40 is nearly shorts and T shirt weather after a Michigan winter. Either a trainer or winter gear and tough it out. Riding outside in the winter builds up the strength of one's immune system, imo . Riding a trainer can be about 50% harder than over the road. Not much adjusting, shifting, or momentary breaks. Just the same old power generating position mile after mile .... going no where. Put a positive spin on it, turn the fan on and pretend you are riding into the wind.

H.T.F.U. will be starting it's winter class session in a few weeks, successful graduates have gone on to be able to ride in temperatures below 50 F without making whining sounds.



Students are responsible to cover their airfare and accommodations as well as class fees, and provide adequate gear.

Bwahahaha.

I vote for cold weather gear. The only cycling specific stuff you need is: 1) booties or toe covers and 2) and under helmet skull cap. Other than that you can wear non-cycling (and thus cheaper) tights over bibs; wool sweaters over jerseys; and ski gloves. You'll look like a Fred, but who cares? You're out riding in the fresh air while everyone else is stuck in a basement on a trainer.

I have winter gear, a trainer, and health club membership. I ride if it's above 32F and the roads are reasonably clear of snow. I go to the gym and do a spin class and weights when I can't ride for whatever reason. I virtually never get on the trainer, despite having a full-time bike to set up on it. It takes more motivation than I typically have in the winter.

I live in Utah, which has cold winters and a lot of snow because of the elevation. When it gets down below 0 I just can't get myself to go out, but the rest of the time I ride to work. I wholeheartedly recommend it. For me it started out as a way to save some money and it turned into a passion. I like to think that I'm extending my life by 10+ years.

Eventually I sold my car, and we're a one-car family. I ride every day to and from work and don't regret it. By the way, I paid for my bike and all the cold weather gear I bought in the first year (just from savings from insurance and gas).

That's because a 1-2 hr ride is short and a 5 hr trainer ride is not.

More than 5 hrs on a trainer is tough. I should know as I've done it. Once.

More than 5 hours on a trainer, spread out over a lifetime, is too much.

Ugh. There's no way I could manage 5 hours on a trainer. 60' is a struggle for me.

I used to think rides more than 30-45 minutes were unbearable on the trainer. At some point I started focusing on what I was feeling - much of the time, especially when I'm going hard, I have my eyes closed. I listen to music and think about contact points, form, etc. Suddenly my tolerance for long rides went up a lot.

Without loud music pushing me I find it difficult to ride hard. Movies/clips let me ride a while but I can't ride hard when I'm distracted like that. To wit - my last ride on the trainer I did 125w, 125bpm, mid 80s rpm. A hard ride for me might be 145w, 145bpm, 90-ish rpm.

+1

I can't even imagine 5 hours straight on a trainer. And I rode the trainer at least 4 days per week all last winter while I was getting back into shape.

To the OP - I vote for the winter clothes (and lights and fenders).

Trainer AND winter gear. Get outside when you,can, grin indoors at other times. get some Sufferfest videos for the trainer. They'll work you harder than any spin class.

I used to ride my trainer a lot (I even liked it), but last year I used it zero times. Same goes for this year.

If you're going to use a trainer, I recommend using workout DVD's or at least a structured workout. From looking at numbers from different rides, I can tell you I worked a lot harder when I was using a training DVD. The 5 1/2 hr ride was actually a simulated century on a trainer. Having done more centuries than I can keep track of including many in the mountains, I can say that the one on the trainer was one of the most physically punishing rides I've done of that length -- I could barely stand when it was over. But I can say for an interval set as well. In general, I find riding on a trainer is harder work than riding in the real world.

The nice thing about trainers is that since the environment is controlled. You never have to worry about hypothermia, getting delayed by mechanical, having to fight headwinds or other stuff. As a result, you don't have to hold anything back.

And there go all my excuses.

I do agree if you have the discipline to do structured workouts, a trainer can be a very efficient tool. Unfortunately I just don't have that discipline; I'm doing this for fun . I think this winter I'll try riding outside (it rarely gets below freezing here) on a regular basis.

Somehow I went from despising the trainer and avoiding it all costs, to not minding it a few years ago. I would do 2 hour rides no problem, and an occasional 3 hour ride. Nothing structured most of the time. I downloaded stage races, and each stage is often 2-3 hours, so it worked out well. Just listening to music does not work for me. Sometimes I play techno type music with a good beat on low volume, and watch racing at the same time. I just use a regular 3 speed fan on a table.

I also got pretty adjusted to riding in the cold. Good clothing and layers is key. Does not have to be expensive though.

I'm sure there are tons of clothing threads in the "Winter Forum".

I can't help but yank a few chains when folks from the south start talking about how hard winter riding is but do understand that everything is relative.

I can deal with -40 weather here (cold and dry) but put me in Portland in the winter when it is perpetually cold and damp and I freeze my ass off... I will wear almost the same gear there as I do here.

Put me out in the hot sun and I will burst into flames unless you cover me with SPF 25000.

Ironically I called it a night after 35 minutes tonight. The Missus was wondering why I stopped. "Not feeling it tonight."

Junior (18 months old) had woken up, shaking/quivering, crying, really upset, seemed scared of everything. Although he went back to sleep it was pretty disturbing. I got back on the bike, did about 5 minutes, then stopped. I no longer feel like riding the trainer tonight.

New Mexico "winters"? lol.

Ride outside. Your "winters" are very tolerable.

Ever heard of the Rockies? Visit Northern New Mexico in October-March and see if it feels like winter to ya...

average annual snowfall

average annual temps

average december temps

It would feel balmy to me.

Edmonton Weather

We stay frozen for 4 months of the year, seeing -40 on the thermometer is never much of a shock, and it can get colder than that.

I ride all winter.

I went there to visit my sister for a week in winter once, and I remember that even when the roads were clear of snow, there was still a layer of ice that must have been three inches thick. It felt like I was driving on a dirt road full of potholes.

Doesn't look much worse than here. Normally damp and windy here in the winter too. I hate riding when its cold but this winter I fear I'm going to have to get out if I'm going to be in any kind of shape in the spring given how much I've been off the bike. Hands and toes are my biggest weakness but I've never had real winter gear before. Time for some shoe covers and real gloves.

A little while ago, there was a thread about how cycling is the toughest sport in the world and the people who do it are the ultimate bad asses. But most cyclists think they can't go outside if the temperature drops below 40 F.

I'll ride all day long in 110+ temps. Been out in 118 before. No problems at all. Sub 45 and I'm cold and want to be at home. I'll completely own up to hating cold weather. Didn't bother me when I was 230lbs. Now at 160lbs it bothers me.