jnbrown

Typically we do more riding in the spring / summer / fall than winter for obvious reasons.

Because both myself and my wife work full time, it is hard to find time to ride any time of the year.
We normally ride Saturdays and then one or two times a week after work which sucks because it gets dark, cold and we get home late and eat dinner around 9 pm.
I ride one or two days during the week at lunch about 30 miles, but my wife can't do that.
She has every other Monday off so I have arranged to take half a day off on those days so we can ride during the day a decent distance.
I am 58 and she is 60. I feel her fitness really drops during the winter because we are only riding one or two days a week and I feel like life is passing us by.
One option is for her to retire, but that would be a financial difficulty for us.
Another option would be to find a cheap used tandem and set it up on a trainer and maybe ride an hour after work a few days a week to maintain some fitness level.
Its been decades since i have rode on trainer and its soooo boring, but maybe better than nothing.
When we go on vacations we are able ride more and I see how her fitness level improves but then it doesn't last long.
Any thoughts?

zonatandem

Solved winter issues by moving to southern Arizona in 1978.
However we used to tandem in Michigan for years if it was 20 degrees out and dry.

chris ss

We'll ride when the roads are dry + relatively clean, and when the temp is above like 40*, but that's very hit-or-miss here. We also put 2 old singles on trainers in the basement, and found a big old tube TV for $25. We run a computer/youtube or ROKU/Netflix into the TV. Old cartoons or music concerts are favorites. Having the screen beats just pedalling down there but it's still pretty confining + doesn't help with the 'cabin fever' problem.

I don't know where you're located, but we also make a point of getting out to ice skating at rinks, and XC and downhill skiing, to get some variety in life and still keep the bones moving. Skating + skiing use similar muscle groups.

jnbrown

We live in SoCal and used to warmer temps.
So I might sound pretty whimpy when I say we don't like to ride when it gets below 50, I don't see how 20 is even possible.
When it is dark and cold then my wife really doesn't want to ride. Somehow its not as bad when it is 50 and sunny compared to riding at night.
This weekend its supposed to be 90 on the coast so we will starting early before 8am. We are a long way from snow or ice. I used to enjoy skating at indoor ice rinks as a kid. We used to ski both downhill and XC but it has become too expensive and its a long drive to the nearest ski area so at most we would ski a couple weeks a year.

DubT

We use this: RACERMATE | CompuTrainer along with these videos: ErgVideo? Virtual Reality Cycling. Indoor Cycling Videos for Power-based training for cyclists and triathletes

We rode over 1800 miles on this last winter and were in very good shape for spring. With the Ergvideos indoor training is very realistic and not boring.

Here is a picture of our indoor setup:

jnbrown

How long do you ride each session? Is there any concern about putting your Calfee on the trainer as far as stressing the frame?
I was thinking of buying a cheap tandem for that but it would be nice not to spend money on it and have the same setup on the trainer.
Is the trainer pretty quiet? How did you decide on that trainer, I went to their web site and it costs $1629, anything cheaper that would be suitable for a tandem?

Found this one which is approved for tandem use:

https://kurtkinetic.com/products/kin...machine-smart/

colotandem

We have taken a different approach to winter training.

DubT

1. No concern with putting the Calfee on the trainer. Before doing it I touched base with Michael Moore at Calfee and he did not see a problem.

2. The trainer is very quiet.

3. I had a very early Computrainer that used a Nintendo game machine as the interface and he lasted something like 20 years. It quit working so I upgraded to the new model. I sent the old unit back to them and they were actually able to repair it, I sold it on ebay. I was able to use the original stand as it has not changed.

4. The interface with the Ergvideos is what makes it desirable and very realistic.

5. We will ride from 1 to 1 1/2 hours at a given session.

6 There are a couple of other units that will work with the Ergvideos.

Here is a quote from the Ergvideo website:

jnbrown

Very Cool!

oldacura

Wow! To own a tandem fatbike you would really have to have a bike problem. We have 8 bikes between us & don't even own a single fatbike. Looks like a real hoot after a fresh, dry snow.

colotandem

I think this is true. But we ride them all!

DrMarkR

jnbrown

I am wondering if our rear tire will wear out riding on the the trainer say 3 hours per week and if we will need a "trainer tire".
Id hate to have to be consonantly changing the tire.

DubT

I use a different wheel on the trainer.

jnbrown

I knew that was coming.

How about standing? Is it possible or too much stress on the bike?

DubT

Standing is not recommended. I do however stand occasionally but when I do I make sure that I am very smooth. Stoker does not stand.

drstimpy

We had mountain biking and crosstraining in to our regime in the winter to keep from getting bored

Carbonfiberboy 

I don't understand why a team would want to ride a tandem on the trainer. Winter is a perfect time to ride singles on trainers or rollers. I ride my rollers while my wife rides her trainer, but it would be even better if we both rode rollers. Winter is a great time for each team member to work on their individual pedaling technique, VT1, and various intervals.

We try to do:
Sunday we do a group ride on our tandem every week unless it's icy, maybe 3 hours saddle time in winter. We ride hard.
Monday we snowshoe or hike or similar depending on weather, probably 1-2 hours.
Tuesday we ride inside for 30-60 minutes and then lift at the gym for ~an hour, upper body.
Wednesday my wife has an hour dressage lesson while I do an hour on the rollers.
Thursday we repeat Tuesday with legs and back at the gym.
Friday we usually do 1/2 hour on the Stepmill at the gym.
Saturday off to rest for the Sunday ride.
If the snow is decent, I might scrap the bike and gym one day and go skiing, but my wife will usually do her workout on her own.

That's probably 8 hours on a good week. We don't always get everything done. Life happens.

The object of our winter training is to stay fairly fit, put in a little base time, gain some muscle, lose some fat. When it's time to pick up the pace in February, we're ready.

We know a number of people who say, "Oh, we'll come out and ride with you in the spring when the weather's better." The problem with that is that by the time the weather turns better, the group is upping the mileage and pace and those who haven't ridden with us all winter are off the back and aren't having any fun. We do the group ride religiously because that pressure is what forces us to train during the week. If we don't, we can't keep up.

DubT

We ride the trainer because we can and because my wife does not ride a single bike. I hate rollers and there is absolutely no way she would ride them!

On our Computrainer with the Ergvideos we have ridden in Spain, Italy, France, Virginia and Canada. We can choose what kind of ride we want to ride and ride that ride in the comfort of our climate controlled garage. If we have a GPS file of a ride I can load it on the unit and ride it. We rode the SW tandem rally this spring and preroad the ride on the trainer. When we arrived in the Texas hill country we were confident that we could ride everything that they threw at us.

If the temperature is above 40 and the roads are clear we will ride outside, that did not happen much this year. We rode 1800 miles indoors in the first 3 months of 2015.

So that is why we ride a trainer. Riding our trainer is not boring!

jnbrown

My wife and I are, lets just say getting older, 58 and 60.
My wife occasionally goes to the gym but not enough to get much benefit. She also was doing some Zumba which i think is great for her but stopped because she didn't like the teacher.
We live a long a way from any snow (San Diego) but used to do some skiing both DH and XC.
Also going to the gym is problematic especially in winter because there are a lot of sick people there.
I used to do some running, actually a lot and would run 2 - 3 days a week but can't do that and cycling now.
I think the best way to stay in shape for is cycling is, you probably guessed it, cycling. Especially if you have limited time like we do.
I don't want to buy two trainers and since my wife is so used to riding the tandem I think it would be more motivating for her if we were riding it on the trainer vs singles.
I am the one who plans all our rides, she follows along and isn't motivated to go riding on her own.
I don't have too much of a problem riding after work even in the dark and cold with the proper clothes and lighting, but my wife really finds it difficult.
I realize it isn't as much fun as riding on a sunny day.

gracehowler

JNBrown, don't let CF read your post, I think they laugh at older!
We used to put tandem on trainer but I also think separate training is better. I put my single on the trainer and wife rides a spin bike.
We don't stay "in shape", but it sure is better than totally stopping for the winter. You are correct, "I think the best way to stay in shape for is cycling is, you probably guessed it, cycling."
R&J

LastKraftWagen

My preferred winter/can't find a pilot trainer is the Wahoo Kicker, but it doesn't support the 145mm dropout (it is a wheel off design so no tire wear). Prefer it over the Computrainer simply because it is blind accessible, but I can also download GPX files to ride or program my own sessions.

Have you checked into a local spinning class? Usually a little more motivating than grinding away in the typical trainer [social aspect], usually about an hour a couple times a week [but intended to be higher intensity than your normal 3-4 hour ride].

San Diego? Isn't Mt Baldy close? And they do blow snow at that ski hill in the San Bernadino National Forest [the turn off to the hill is off I15 before you get to the top of Cajone Pass/Victorville]. Snowshoeing uphill works a lot of the same cycling muscles.

As for the tandem in a trainer... Even if it is "tandem rated," that's a lot of lever on a small connecting point; you have t be smooth, make sure your QR [if you are so equipped] is suitable for the trainer your using, and I personally wouldn't stand [again you have to be really smooth... LOOONG lever]. And for the price of one of those fancy CompuTrainer/Wahoo KICKR things you could easily pick up a couple of CraigsList bikes and single trainers and a few inspirational DVDs/CDs.

Rear tire wear- I always save those tires I no longer feel comfortable running on the road and "run them 'til the explode" on my fluid resistance trainer... I find great satisfaction in these blowouts and a generally positive feeling in knowing I got the very last inch of rotation out of a tire carcass.

My $0.03
[Hey, I'm saving for my dream build ]

jnbrown

Both my wife and myself have tried spin class at the gym and we both HATE it. There is also the issue of sick people there, best place to go if you want to get exposed to viruses.
To me this is not cycling. Yes there are ski areas 2-3 hours aways, Big Bear, Mountain High, Mt Baldy, San Jacinto for XC skiing but its a lot a driving, very expensive and the snow is very poor. The closest descent skiing is Mammoth Mtn and its 6 - 7 hour drive and very expensive for both lodging and lift tickets. We don't ski enough to ever get better at it and have to start over each winter.
The Kurt Kinetic trainer is rated for tandem use and does't cost a whole lot. I just think both of us would be more motivated and have more fun riding the tandem so why not ride it? I think if she rode her single she would last 15 minutes and be done.

Mayonnaise

Hold on a second, you live in San Diego and are complaining about it being dark and cold and you can't ride and you're considering a trainer? It's Winter, days are shorter, temps are cooler, adapt brother, adapt. Get some lights, find a safe road, buy some Assos clothing, don't let anything stop you. Some of my most brilliant rides have occurred when the conditions create a good amount of tension: find a way to embrace, love and rise above it. Who cares if you get home late on your riding days, that's half the fun. Break your routine, do something different, shatter boredom. You said it first: life is passing you by. Eat a late lunch and a light dinner. Get out there and ride.

One bit of advice you're probably not thinking about: for your Winter rides, pick up the pace a bit, make them more peppy, get that heart rate up and keep it up. You're going to be spending less time on the bike so make the minutes count. Get a copy of Fast After 50 for more details.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhGqugHuAyQ

akexpress 

We ride year round here in Alaska. We both have fat tire singles and built a fat tire tandem last winter (like Colotandem). I commute to work on a studded tire fat bike down to 0 degrees you just have to dress properly. We don't necessarily get fitter in the winter just try to maintain. We also do some trainer work on Elite brand trainers that are computer controlled with many downloadable rides on a big screen tv in front of trainers, not our favorite but sometimes the only way to get a ride in. Age is a number I'm a young 61 and we try our best to keep up with the youngsters on big rides and occasionally surprise them when we can hang. San Diego in the winter would be like summer riding here as far as temps are concerned.