Equinox

I am very happy with my improvement this year and I don't want to lose too much of it over the winter. I've taken spinning classes which I sort of liked. I didn't really care for going to the gym and I didn't always like the music selections or the instructors. The workout was generally decent. I have a trainer but I don't like it at all. How are rollers? Can you simulate hills and practice out-of-saddle form? I was sort of planning to get a spinning bike for the basement. I'd appreciate your advice. BTW, I ride outside in the winter if at all possible.

sbornia

As you may have already noticed, spinning classes led by cyclists -- as opposed to energizer-bunny aerobics instructors -- are very good. No substitute for real rides, but definitely a good way to keep your form up. In fact, they can even help you develop a smoother pedal stroke.

tcoop25

Nashbar Trainer for $230. Take your bike in front of a TV and pedal away. I have tested the Nashbar trainer and it has a lot of features for such a low price point. Here is the link.

derath

I ride in the cold.

Swim

-D

Biggziff

swim..it makes you strong..

Biggziff

For just a few dollars more you can get the Cycleops fluid2

Equinox

I've always sucked at swimming. How are Rollers?

bradb044

I have always found spin classes helpful. But better than spin classes is strapping on a HRM and an I-pod and jumping on a spin bike when class is not in session. You can tailor your workout to what you want to do and really control your heart rate and watt output. I will go light one song, headwind into one song, hard climb into one song(rotate sitting and standing climb) then go light. `I try to keep a constant quick tempo. This seems to work for me. I can simulate around a hard 20 mile ride in 55 minutes from a calorie standpoint.

Best of all you don't have to put up with up, down, up , down, up ............

johnny99

Indoor bicycling is really really boring. Move to California. In the coastal areas, daytime temperatures are never below freezing and summers aren't really hot either. You will never regret it.

Lucky07

Buy cold weather gear and ride. Do core excercises. Catch up with your husband, wife, boyfriend or girlfriend.

bradb044

Must be nice. We can ride all but Dec - Feb but summers are a beech. today it was 106 with 80% humidity. Makes for a wet ride.

woodcycl

Indoor cycling on trainer or rollers for most folks, and especialliy ME, is SO boring!!! However, I found that there is nothing as good as cycling. So, I mix it up between rollers, outdoor riding (when feasible) and walking. Just picked up a new set of Kreitler Rollers with Blower Resistance ... should be a LOT better than my old Tacx Ecotrak rollers. Look forward to being bored on the Kreitlers now ... waiting for Spring.

Psimet2001 

First off...shame on you for bringing up winter so early!

I could NEVER get myself to really ride a trainer until I got some Spinervals DVDs. They have made a huge difference in my riding during the cold months.

The best thing I did for winter was to finally convert a bike to a fixed gear, buy good quality winter clothes, and just went out and rode. I find myself missing those rides occassionally. I highly recomend it.

iansir

I do more running in the winter, seems to help me out a lot. An hour long run is a great workout and not too bad even in really nasty weather, where a decent ride can get pretty miserable in bad weather.

oboeguy

Same. I run 2-3 times per week in the winter, but I still get out to ride. Having accumulated a full set of winter bike clothes makes it easier to get out on the bike. However, for those bad weather days in all seasons, not just the winter, the latest Performance coupon has been applied to the purchase of a trainer. Should be a fit winter!

DataJunkie

Do nothing.
I ride all year round. Winter helps me catch up with the rest of y'all.
Consequently, if more cyclists do nothing, someday I will catch up.

Seriously, spin classes and a trainer are the way I would go.
Heck, my mileage goes down to about 150 a week in winter. I have to make up the difference with a trainer.

Equinox

I absolutely agree 100%. That was a problem with the spin classes. They weren't convenient timewise. I would go by myself with my own music and have a really fun and effective workout.

Equinox

So sorry, But where I live, winter is not that far away

HWS

Rollers and Spinervals....but only if the weather really sucks.

Idunno445

Coach Troy is my nemesis....

Coyote2

If you are riding lots of miles, then riding year 'round can lead to burnout/overtraining. Most trainers recommend cutting back your bike miles pretty dramatically during the transition period after riding season ends, and substituting running, swimming, skiing, lifting, pretty much anything but biking.

I plan to only ride once in a while from Thanksgiving through New Year's and instead do some of the above-mentioned activities.

garysol1 

Our winter here in west Tennessee gets pretty cold. Not brutal but cold. Highs in the mid 30's are the norm. While I do ride rollars in the winter if it is wet or icy I would rather just bundle up head outside. Back to your question......Rollars are less boring than trainers in my opinion. I can ride for about an hour in front of the tv before I have had enough. I found that 3 or 4 days a week will keep me in minimal condition to start spring off on a decent note.

2Tired2Shift

Sure you will - when the tax bill comes.

oneradtec

Do some trainer sessions during the week(gets dark early)
Get out for at least one long ride on the weekend when weather permits.
Mix in some running..perhaps 2 days per week

I think you really need to learn to like the trainer. I park in front of the TV and spin while watching football, NCAA basketball, movies or whatever. Now I am subscribed to cycling.tv...so I can watch bike racing on the computer while spinning on the trainer. An iPod might help too. You would do amazingly well at maintaining fitness if you could just manage 2 good trainer sessions per week...plus a run or outdoor ride in addition. Consider a treadmill or elliptical trainer as good cross training. Oh yea..the spin classes are great too.

Try to force yourself to like the trainer more. Find ways to make it more enjoyable.