Like many-I am just getting into riding after a long winter lay-off. I have been lucky in that I have been able to get to spinning classes at the gym but for the last few weeks I have given that a rest to get over a chesty cough. But winter is finished--The weathergirl told me that a few weeks ago. Couple of weekends ago I went for a ride. Supposed to be warm but took no chances and it was a 4 layer ride. Didn't help as I still froze. Last Sunday and the forecast was far better. Rain would stop at 9- the sun would appear with a slight rise in temperature and more to the point- The easterly wind would change to a southerly so easing the wind chill factor. Rode to meet the others about 10 miles away and at 10am the ride started in an easterly wind- rain and it was still cold. The weather did improve a bit just as we got back to the start point 2 hours later.

So today I went to the gym for another spinning session. Nice warm day with full sun and not a cloud in the sky. Why the gym and not a ride?----the 30mph wind gusting to 50 was in the wrong direction.

I am wondering if I should arrange any more rides for a while. Despite the weather forecasters trying to lift my hopes by giving me false promises- I am beginning to like the gym. And due to the frequency of me going to the spinning classes- My stats were pretty good today.

I am some what proud to say that I have ridden for twelve straight months here in Ohio. I rode about two times a week from October-January with temps in the 45-55 degree area. Once February hit it got way to cold and windy and stayed that way right through March which limited me to a couple rides each of those months. Last year it got warm in early March which was glorious, this year however old man winter just won't let go. It's 84 degrees right now but by this time tomorrow it's suppose to be in the mid to upper 40's. At least this time of year it doesn't stay cold for long, Sunday is forecast to be 64 and sunny. I have gotten a couple rides in so far in April but other things have eaten into my time (tax season, yard work and a new to me car that I have been doing some work on). Taxes are done and the car is taken care of so if the weather co-operates I should be able to ramp it back up. I hope your weather forecasters are better over there than they are here. Ours seem to change their forecast every three hours and then claim to be accurate. Have a safe and active season.

I'm interested - how was your first ride after a winter of dedicated spinning? Did you lose or gain fitness over the winter? More fluid at high rpm? Anything notable?

I rode through the winter rain and chill, as always - year-round rider here - but over the winter all I did was commute and errands on the bike, so spinning classes were the longest periods I actually spent "in the saddle". I went for the first weekend ride a few weeks ago, about 45 miles (in the rain, as it turned out). My fitness seemed decent. Can't complain.

Spinning has gotten me pushing bigger gears on the road, I do notice that.

Spinning has definitely improved me over the winter and I am starting the summer in better condition than before. Should be spring but mid April and we haven't seen any yet. Cadence is a bit higher- speed is up a bit but if I notice anything it is on the hills. They are being taken a gear or so higher and with the higher cadence--They take less time to do.

But that spinning yesterday and there were several like me getting over this chest infection that is going round. Had a couple of weeks break from the classes so took it steady. Average cadence "Pre" chest was cadence 80-Calories pushing 640- Watts around 150. Yesterday saw calories at 695- Cadence at 84- and watts at 167. So perhaps the break has done me good.

Looks as though the weather has turned from the "Near" freezing temps and is getting into the low 60's. Sun is making an appearance but it does seem that the wind is still a factor. 15 to 20mph head or cross winds are not nice.

Get out on that bike!

You're in danger of confusing spinning with cycling. There is no point in the former unless it's to help with the latter. Even a cold ride on a bike is better than a soul-less spinning session in a nice warm gym.

(Thus speaks someone who has also not ridden much this winter but winter is over at last)

Winter may be over and it has warmed up but looks like the weekend before the wind drops to sensible levels. Have Sunday ride planned but depends on how many turn up. Have the training to get in with my Son-in-Laws company. Going to be a lot of riders struggling in a couple of months time on their planned ride.

I spent deep winter in Thailand and there was a group of Thais that rode every Sunday. I also met a expatriate that tours all over Asia and did a four day tour with him. Although Fairbanks is still in the depths of winter ( end of April) my fitness is a lot better. This is us in Nong Khai.

question about "spinning sessions" I've used the stationary bikes at gyms before but never for more than 30-40 minutes and never in the fashion I've seen people "spin" on TV. my question is about duration. how long do you "spin" for? does anyone ever simulate a real-world ride by spinning for 2-3 hrs?

Most spinning classes are for an hour although there is one at my gym for 1 1/2 hours. Intensity level in those sessions is as you want to make it but most "Experienced" spinners make it quite high. I know for me at the end of the 1 hour I am just about on the limit and is a lot higher than I would be on a 1 hour bike ride. To do longer than 1 hour at that level would be like running a Marathon at 5,000 metre pace.

But like all forms of exercise-you have to build up to those higher levels. Normally takes me about 6 sessions before I can push as high as I should and when I started in January I was pushing at 75 to 80% of my max level and I have now worked up to 80 to 85% for most of the session with the occasional rest down to 70% and a few occasions up to 95%.

I would not like to spin for longer than 1 hour. Although you can get out of the saddle for a butt rest and you can stretch the back or use the legs in different ways- It is not like riding a normal bike. You don't get the body rests that you can take on a normal bike and it is no way as comfortable.

interesting thanks

I did absolutely nothing on the bike since November. Getting out now. Weather still cold but tolerable. I'm amazed at how good I feel. Just have to lose some flab around my middle. It's good to take a break in winter. Makes you want to ride when the weather does break.

On the road you get breaks. Coasting, lights, downhills, curves, easing up. In the spin class you never get a break. You pedal as hard and as long as you want or can, without road conditions to worry about. Also, on the spin bike you can crank up the resistance to any level. Sometimes I will turn it up until it is very hard to turn the pedals over, it becomes like lifting weights, I'll do this for a while each class. It has definitely helped my leg strength. To duplicate that on the road you'd have to find a meaningful hill and go up in 53 x 12 or something equally daft.