Am I the only cyclist who trains in the Winter darkness ?

[Lard Armstrong]

Most of my clubmates either hibernate or take to the turbo, rollers, or gym in Winter, only coming out for weekend runs.

I enjoy training on the roads in the dark (Buckinghamshire countryside). It's very peaceful, there's little traffic, and pretty safe (I have monster lights, etc). I do have rollers and do the odd spin class too, but I prefer to be outside.

How about you ? How do you get through the Winter ?

 

[HLaB]

Most of my clubmates either hibernate or take to the turbo, rollers, or gym in Winter, only coming out for weekend runs.

I enjoy training on the roads in the dark (Buckinghamshire countryside). It's very peaceful, there's little traffic, and pretty safe (I have monster lights, etc). I do have rollers and do the odd spin class too, but I prefer to be outside.

How about you ? How do you get through the Winter ?

I'm not long back from our club training session, there's usually folk out Mon, Tue & Thu and so far every time I've been, its been reasonable numbers. Although in winter our training sessions are laps (3 mile'ish). My old club done longer rides in the pitch black too. I've got a turbo myself but I prefer to be out also, we've been pretty lucky (touch wood) with the weather the last while.

 

[Broadside]

I do lots of night riding in winter usually about 2 hrs per ride a couple of times a week. When the mornings are a bit darker I will also be doing one or two pre-dawn rides which I always like as I enjoy riding through sunrise.

I don't enjoy riding in darkness so much as daytime but it is exhilarating.

 

[amaferanga]

Steady rides outside in the winter, intervals on the turbo. I commute 20-40 mile round trip every day, but don't really consider it training - its just riding. I do what is most effective for me - no point in trying to be a hero and ride out in all weathers when you can do a more effective training session on the turbo.

 

[Fab Foodie]

I do lots of night riding in winter usually about 2 hrs per ride a couple of times a week. When the mornings are a bit darker I will also be doing one or two pre-dawn rides which I always like as I enjoy riding through sunrise.

I don't enjoy riding in darkness so much as daytime but it is exhilarating.

Similar here, sometimes a Sunday morning genteel Club run.
I've long been a fan of night riding and as good lighting is getting ever cheaper and warm kit gets better then night sessions becomes more and more pleasant.

I agree that gentle outdoor miles and using the Turbo for indoor intervalsare the way to go. Winter miles pay dividends in the spring.

 

[tyred]

I love night riding but the ever increasing amount of potholes in my area can cause issues

 

[fossyant]

I commute all year round and treat it as training. None of this hibernating stuff.

 

[Glover Fan]

I have done night riding, including an all night 100 mile ride to the coast overnight. But to be honest I just don't enjoy it.

Have had a week off after the Dartmoor Devil and I think my training over the winter will consist of a 50-60 mile sunday ride with the local club and running during the week.

It sucks, but until we stay on BST all year round it's the way it has to be.

 

[Fab Foodie]

I love night riding but the ever increasing amount of potholes in my area can cause issues

Fatter/tougher tyres for the winter and big F-off lights required.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Fatter/tougher tyres for the winter and big F-off lights required.

Tyred's retro - he probably has got big F-off lights, it's just they're those 70s Pifco ones that leap off the bracket on the fork if you so much as look at them.

 

[HLaB]

I love night riding but the ever increasing amount of potholes in my area can cause issues

I like what my club does its laps of 3 miles or so which helps, you should know when a pothole is coming up but apparently somebody went down the biggest hole last year

 

[cyberknight]

I commute all year round and treat it as training. None of this hibernating stuff.

Beat me to it

 

[tyred]

Tyred's retro - he probably has got big F-off lights, it's just they're those 70s Pifco ones that leap off the bracket on the fork if you so much as look at them.

Nowt wrong with my Pifco lights.


Now where'd I put my cigarette lighter. I need to check if my headlamp is on...

 

[Banjo]

I am not risking coming off on ice this winter. Had a few lucky escapes last year more by luck than skill. Will ride as much as possible if not freezing temperatures.

 

[User16625]

I do hardly anything coz I really despise just being around bad weather. Cant emphasize enough how much I hate rain, it really irritates me. Snow I love, it causes all sorts of chaos and I have actually cycled in the snow in the past....wasnt that bad either. Cycling in the dark is like making love to susan boyle, you wouldnt unless you absolutely had to.