enroper

So I only have a budget right now of about $150 to spend on either a entry level mag trainer, or winter riding kit. Seems with the trainer I can still "ride" regardless of time of day. If I gear up, i'm limited by time of day ( since I dont have any lights and I live in the country as well ) as well as weather.

What would you do to keep on the bike during the winter?

dnuzzomueller

Many will disagree with me but: Trainer

Beaker

Given your budget - trainer.

BUT

don't expect it to be fun unless you find a way to use it for structured workouts. The unfortunate truth is that to get properly kitted for winter (gloves, warmers, jacket, hat, shoe covers etc) you'll very likely exceed $150.

ILUVUK

Not me. I'd choose the trainer as well. Trainers are not fun, but they're better than nothing when the ground is covered with a foot of snow.

bikerjp

Ideally both. But I don't know that I'd spend money on a low end trainer. Buy a nice one used or maybe get rollers. I hate my trainer (fluid) and would really like to get rollers. Do you have any winter outdoor clothing? Vest? Wind jacket? Gloves? If so, for $150 I'd get some nice tights, toe covers, skull cap, maybe a nice base layer and make due with whatever else you have.

bigbadwullf

Mountain bike!

Biscayne05

I'm choosing the latter. I did it last season when the roads were cleared.

The bad weather just makes you tougher I have better gear this time. I'm still missing a balaclava, padded winter gloves and a dedicated winter shoe. It should set me back $200.

DevinL

I live in Colorado and I gave up on a trainer... I honestly cannot see myself sitting on my porch/room riding for over an hour on a boring ass trainer. I'll be riding my single speed and gritting my teeth thru the winter. I'm also lucky enough to have a 24 hour GYM though so... tough it out or be super bored.

island rider

Biscayne makes it sound like you are in Florida. You really need all that for Florida? Anyway, the only part of that which would really bring you up near $200 is the shoes. I've found that wool socks and shoe covers do the job quite nicely, althought I admit I am considering some winter shoes, if only to simplify the dressing process. (Thereby increasing the likelihood of the ride.)

island rider

The other end of this is the question of when can you ride, and how often per week do you think you will? Remember that there is less daylight. If you work and want to ride during the week, the trainer (or better yet rollers) may be your only option.

Also, you can ride a bike wearing regular winter clothes. Long underwear, ski gloves, scarf... it's not ideal, but certainly possible. On the other hand (and I will be proven wrong on this in about a minute) you can't cobble together a trainer (or better yet rollers) from things you otherwise have on hand at home.

enroper

Yea. I'd like to do it about 45 minutes a day. I had knee surgery this summer and don't want to stop the therapeutic benefits of 'spinning' just cause the eather is changing right as I'm getting back on the bike. On the other hand I still would like to go out on the weekends during those 45+ deg winter days so maybe I can cobble together regular clothes and just get some of those bike 'underwear' with the built in chamois.

Tundra_Man 

If you're like I was 4 years ago, you'll buy a trainer. Then after several mind-numbing hours you'll decide that nothing is worth that torture and you'll buy the winter gear too.

At least I was able to unload my trainer so it wasn't a complete wash.

eofelis 

I live in CO too. I'd rather just ride to work (5 miles) every day all winter instead of riding the trainer. All the money I save in gas can go to buy bike gear. Win Win.

benajah

I would agree with those that said trainer. If you ride during the week, and have a normal hours job, in addition to winter clothes you will need lights...and good lighting systems can be quite expensive. Don't know about you but midwinter its dark when I leave the house in the morning and dark when I get home so riding in the dark is my only option other than the trainer.
For riding on the weekends in the daytime, you can make do without cycling specific clothes, if you have moderately athletic clothes at hand. I only have one pair of nice bib tights, so I quite often ride with run of the mill fleece pants over cycling shorts, and just a normal hiking jacket.

1Echo

Agree 100%!!!

When I saw the title of this thread I immediately thought cold weather gear is the best choice. However, given the budget and riding goals, the torture device is the right choice in this case.

Yo Spiff

Gear. If it gets too darn cold to ride, then I can do some spin classes to maintain some fitness.

Seattle Forrest

If you like riding a bike, it's a pretty easy choice.

Kai Winters

I'd buy the trainer.
You can ride any time, day or night, regardless of temp and weather conditions.
I've ridden a trainer for over 30 years and find they are a great way to maintain fitness and even improve your cycling ability.
Boredom can be a problem but it can be overcome. I listen to podcasts, just like when riding outdoors, watch tv, etc. I use tv shows as a training tool...commercials are for higher intensity...the program is for steady pace...etc. etc. etc.

I've done intervals, climbing simulation, spin work, time trial pace efforts on the trainer.
In the past I've used my heart rate monitor for to achieve the workout I want and manually count cadence to maintain and develop spin suplesse.

Currently I have a couple of old, quite old, magnetic trainers and they work great and are quiet.

I prefer to ride outside as much as possible but when that option is not open the trainer is a great tool.

Drew Eckhardt 

Dress warmer.

If it's not too cold to ski it's not too cold to bike.

Drew Eckhardt 

Daylight is irrelevant. Especially now that we have affordable bright LED lamps.

Seattle Forrest

Correct.

Drag

Ditto. I'll ride outside until it gets too dangerous, dark, or cold. Essentially when it stops being fun.

Jaymadd

Cold weather gear. I live in the North East and was able to ride all winter except for one snow storm.

Bah Humbug

I hate riding in the winter, no matter how bundled up it's never pleasant. Trainer, TrainerRoad, and Netflix.

carpediemracing 

I have the cold weather gear as well as a trainer. I choose the trainer most of the time. In fact I ride the trainer throughout the year.

If your riding is for preparation for something (i.e. you're training to race) then the trainer is great. On the other hand if the riding is the end result then riding the trainer won't be as much fun.

To properly outfit yourself will cost some bucks. You can skimp here and there but you need booties, warm gloves, a jacket of some kind, head/neck cover, and tights. If you can get used stuff, esp a jacket, that'll save a lot of money.