Arkansan07

This may belong in training and nutrition. Ok I started riding last spring and rode all spring, summer, and most of the fall. However, I cant bring myself to ride in the cold its completely miserable. I havent rode the trainer in at least a month. I need to get back on the trainer something awful. I have been running a little, but if i dont get on the trainer before say march 1 how much ground will I lose on the bike? Will I gain it back quickly? Im still a noob in the big scheme of things a little input would be great.

patentcad

You will get fatter and lose most of your cycling fitness if you don't ride outdoors or on a trainer all winter. If that is a concern, you either use it or lose it.

Sounds like you have chosen the latter, and that's OK.

Arkansan07

Ok **** that lol

Braden1550

Our Road season is in the middle of winter; crits in summer and base training early winter. There aren't a lot of crits.

You guys over the pond have it easy.

late

I watch action movies while I use the trainer. They aren't nearly as effective as Spinervals or any other structured exercise
session. But as the old saying goes... the best exercise is the one you'll actually do.

My favorite winter exercise is rowing. I bought a used Concept 2 rower (the brand to get) and love it.
While I like cycling a lot, it doesn't involve enough of the body's muscle mass for me. There is a feeling of wellness
I get from backpacking and weightlifting that I don't get from cycling. I get it from rowing.

Arkansan07

Interesting, maybe i should look into that.

botto 

arkansas gets cold?

Daytrip

Riding outside in the winter is mostly a matter of dressing for it. You should be able to ride in Arkansas for most of the winter, I would think. As long as the roads are dry and the temps are 40 or above, you should be able to do it with ease. Wet roads present maintenance issues on the bike (lots of cleaning), and temps below 40 can be a little chilly. Most everyone has their limit. Mine's about 32 degrees. Pcads is probably somewhere down around 15 (if he can be believed). I bet it doesn't get below 40 very often in ArKansas.

HTFU!

Machka 

If you don't ride your bicycle outside or your trainer inside ... when you get back on the bicycle in March it will be just like starting all over again from scratch.

If I can ride outside in Manitoba in the winter, you should be able to ride outside in Arkansas. Is there snow or ice on your roads? If not ... go ride. If you don't want to cycle outside all the time in the next few months, and the trainer bores you, join a spinning class that runs a couple days a week. Better than nothing.

Thirstyman

how much will you lose... all of it.

doctor j

Yes

Randochap

A bit of a rest for mind and body is OK but stay active. Use it or lose it. Winter cycling is fun if you're prepared.

Homebrew01

Get the right clothing, and it's not so bad. I sometimes have a hard time adjusting when the cold temps first come, but then it becomes no big deal. I ride my mtn bike with fenders often in the winter. Less wind chill at the slower speeds and I don't care if it gets dirty.

DataJunkie

Stand in front of a full length mirror in the nude. If that does not motivate you then sit on your couch drinking pbr eating deep fried twinkies.

Arkansan07

https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick...ield2=-90.6167

Arkansan07

so true, I wear 34in waist and they are getting snug. I dont want to wear any larger.

Sardian

I'm in Alabama. I actually like riding in the cold, I good down to 36 or so. We have had a rather cold start to the winter so far, colder than usual.

What I don't like is riding in the dark. It's hard to get home before dark with work. Being self employed I'm able to work my schedule to get at least 3 or 4 forty mile rides in each week.

I have picked up a trainer and I must say that's the most boring time.

I ride with a Gore Phantom II Jacket, toe covers, long pants and thick gloves. Worm as a bug in a rug.

Issaquatch

That weather forecast doesn't look bad. What do you find miserable about riding in the winter?

big john

That doesn't look so bad, at least the 34 and sunny day. You just have to dress for it. Layers, cover your head, and keep the feet warm. I also like the mtb when the weather isn't so good. The wind doesn't bother you as much and speeds are lower, and you don't mind if it gets dirty.
At least get out for an hour or two.

StephenH

When we lived in Colorado, I frequently hiked on mountain bike trails in a county park. I noticed there, that it seemed like the first time it snowed a half- inch, everyone would put their bikes up and you wouldn't see them until next spring, regardless of how nice the day was. But meanwhile, I find people on another website in that same area that just ride right through the winter. You can get some icy roads that make riding dangerous. But a lot of it is just mental.

Something else I found while living in Colorado is that hiking up hills was great exercise, and works a lot of the same muscles as cycling. If you live in a flattish area, just cycle all winter. If it's too hilly and icy to cycle, get out and walk some of the local trails or roads.

banerjek

+1

30°F doesn't even require warm gear, though you'll want decent gloves. Even 20° isn't bad but I need chemical warmers when it gets that low. Get some warmer gear and you'll be fine.

Machka is not overexaggerating. You will not gain it back quickly unless you were in crummy shape to begin with. The running will help your cardio, but you'd be amazed how little it does for your cycling. You will feel like you are starting from scratch and your speeds will be depressing.

Even being off for a month will set you way back. Right now, the only thing saving you is that as a n00b, you'd have less to lose. Since you are not used to cold weather, I'd recommend starting immediately on the trainer and trying to push down the temps that you find rideable. It's really no big deal once you're used to it.

NickDavid

Seriously, what is wrong with these guys? I'd give anything to say that cold means 50 degrees.

Jim from Boston

I can't specifically verify or refute the following comment, but it seems reasonable and works for me. I once read that the half life of the so-called training effect is about ten days. That is to say you lose half of your training effect after ten days of inactivity; another half of what's left after another ten days of activity and so forth, just like radioactive decay. That concept motivates me to keep riding, so I am a year round commuter in Boston.

My winter riding is only at a maintainence level though, about 80 miles per week vs variable mileage from about 140 to 200 miles per week from May through October.

Bah Humbug

There are, of course, other ways to avoid getting fat over the winter.

Bob Ross

Trainer? Ppffftt... To paraphrase a BikeForum legend,

"Trainer is for Wussy!"