winter cycling

[HLaB]

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.

I must admit sometimes winds just totally depress me and I stay in the house but on other days I've cycled in gale force winds, go figure I've not got roller just a turbo and like most folk would agree they are boring

 

[Kestevan]

I tend to drop down from 4 or 5 commuting days a week to 3 or 4.

It's far too tempting to get a lift with the missus when theres a howling gale and lashing rain.

Wouldnt want to drop below about 60 miles a week though, far too depressing.

 

[BSRU]

Last winter was my first winter commuting and I wished I started winter commuting before. Only problems I had were cycling in snow, Marathon Winters not too great in snow and my winter boots were not big enough to accommodate more socks. Sorted those problems, MTB with Ice Spikers and bigger winter boots.

 

[Hont]

How much you need to do depends on how much you do in Summer. You should probably resign yourself to losing fitness, though. Short winter days and cold weather can depress the immune system so doing intervals and intense efforts can leave you vulnerable to viruses. Winter is best for endurance rides to maintain your stamina and aim to improve speed come spring. It can be hit and miss with the weather, so if you don't want to be reliant on being lucky when you want to go out, a turbo is a must.

 

[madpensioner]

I must admit sometimes winds just totally depress me and I stay in the house but on other days I've cycled in gale force winds, go figure I've not got roller just a turbo and like most folk would agree they are boring

the way that i handle the turbo is to think what i could be missing on tele - the soaps,a party political broadcast,the adverts - this makes the turbo a must.

 

[madpensioner]

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.

i am 71 years old - when i get on the turbo trainer i think about the life i have led - i find that very interesting - and remember at my age i can not remember what i did ten mins ago - which has got to be an advantage

 

[HLaB]

the way that i handle the turbo is to think what i could be missing on tele - the soaps,a party political broadcast,the adverts - this makes the turbo a must.

Lol, when you put it that way

 

[madpensioner]

How much you need to do depends on how much you do in Summer. You should probably resign yourself to losing fitness, though. Short winter days and cold weather can depress the immune system so doing intervals and intense efforts can leave you vulnerable to viruses. Winter is best for endurance rides to maintain your stamina and aim to improve speed come spring. It can be hit and miss with the weather, so if you don't want to be reliant on being lucky when you want to go out, a turbo is a must.

thank god someone agrees with - you make a very balanced and realistic point

 

[Shrimp_Stu]

i am 71 years old - when i get on the turbo trainer i think about the life i have led - i find that very interesting - and remember at my age i can not remember what i did ten mins ago - which has got to be an advantage

Superb comment....

 

[Matthew_T]

I like to get out as much as possible and will try to aim for 10 miles a day on average (or 15 one day, skip one, then 15 again).
On the turbo I like to do 5 mins hard, 5 soft, 10 hard, and 2/3 soft.

 

[Mugshot]

i am 71 years old - when i get on the turbo trainer i think about the life i have led - i find that very interesting - and remember at my age i can not remember what i did ten mins ago - which has got to be an advantage

I like the idea of that, you could keep going all day and still think you've done no more than 10 mins.

I've set a tv and dvd player up in the shed, I stick a film on when I'm on the turbo, my little girl likes to come and wrap up in a blanket and sit and watch the film with me so I have some company too

 

[Willo]

i am 71 years old - when i get on the turbo trainer i think about the life i have led - i find that very interesting - and remember at my age i can not remember what i did ten mins ago - which has got to be an advantage

If Carlesberg posted on Cycle Chat.........

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

i am 71 years old - when i get on the turbo trainer i think about the life i have led - i find that very interesting - and remember at my age i can not remember what i did ten mins ago - which has got to be an advantage

Hi madpensioner, you won't remember this post by now, but I just wanted to say it made me laugh.

Gavroche, I know that you're in a wet and windy part of the world, but I bet you'll be surprised how much winter cycling you can do without suffering. And when you've made the effort, you can get a real buzz out of it. Oh and shouldn't your sig line read Je pédale, donc je suis....?

 

[JamieRegan]

i am 71 years old - when i get on the turbo trainer i think about the life i have led - i find that very interesting - and remember at my age i can not remember what i did ten mins ago - which has got to be an advantage

This great post highlights the issue that I have with using a turbo, an exercise bike, a treadmill - or anything like that. When you're on it and thinking about the life you've led, I'm sure you never think "Aah, I remember the day I was on the turbo. It was great". You might, however think "Aah, remember the day I went for a cycle in the lashing rain. It was cold, but great".

This things are great for warm-up or recouperation, but as a replacement for getting out there and cycling (or running)? No way.

Remember why you cycle in the first place. It's to enjoy, and overcome, the terrain, the elements and everything that goes with it - good or bad, isn't it?

Cold and rain are the weather equivalents of the uphill grind. The sunny days are the free roll down the other side. In the words of George Michael - "You've gotta get up, to get down".

 

[madpensioner]

This great post highlights the issue that I have with using a turbo, an exercise bike, a treadmill - or anything like that. When you're on it and thinking about the life you've led, I'm sure you never think "Aah, I remember the day I was on the turbo. It was great". You might, however think "Aah, remember the day I went for a cycle in the lashing rain. It was cold, but great".

This things are great for warm-up or recouperation, but as a replacement for getting out there and cycling (or running)? No way.

Remember why you cycle in the first place. It's to enjoy, and overcome, the terrain, the elements and everything that goes with it - good or bad, isn't it?

Cold and rain are the weather equivalents of the uphill grind. The sunny days are the free roll down the other side. In the words of George Michael - "You've gotta get up, to get down".

as ive just said i dont - i dont remember - I go out cycling and sometimes and i forget where i am so i stop for a pint to ask the landlord for my position - and then he byes me a pint - and then its my round - and then its his round - and so on - and i get back on the bike - and i realize this is supposed to be an enjoyable sport - cold is for eskimose - rain is for filling draines - and when im going uphill and it becomes a grind i get off and walk
- winter is for cross training - all the top cyclists chose an alternative sport with minimal cycling - it puts a mental balance on life - sorry ive forgotten what we were talking about - george michael - wasnt he usa president