NCMTBIKER

Just wondering if any of you guys run when its too cold to ride to stay in shape...it's what i plan on doin

SpecialKo

never to cold. just do less mileage or plan routes that are close to home or pass by it several times. then you only have xxx much farther to go home to decide to head or or keep going. i recently tested a new bike out on a 20 miles ride over a mountain in 17 degree weather with just shorts and a jersey. I had some clinking sounds come from me when i got off but that went away when i got warm.

clausen

Too cold in NC.

kindablue

Yep, I plan on running outside throughout the winter (an upcoming spring marathon might have something to do with it...). Personally I love running in cold weather, as long as the windchill isn't dangerous.

echappist

why not. afterall, it's base building time. when i was running ~40 miles a week, temperature in the upper 30's called for a fleece & thin jacket. In similar conditions on the bike, ii need baselayer, jersey, said fleece & said jacket & i still feel cold at times. although having ran about 30 miles in the last three months, im about a 1minute slower per mile than i used to be...

and yes, it does get cold in NC. in fact it even snows a few times last year. it's no Canada, but the mercury can drop in a hurry. on the other hand, the week before it was snowing, it was sunny with temperature in the mid 60's

bigtea

After my accident on black ice last December I no longer ride in temps below 45 degrees nor on wet pavement. In November I began working out on an elliptical trainer and can do 3 miles in under 30 minutes. That's not bad for someone with my permanent injuries. It's not the same as a 2 hour bike ride at 15mph, but it does beat the heck out of sitting on my butt and looking out the window.

asmallsol

Thats why you ride on a cross bike and studded tires.

As for the person going out in 17 degree weather in just a summer kit, your asking for trouble. The biggest worry would be the risk of damaging joints like your knees. Anywhere below about 45, you have to cover up your knees. When it gets colder, wear more layers over your knees. Embrocation is a great thing too.

VA_Esquire

...or you could run and bike (of course not at the same time) like I do. like everything you do, dress accordingly....though if you decide to not venture outside get on the treadmill or trainer/rollers. Now all I am trying to figure out is how to connect my treadmill and trainer to the house to help with electricity lol

jtwilson

bigtea,

Sorry to hear about your accident. I've wiped out on black ice before but it wasn't too serious luckily. What happened? I am running studded tires this winter.

I think if it's warm enough to run it's warm enough to ride - as mentioned above, just plan shorter routes to find out what you can handle without putting yourself in too much trouble.

mike868y

trainer or rollers will be better for on the bike fitness, but for a mental break running helps keep the cardio up.

Homebrew01

I run a bit. I also switch to the mountain bike on the road sometimes: lower windchill, better on patches of snow, and I don't care about speed.

And 17 degrees in shorts is stupid. I rode in 20 F today, with the full layered setup and was all set.

jrobe

There is nothing wrong with crosstraining by running in the winter but I bet you won't find many competitive cyclists that don't have a trainer for indoor workouts in the winter. In fact, I can get a more effective interval workout on the trainer than I can usually get outside (no traffic, stoplights, wind, etc.). The good thing is that trainers are pretty inexpensive compared to most other bike gear. I would hate to get to spring and not have been on the bike much for a few months.

grolby

Embrocation is likely to be more harmful to your knees than just going bare-legged, actually. It works in part by stimulating blood vessels on the surface of your legs to open up, bringing more blood flow (and more warmth) to the outside of your legs. But your body has closed down those blood vessels precisely because it's more important to keep the ligaments, tendons and other delicate parts of your knee joints (and other in parts of your legs) warm than it is to keep your skin warm. Causing more of that heat to go the surface and radiate away is going to mean less heat where it is most needed. Tights are probably a much safer bet for keeping your knees safely toasty, and I would argue that 45 is definitely too cold to leave your knees uncovered.

logdrum

I call BS, stupid or you have that much fat to keep you that warm or this is in Celsius or it was a 3 minute ride.

FreddyV

It's only too cold to ride when the roads are covered with ice. As soon as it melts, back on the bike!

cyclezealot

When the club ride took off yesterday , it was about 3 degrees C.. With the new winter jacket I was toasty warm everywhere except my ears.. What if your knees won't permit you to run.. As is the case with me.. With winter cycling gear, I'll go out up and until the roads turn to ice...

SpinDr

Yep, I'll be mainly running during the winter - it's good for base fitness and ligament/bone strength. Plus running in cold weather just feels great IMO as long as you have the appropriate clothing.

bernside

Get a mountain bike. Its much warmer in the woods. No winds and you work harder which keeps you warm.

Way more fun than running.

DieselDan

Running is evil!

exRunner

The club is still riding, I am not. Bike went away for the winter after the Thanksgiving weekend. I am now running about 35 miles a week, most of it on a treadmill at Planet Fittness, set on the hill program.

That will continue until Easter (or around that time) when I will jump right back on the bike and go like nothing changed. The club members, who are doing what some of the previous posts are suggesting, will loose fitness all winter. I will not, just some biking specific muscle what will be back long before their engines are back in tune.

Besides, biking is supposed to be fun, and dodging ice and cars in freezing temperatures (and the dark during the week) is not fun IMHO.

datlas 

Not a bad idea, if you and your body like it.

Every time I try running, my knees HATE it so no running for this cyclist...just bundle up and ride, or use rollers/trainers if roads are icy.

daredevil

+1 unless it's 17 C.

khatfull

That's what I'm doing this winter. I rode 17.5 miles yesterday on the hardtail in about 12F. Had just the AmFib tights on lower, several layers on top, Sugoi gloves on....toasty warm. Feet are still an issue though, seems that mo matter how much I layer the feet I still get cold tootsies

Yes it is...but I might try a bit this winter as well. It's been two years for me but as another poster mentioned, the cross training can be useful.

Velo Vol 

I run every now and then during the winter when its been too wet to ride.

DataJunkie

I can ride at 0F and above. However, I am trying to drop into the 140s and seem stuck. Thus, I am pondering adding running as a way to shake things up.