Winter transition
#26
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Yup. This describes my situation pretty good. Weather is turning cold and rainy. Hard to get motivated to get out and go for a ride. Heck I don't like riding in the rain in the summer, nevermind the winter. Running it is for me too. Although I recently purchased a mountain bike, so maybe I'll get more riding in this season.
#27
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Yup. This describes my situation pretty good. Weather is turning cold and rainy. Hard to get motivated to get out and go for a ride. Heck I don't like riding in the rain in the summer, nevermind the winter. Running it is for me too. Although I recently purchased a mountain bike, so maybe I'll get more riding in this season.
#28
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We are heading into the best riding weather of the year here. I love October! I can enjoy the fall colors and ride in cooler (but not yet cold) temperatures. I do have to shift the time of my rides earlier in the day to get back before dark.
November is fine too with some cool-weather gear. I won't ride with snow or ice on the ground or if it's truly cold out where you don't start to warm up after about 10 minutes of pedaling.
I've never been a runner. This winter, I'm planning to shift my activities indoors and (gasp!) go to the gym. Or sit on my couch and knit and get fat.
November is fine too with some cool-weather gear. I won't ride with snow or ice on the ground or if it's truly cold out where you don't start to warm up after about 10 minutes of pedaling.
I've never been a runner. This winter, I'm planning to shift my activities indoors and (gasp!) go to the gym. Or sit on my couch and knit and get fat.
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It's still pretty warm here in the Midwest, but has cooled down a bit. I know it won't be long, though, before I'll have to give up my morning rides and instead spin on my trainer indoors.
#30
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The answer is a smart trainer used with either BKool, Zwift or another training platform that allows you to ride your bicycle inside.
I use BKool because it allows me to import my rides from Strava so I can ride them again later, and even race myself on those rides using the real ride outside as a ghost.
I use Zwift because I can ride many different routes that have great graphics, and because Zwift usually has more people riding.
I live where it gets too hot in the summer (100 plus) here in the Oregon desert, often too windy to ride (30mph sustained), and in the winter it gets too cold (weeks of temperatures in the teens).
I use BKool because it allows me to import my rides from Strava so I can ride them again later, and even race myself on those rides using the real ride outside as a ghost.
I use Zwift because I can ride many different routes that have great graphics, and because Zwift usually has more people riding.
I live where it gets too hot in the summer (100 plus) here in the Oregon desert, often too windy to ride (30mph sustained), and in the winter it gets too cold (weeks of temperatures in the teens).
#31
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Well, I still ride outside in early November. I try to enjoy those rides because I never know if it will be the last of the year. By middle to late November, the bike heads to the garage.
We do have a cheap stationary bike my husband bought. I hate it. I wonder if I would like my real bike on a trainer better?
We do have a cheap stationary bike my husband bought. I hate it. I wonder if I would like my real bike on a trainer better?
#32
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Well, I still ride outside in early November. I try to enjoy those rides because I never know if it will be the last of the year. By middle to late November, the bike heads to the garage.
We do have a cheap stationary bike my husband bought. I hate it. I wonder if I would like my real bike on a trainer better?
We do have a cheap stationary bike my husband bought. I hate it. I wonder if I would like my real bike on a trainer better?
Indoor cycling is anathema to me because it combines the boredom of stationary activity with the relatively low calorie burning per hour of cycling. Because I can't use the treadmill because of my foot issues, I use the elliptical, which is a much more full-body workout than cycling. Watching movies on my tablet relieves a bit of the tedium.
#33
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It's still 90 degrees here, so no worries yet. But when it does start to cool off, I'll still ride. I bought a trainer last winter and never even took it out of the box, I'd rather bundle up and ride outside than ride in the garage. I also run, year round, but riding is def more fun, even if running is more tolerable in the cold lol Only time I won't ride is if there's ice, then I go trail running.
#34
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Bike commuter here. I welcome the change of seasons. Fall and early Winter are the best seasons in the Washington DC region. The air dries out and crisps up. Really nice for riding.
I start breaking out the lights again in early September for the ride in. My early work hours permit me to ride without lights on the homeward commute. I enjoy the change to longer sleeve clothing. Not so much the heavier gloves and such during what we have as Winter here. It's pretty wimpy, really.
I start breaking out the lights again in early September for the ride in. My early work hours permit me to ride without lights on the homeward commute. I enjoy the change to longer sleeve clothing. Not so much the heavier gloves and such during what we have as Winter here. It's pretty wimpy, really.
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#35
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A Michigander here. The Winter transition is going from riding outside, to Zwifting inside during the winter.
I can deal with mid to low 40's, and then it's inside. No reason to freeze with an option like Zwift.
I can deal with mid to low 40's, and then it's inside. No reason to freeze with an option like Zwift.
#36
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I love winter biking and I am looking forward to another exciting riding season.
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#37
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It's still 90 degrees here, so no worries yet. But when it does start to cool off, I'll still ride. I bought a trainer last winter and never even took it out of the box, I'd rather bundle up and ride outside than ride in the garage. I also run, year round, but riding is def more fun, even if running is more tolerable in the cold lol Only time I won't ride is if there's ice, then I go trail running.
#39
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Got soaked today. Torrential downpour lasted just a few minutes, I'd have 'sat it out' in an underpass if only I'd known.
My coat's seen better days, but it still did well. Drenched thighs and feet, though.
Certainly something to take from today's experience, given that it's only gonna get colder over the coming few months..
My coat's seen better days, but it still did well. Drenched thighs and feet, though.
Certainly something to take from today's experience, given that it's only gonna get colder over the coming few months..
#40
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Why complain about Winter when Fall just began???
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But ... it's spring. Daylight hours are getting longer!
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#42
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You must have mild winters. I don't consider it "running" when the snow is up past my knees. It's far too slow. In order to do that for 10 miles, I'd need a lot of time on my hands. The other option is to run in the roads and if I'm going to do that, I'll need cleated shoes. Then there's the headlights set up to contend with.
It's far easier to just use the bike where all that gear(studded tires, lights, fenders, etc) can be mounted and ready to go.
If you really want a winter workout, you would cross country ski like I do. But again, it sounds like you don't experience real winters like we do here so that's unlikely to be an option. At that point, why even fret about winter or even call it that?
It's far easier to just use the bike where all that gear(studded tires, lights, fenders, etc) can be mounted and ready to go.
If you really want a winter workout, you would cross country ski like I do. But again, it sounds like you don't experience real winters like we do here so that's unlikely to be an option. At that point, why even fret about winter or even call it that?
#43
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Back in my days of Manitoba winters, cross country skiing was my preferred cross-training sport.
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I haven't used my XC skis for over 12 years because I find winter biking to be a lot more interesting. There is nothing more exciting than riding a MTB on snow covered and frozen trails.
#45
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You must have mild winters. I don't consider it "running" when the snow is up past my knees. It's far too slow. In order to do that for 10 miles, I'd need a lot of time on my hands. The other option is to run in the roads and if I'm going to do that, I'll need cleated shoes. Then there's the headlights set up to contend with.
It's far easier to just use the bike where all that gear(studded tires, lights, fenders, etc) can be mounted and ready to go.
If you really want a winter workout, you would cross country ski like I do. But again, it sounds like you don't experience real winters like we do here so that's unlikely to be an option. At that point, why even fret about winter or even call it that?
It's far easier to just use the bike where all that gear(studded tires, lights, fenders, etc) can be mounted and ready to go.
If you really want a winter workout, you would cross country ski like I do. But again, it sounds like you don't experience real winters like we do here so that's unlikely to be an option. At that point, why even fret about winter or even call it that?
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No.
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#47
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All riding, no running for me. Within 10 minutes of starting a run, the knee pain is too intense to continue.
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nine mile skid on a ten mile ride
nine mile skid on a ten mile ride
#48
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I've never had any interest in any sport other than biking. So either biking or nothing (Ha!) And ever since I moved to this dogforsaken state my past love of winter has utterly evaporated. Two years my kids graduate and I leave here never to return. Whether the fam' comes with me or not, I am done with this state.
#49
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I've never had any interest in any sport other than biking. So either biking or nothing (Ha!) And ever since I moved to this dogforsaken state my past love of winter has utterly evaporated. Two years my kids graduate and I leave here never to return. Whether the fam' comes with me or not, I am done with this state.
#50
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Never felt at home here. Learned to hate the never ending winters the very first year. I was told it was a normal length winter. That was the sign I should have left that first year.
Most of us have been in places where the immediate "vibe" compelled us to leave at the earliest opportunity. Well, some years back I finally admitted to myself that I didn't fit in this state's culture or community. I simply don't belong. I never built the kinds of connections I had with people in other states and places. The only rational move is to return to one of the places I flourished. And when you have standing offers for jobs/careers in those places, it's merely a matter of getting your ducks in a row and prepare for your future. Two years is a long time but it won't be that long.
Sometimes, no matter whatcha do, you don't fit in.
Most of us have been in places where the immediate "vibe" compelled us to leave at the earliest opportunity. Well, some years back I finally admitted to myself that I didn't fit in this state's culture or community. I simply don't belong. I never built the kinds of connections I had with people in other states and places. The only rational move is to return to one of the places I flourished. And when you have standing offers for jobs/careers in those places, it's merely a matter of getting your ducks in a row and prepare for your future. Two years is a long time but it won't be that long.
Sometimes, no matter whatcha do, you don't fit in.
Last edited by shrtdstncrdr; 09-29-19 at 11:10 AM.