What do you do to keep in shape for riding. I just started riding a few weeks ago and I can see I need to exercise to get in shape. It's still summer but I'm thinking of getting some simple exercise equipment to stay in shape for the cold months when I don't ride as much and during the week in the worm months when I can't ride. I am a weekend rider because my week is busy. I am working on developing a stretching and exercise routine. I am think of equipment as simple as a step aerobics step, a mini stepper like this https://www.target.com/p/pure-fitness...new_vertical_1 and a few small inexpensive things. It's mainly for my legs and knees. I need to build them up and keep them in shape. I walk a lot at work but I need more of a work-out. I have a "Gold's Gym" doorway chin-up bar that I can use for other exercises.

Riding. In winter, when I can't get out, I use my road bike on a set of rollers, and spend about 1 hr./week in the gym with weights. But the best exercise for getting in shape for biking is biking. Rollers with resistance are the bomb.

I figured that might be one of the first replies. I was looking at bike trainers right after I started this thread and I figured I had at least partially answered my own question.

I too ride to get in shape for riding.

This Autumn and Winter I plan on using my trainer (bought it last winter - it collected more dust than anything else), signing up at a gym and taking their spin classes.

Unfortunately I lost all of my fitness last year over winter (because I wasn't cycling!)

I second or third riding year round.

1. Ride outside whenever possible.

2. Ride bicycle on trainer.

3. Join spinning class ... a good class once or twice a week can be a great workout.

4. Riding spinning bicycle at gym.


Mixing it up a bit with winter sports, walking/jogging, weightlifting, etc. helps too.

With all the options out there, I still like, and use regularly, a good old fashioned Schwinn Airdyne ....we're talking real steel :-)

I made the mistake of not riding one winter. Never again! Well, as long as I can still turn the cranks.

Re-arrange your life so you can ride during the week.

Get warm clothes and fenders.

I work full time and can only ride on weekends so I rely on spin classes twice a week. I went from taking classes to teaching them because if I'm the teacher then I have to show up and can't roll over and go back to sleep.

I also work with a personal trainer once a week. She varies my workouts so I'm never bored and she designs the entire workout so I don't have think about what I'm going to do; I just show up and do what she tells me to.