

X-LinkedRider

My stepmother and I are looking to get into snowshoeing. What are the costs of entry level setup for snowshoeing? Like 200/each right?

cyclist2000

Ride on trainer while watching football and basketball games.

knobster

I'd recommend renting first. REI has all the gear you'd need if you have one locally. Yes, you can pick up some shoes for around $150-300.

X-LinkedRider

We have both gone on a few occasions separately. I have both rented and used somebody elses shoes. I figured since I already got pack, kayaks, multiple sets of skis, multiple bikes, climbing gear, and all the rest, snowhoes makes sense to own. Plus, this would be a good activity that my stepmother already enjoys that my whole family could get into.

calamarichris

Question: What's a 'off-season'?



Haha--Been spending a lot of time on the rollers, because it's dark when I get off work and there are fewer stoplights.

billyymc

Winter = skiing and snowboarding. The letdown that I feel when I park my bikes for the year (in early Dec) is largely offset when I look at the other side of the garage and see the skis and boards hanging there. And as soon as I sharpen that first edge, and melt that first coat of wax, I'm praying for endless snow. Unfortunately, this winter sux here in upstate NY.

Agave

Drink heavily and stalk ex-girl friends.

What I do is what I do and I do what I do regardless of the season if at all possible,