oldroadie48

Ok. How do you guys train when the weather outside is just too bad to ride? Do you use trainers? Exercise bike? I just don't like the idea of switching out the back wheel with a training tire on it each time I want to ride the trainer. Any ideas for bad weather training would be appreciated.

Machka 

Pretty much the same answer I had to the thread you started last year ...

https://www.bikeforums.net/training-n...l#post17167752

I have expanded on my comments in that thread a little bit ...

1) Keep riding outside with lights and reflective gear. Commute if possible. I used to use a mtn bike for this because I felt more comfortable riding through snowy patches with it.

2) Plan to get out for long rides both days of every weekend + any holidays. Again, on my mtn bike.

3) Join a gym that offers spinning classes. Take a spinning class 1-2 days each week. Make an evening of it, and go for a jog on the treadmill after, then lift some weights. If you have weights at home, winter is a great time to focus on building upper body and core strength.

4) If it snows where you are, get cross-country skis and snowshoes. On weekend days that are too cold and snowy for the bicycle, go skiing or snowshoeing.

5) Walk at lunch. Pick the warmest, brightest time of day and go for a brisk 30-60 min walk.

6) Pick a couple days each week and do commercial intervals on your trainer. That's where you select a 30-60 min show on TV ... something you enjoy watching. Ride easy during the intro of the show, then ride as hard as you can through the commercial, ride easy through the show, ride hard through the next commercial. 30-60 min will pass in no time. I have a road bicycle on my trainer which remains on my trainer. I rarely ride it outside anymore, so there's no changing tires or moving it on and off the trainer or anything.

7) Take your 2+ week holiday at some point during the winter, travel to a warmer climate, ride every day.


I'll also add that one of the things I've started doing regularly is stair climbing ... a minimum of 25 flights a day 5 days a week. That seems to have helped build up my leg strength.

oldroadie48

Thank you. I forgot about the thread from last year. Good suggestions.

2manybikes

I have a mountain bike that always has wide studded tires on it. I ride all winter, about twice a week. Snow is fun, and so is ice with tire studs. I have two nice trainers, I never use them. I prefer being outside. With proper clothing I'm not cold. I ride down to about 15-20 degrees.

oldroadie48

Thank you for the reply. Last year I road in 30-35 degree and man it was cold. My old body gets cold fast. I definitely like the road better than a trainer but I don't want to get sick and miss several days to possibly several weeks.

Carbonfiberboy 

I'm a big proponent of riding resistance rollers when the weather is inclement. I put a couple thousand miles on my set every year. I've had them for almost 20 years. One uses one's road bike, same wheels, same tires, no skewer issues, etc. Plus it improves your riding skills, which a trainer does not. Not as boring, either.

kevmk81

trainer mostly due to loss of daylight, and i get tired of layering a ton of clothes & keeping them all washed. I really don't mind using it as much as others do, in fact, I use it even when the weather is nice. It's nice to be able to listen to music, or watch a movie & ride at the same time. Makes the time go by quickly. That being said, I usually always try to ride outside in the winter on the weekends as long as the roads aren't filled with snow and/or ice. I also ride to work, and will usually take the long way home, even when it's sub zero... but again, as long as the roads aren't filled with snow and/or ice. I do have a hybrid with studded tires though, but won't 'train' with that bike, just commute... and will hop on the trainer when I get home.

superdex

Cold and dry -- get outside. My routine puts my rides around lunchtime, so even with short days I can get out if the roads are dry. If you get cold, take stock of your cold weather gear. May take a few rides where you're an inferno from over-dressing, but take the time to find what works. For example, here today it's partly cloudy and in the low-mid 40s F. I wore full tights, winter jacket, cap w/ ear flap, wool socks, and windstopper gloves.

Cold and wet -- Trainer/rollers. I'm a huge thesufferfest.com fan. Great workouts. I don't bother with the trainer tire; I do have a BikesDirect single-speed I use instead. (shrug)

I'm guessing in Waco you can get outside more often than not (from what I remember living in Dallas), if it were me I'd accept the additional wear on the tire(s) just to be getting some work in.

I also relax my perspective on how often I need to ride. Especially with the Holidays and all.