aMull

What other sports give a leg and cardio workout similar to cycling? Meaning is there anything i can do to keep my cycling form without actually cycling? Not sure how often i will be able to ride during the winter, so i am curious what else i can do to keep form.

aham23

get an indoor trainer and ride your bike. the only way you can maintain some kind of cycling form is to ride your bike. as for keeping a fitness base you can do many things. i run outside and on a treadmill durning the winter. i do core workouts too. i find when Spring hits i a have a real nice fitness base and i find my cycling legs a lot quicker. later.

BroadSTPhilly

Rowing is a pretty good proxy but obviously it is also not a winter sport.

Roody

I've read that Olympic ice skaters crosstrain with cycling. So play some hockey, eh?

aMull

Hockey sounds nice. By the way it doesn't have to be a winter sport, any indoor sports? How is squash for example?

Roody

Here's how I would classify the various sports:

• Cycling--continuous & repetetive exercise; stresses mainly the front of the legs (quadriceps muscles)
• Cross country skating and skiing--continuous & repetetive exercise; stresses mainly the front of the legs (quadriceps muscles)
• Ice hockey--start & stop exercise; stresses mainly the front of the legs (quadriceps muscles)
• Running and walking--continuous & repetetive exercise; stresses the backs of the legs (glutes and hamstrings)
• squash--stop & start; stresses the backs of the legs (glutes and hamstrings)

For cross-training (during the season), I would choose squash because it's the most different from cycling.

For maintenence training (off-season), I would choose cross-country skating or skiing because it's the most similar to cycling.

Roody

But why not just ride your bike outside all year round?

Machka 

You've not heard of indoor rowing machines? I used one regularly for 6 weeks last winter ... I would have used it longer but ran out of free time what with research papers, final exams, etc.

Machka 

As for other winter exercises, here's what I do and/or have done ...

1) keep cycling outside even in the winter when it is snowy and cold

2) ride my trainer

3) attend spinning classes

4) weightlifting

5) walking & jogging (indoors and out)

6) cross-country skiing

7) snowshoeing

8) rowing machine


There's lots you can do!