winter cycling

[gavroche]

what do you think the minimum one should cycle in a week just to stay fit through the winter?
I am talking about people to whom cycling is the only means of keeping fit and never go to a gym.
Would 15 miles a week enough to stay on form? ( weather providing!)

 

[accountantpete]

You ought to be looking at at least 3 short rides a week rather than one 15 miler.

Personally I have a turbo and find that 5 to 10 very short (1 or 2minutes) but intense bursts every day works for me as regards maintaining power and cadence - and then all I need to do come spring is integrate the stamina.

I'd look at some rollers if you want to maintain stamina.

 

[fossyant]

5 days a week minimum ! 20-30 miles each way.

In reality, you need to be out 3 times a week and do some training - i.e. not pootle. If you hammered the 15 miles then it should keep some form. I still do the same miles all year.

Might drop miles slightly if it's very icy/snow as I take the MTB, but still ride 5 days a week.

 

[HLaB]

Cycling is all I do activity wise I try not to set targets though and just go out when I feel like it, sometimes I feel like going out in bad weather other days I feel I can't be bothered Last Christmas I got a turbo and it may be used more on dodgy days. I also like going out with the club because I usually find some other nutter goes out too in bad weather; if left to me alone I'll choose the turbo or sit back and watch tv.

 

[numbnuts]

the same as you did in the summer, but with more clothes on

 

[apollo179]

Wadr 15miles is nothing. You know this just as well as everybody else knows it.
Averaged out at 10 miles a day - 20 miles every couple of days , 35miles twice a week etc etc.
When you consider the forums best cyclists are gonna be doing over 200 miles a week even during winter 70 miles is the bare minimum - and still no guarantee of maintaining full fitness.

 

[Hacienda71]

Wear winter clothes and put some decent guards on the bike (makes a real difference when riding on wet roads) and get out there. Ice is the only thing that stops me although I am not a fan of freezing cold heavy rain but most of the time it isn't raining, just colder. Three rides a week would be best, certainly try to get in more than one. If you can use commuting on the bike as an excuse to ride on a week day.

 

[DCLane]

the same as you did in the summer, but with more clothes on

Wouldn't the same mileage but less clothes on mean more calories burnt keeping warm by pedalling harder?

Not that I'm advocating naked cycling here

 

[2Loose]

Calories burnt does not equal fitness, but then again there is fitness and there is fitness.
I can ride a bike all day, any day but my core strength is almost non-existent and my upper body could do with some work. <sigh>

If you want to to keep your riding legs in condition, then a two or three 10+ mile sessions a week should see things ticking over I would think, depending on what you were doing over the 'summer'.

 

[BSRU]

Wadr 15miles is nothing. You know this just as well as everybody else knows it.
Averaged out at 10 miles a day - 20 miles every couple of days , 35miles twice a week etc etc.
When you consider the forums best cyclists are gonna be doing over 200 miles a week even during winter 70 miles is the bare minimum - and still no guarantee of maintaining full fitness.

There are not many CC's commuting 200 miles a week, that is 40 miles a day .

15 miles per week, should be at least 15 miles per day.

 

[cloggsy]

My commute is 12.8 miles one way. I'm going to try and do that as many times as I can through the winter months and see how I do...

I'm also looking to buy a Tacx Genius Turbo Trainer for the days when riding just won't be possible... However, we'll see how funds are nearer the time

 

[madpensioner]

what do you think the minimum one should cycle in a week just to stay fit through the winter?
I am talking about people to whom cycling is the only means of keeping fit and never go to a gym.
Would 15 miles a week enough to stay on form? ( weather providing!)

I do not go out on winter roads - just look at the winds we are getting - it isnt the head wind or the tail wind - but the cross wind - why not purchase a turbo trainer - they only cost about £100 - they are quite basic and run not to smooth - but neither are the roads in this country - in one hour you can cover 15 miles - if you go on line you can obtain some good turbo training plans - three times per week ( which is enough ) will give you a good solid base for next year.
I do this from the begining of oct to the end of feb - giving me 45 miles per week - from then to the end of sept I do 100 to 160 miles per week
cheers leigh

 

[3tyretrackterry]

i just commute all year round and if the weather is good on days off then a ride out is often just what i need i seem to hold my fitness quite steady not good or not bad

 

[VamP]

I am thinking 100 miles a week is a good minimum, to maintain base fitness. Any less than that, I will be catching up the following week.

 

[fossyant]

I do not go out on winter roads - just look at the winds we are getting - it isnt the head wind or the tail wind - but the cross wind - why not purchase a turbo trainer - they only cost about £100 - they are quite basic and run not to smooth - but neither are the roads in this country - in one hour you can cover 15 miles - if you go on line you can obtain some good turbo training plans - three times per week ( which is enough ) will give you a good solid base for next year.
I do this from the begining of oct to the end of feb - giving me 45 miles per week - from then to the end of sept I do 100 to 160 miles per week
cheers leigh

Winds aren't a problem - it's not been anywhere windy enough to stop me. I am surprised you don't go stir crazy on a turbo over winter. I've got rollers and a turbo that I don't use. Only use them if I've got an injury that stops me cycling - aka newly operated on shoulder, but even then I was out on the bike within 2 weeks.