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Am I the only one who does not ride in the winter?

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Am I the only one who does not ride in the winter?

Old 02-23-16, 12:43 PM
  #1  
Cycle Babble
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Am I the only one who does not ride in the winter?

Does everyone else ride in the winter?

I tend to be a fair weather fan, but noticed that a lot of you like to ride year round. I understand that California, Florida, or some in between residents have the luxury to ride year around, but us northern folks have a tough go of it from December to about April. During those months I have a workout plan in the gym that carry me through until the seasonal riding months start again.

During the winter months I tend to go to the gym three days a week. Day 1 is an hour on the arch trainer working the legs/thighs.
Day two is an hour on the elliptical trainer. Day three is an hour in a body pump class.

In march I will add a day in the spin class.

For those who do not ride in the winter, do you have a workout schedule to get you ready for spring?

What works best for you?

Thanks,
John S
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Old 02-23-16, 01:17 PM
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Nope.
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Old 02-23-16, 01:35 PM
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There are people who dont read this forum at all, too.
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Old 02-23-16, 01:35 PM
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If there's a decent day in the winter, especially if I am with friends, I will ride. Usually it's a rail-trail ride. But, generally, winter is my gym and down time season. My winter gear lasts a long, long time.
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Old 02-23-16, 01:47 PM
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I do not ride in the winter at all . To get myself in shape for the coming year I would run 3 times a week outdoor .
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Old 02-23-16, 02:06 PM
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I haven't gone on a real 'winter' ride this year, or last. Such is life.
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Old 02-23-16, 02:11 PM
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If it isn't 60 or better, it isn't pleasant for me. If it isn't pleasant, I don't do it. Riding a bike is not my job.
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Old 02-23-16, 02:17 PM
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I don't, don't work out either. I did notice I've lost some stamina going out on some of these nice days. For the next month or 2 I plan to stay on the RT or roads until the mud firms up. I ride because I like it so I'm not training for anything.
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Old 02-23-16, 02:23 PM
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I live in the Land Without Winter, so there hasn't been a day I've stayed off the bike purely because of the weather.

Summer, on the other hand... some days, if I'm not on the bike by 6am, there's no point. It will be in the mid 90s by 7am and over 100 by 10am. That's not about discomfort, that's about "today might kill me."
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Old 02-23-16, 02:26 PM
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below 40F I don't ride, spin class keeps me in shape for the upcoming season, that and TM running, hiking, lifting weights, occasional will go for a run out doors.... Also do yoga in the winter, not so much in summer.
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Old 02-23-16, 02:45 PM
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This is only my first winter for snowriding. I'm sold on it. Last winter I was in the gym with a powerlifting workout and maybe on the trainer once a week. Did not help my cycling condition one little bit. So, I junked that and started riding the mountain bike on our streets and hills. Snow is fun.
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Old 02-23-16, 02:48 PM
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I don't ride if the bike lane is obstructed by plowed snow. This week the snow levels subsided to such lows that I resumed my work commuting. I am in Maine. This mornings ride temperatures hovered around 15 degrees fahrenheit 8-)
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Old 02-23-16, 03:04 PM
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28 miles on Valentine's Day with high about 14 F and wind chill about -10 F!

https://ridewithgps.com/trips/7854430
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Old 02-23-16, 03:14 PM
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I spend the winter in the gym, riding the stationary bikes, lifting weights, climbing stairs, running, and swimming. I find that outdoor running is much easier than riding the bike in the winter. Dodging the puddles is easier on foot, and the wind bites less at running speeds than at cycling speeds. Plus, there's much less gear to clean.
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Old 02-23-16, 03:17 PM
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My limit is high 40s. Road condition is also a factor. This past weekend it was 63* but there's a lot of deep potholes, sand and branches on the roads. So i'm on the MTB more than the road bike.
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Old 02-23-16, 03:22 PM
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My weather limits for commuting are at least 38 degrees in the early am when I am heading out, and nothing frozen on the ground. Sometimes in the Spring this is frustrating because there will be an otherwise nice day, but heaps of snow piled up by plowing that have not melted yet.

Weather not permitting, I keep my tri bike on a trainer stand. Also have one of my wife's bikes and at least one kid bike on trainers too, in the play room, with cheap disco lights from Amazon and praise music blasting we have our own family spin class. Also I swim pretty much year round, which is good cardio, but doesn't help the bike legs much.
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Old 02-23-16, 03:27 PM
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Cold weather = not fun to ride = I don't ride, especially if there's crud or ice on the roads.

But this winter has been so freaky that I rode several times in December, and then again in both January (once) and February (twice). It would have been three times for February, but distressingly I had a prior commitment for this past Saturday, when the temperature climbed up about 10C/50F for a large part of the day. I got out briefly on the Sunday instead.

Most un-Canadian, this weather. I like it.
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Old 02-23-16, 03:44 PM
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I've been riding this winter, but then this has been an easy one, not sure what I will do for a normal winter.
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Old 02-23-16, 03:52 PM
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I finally broke down and bought a fat bike in December and have had a great time riding the trails and streets this winter. This is my first attempt at winter riding. It helped that this is an El Nino year but I still went out at -20 C/-5F if the wind wasn't too strong. I find that there is a bit more effort required with the fat tires but I know that when spring finally gets here I won't need a break in period for my butt or legs. It just takes a bit longer to get dressed before going out. For the record I turn 70 next month and I am no way a hard core cyclist.
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Old 02-23-16, 04:18 PM
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I started riding in the winter 66 years ago. It seems more normal than driving in the winter, which runs the risk of being stuck and rots out your car.
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Old 02-23-16, 05:23 PM
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In Florida things are inverted. Winter is a great time to ride. nice and cool if a bit windy.
It's summer, with the heat and gawdawful humidity that crimps my style.
I ride at night pretty much from May to October, but during July and August there is NO time when it isn't beastly out there for riding.
We do what we can, when we can.
Summer finds me spending more hours in the gym
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Old 02-23-16, 05:27 PM
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I snowride because dad never let me do it when I was a boy.
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Old 02-23-16, 05:33 PM
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I usually run 3 miles every day in the winter. I think I tore my meniscus last May, though, so I am doing brisk, one-hour walks with an ace bandage on that knee. I'm going to start getting back in on the dumbells.
The reason I don't ride in the winter is because I don't enjoy it, and I ride for enjoyment (soaking in the ambience of summer), not primarily for training or fitness. (In response to winter up-north, I was actually looking at homes in Elizabeth City, N.C. today).
It sounds like you have a good system down. (As long as we lay off the Yo-Ho's, we should be fine come May or June).
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Old 02-23-16, 05:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Boudicca
Cold weather = not fun to ride = I don't ride, especially if there's crud or ice on the roads.

But this winter has been so freaky that I rode several times in December, and then again in both January (once) and February (twice). It would have been three times for February, but distressingly I had a prior commitment for this past Saturday, when the temperature climbed up about 10C/50F for a large part of the day. I got out briefly on the Sunday instead.

Most un-Canadian, this weather. I like it.
It looks like your weather in Toronto is pretty similar to here, in Erie, PA (which I'm still not familiar with). It was unusually nice through most of December, so I was out riding in it, but January & February were pretty much un-ride-able. There were a few days though, when it got up around freezing (32F), and it felt like 50, so I rode. It sure burns your lungs, but in a good way, making them stronger. I'm gonna feel like Superman, once Spring arrives.
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Old 02-23-16, 07:04 PM
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We haven't had a real winter here in north central Texas this year -- yet. Warmest winter I can remember in years. I was planning to try riding in snow but we haven't had any.

I have clothes warm enough for very cold dry weather, same stuff I wore for my motorcycle that was comfortable a highway speed down into the 20s (with wind chill much colder). And some bicycle-specific clothing for chilly rides down to the 30s.

My main concern wouldn't be the cold but the cleanup mess. I'm in a apartment and keep my bike in the living room. The few times I've encountered rain or some mud I always washed the bike outside first. Easy in warm or cool weather. Not sure I'd enjoy that in freezing weather to avoid tracking mud indoors. Cleanup would discourage me more than riding in the cold.
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