duff1301

For those of us that live in the east and don’t have much opportunity to ride due to the weather and lack of light I was wondering if anybody cross country ski’s? I’ve been doing this for years and have noticed how well it keeps me in shape with some indoor biking/spinning it’s a good alternative in the snow season. It’s relatively inexpensive to get started and you can use your fall bike clothing to wear. Just saying.

coasting 

jump rope. just saying.

banerjek

XC is for Freds. Based on that, I expect most people here who live near snow do.

duff1301

That's funny I ski with a good friend of mine named Fred. How did you know. You must have ESP. Don't knock it until you try it. Great workout ..... just saying

banerjek

Trust me, I know a Freddish sport when I see it. Lately, I've been getting into tele. That's also a Fred fest if there ever was one.

cooleric1234

I tried it once with a lesson. The only problem is it is not very simple to master the required technique. I would think snowshoeing would be even easier to pick up, although less fun than cross country skiing.

All of us puny cyclists pale in comparison to the aerobic capacity required by cross country skiers. Okay, maybe not really but they are pretty impressive. From Wikipedia's article on VO2 max:

Caracalla.

that's sad...try yodeling while XC skiing.

pmt

You could just get lights and winter clothes, and then ride all year. We had two blizzards in the northeast last winter, yet our group only missed nine days in December and eight in February.

jamesdak 

I live surrounded by 3 wonderful ski resorts here in northern Utah. But bad knees keep me off the slopes. I just break out a mountain bike with studded tires, fenders, and lights and keep on hitting the road. Of course the 2 ft snowstorm yesterday put a damper on things but I'm planning on being back out tonight.

RB1-luvr

winter mountain climbing/snowshoeing in New England is fun and challenging.

Daytrip

I love to backcountry ski, especially in the Adirondacks. One winter (cold, snowy mofo) I logged 750 miles. Did that by hitting the golf course for 7 miles every evening with much longer ski outings on the weekends and holidays. Haven't come close since, but it was a great winter.

Sucks, we got very little snow so far this season. At its best, you were just barely missing the rocks. Today's nice--clear and sunny but cold. As soon as the roads clear off, I'm back on the bike.

cooleric1234

I've heard golf courses will let you snowshoe on them but haven't found any information for those around me. I guess I should go the old fashioned route and call. Is it something official where you have to go ask permission or pay a fee or do you just go out on the course because, well, nobody will be golfing?

Daytrip

I've never figured that out, but many golf courses will actually groom a track and otherwise encourage people to come out and recreate. Seems to me all they do is incur liability, but maybe they see the value in cultivating goodwill locally. Letting people ski, snowshoe, sled certainly does that. I think sometimes they get assistance from the municipality or other local government.

I like to set my own track, so I have my own routes that I establish and maintain at our local course, best I can. Nothing like a long lunch break spent skiing on a beautiful winter day.

Pull into the parking lot at your local golf course (assuming it's plowed). If you see ski tracks, I'd say you're good to go.

fosmith

Wisconsin here: Skate-skiing is the way to go. Its a pain to learn the technique, but it is so awesome! Hurts much more than riding or running.

Daytrip

You awesome, Bj. I'm drooling.

Any sport involving gear is going to be a Fred magnet.

rollin

"Cross-country skiing is fine as long as you live in a small country."


(Steven Wright)

Daytrip

Singapore, for instance?

stien

Watching 2010 cycling highlights while on the couch. Woo. Eff snow and ice.

Velo Vol 

Running

iab

Hockey.

I hear Eric Heiden liked the speed skating.

jrobe

I alternate Cross-country skiing (skating technique) with indoor cycling (1 bike on a Kurt Kinetic trainer and 1 bike on a Tacx Fortius virtual trainer) all winter. This is great cross training and gets me outside in the Wisconsin winters.

I definitely suffer more on the skiis than on the bike. It is pretty hard to skate fast on hilly X-Cty trails and not be at lactate threshold.

There are definite advantages to cross training. It certainly helps my cycling.

pdedes

cross country skiing is walking on snow with sticks strapped to your feet.

zitter

Swimming and waterpolo are my main sports, then cycling. Nothing like swimming in a heated pool in sub-freezing temperatures and watching the steam rise off. And, when you get out, all the steam starts rising off you. =D

rjones28 

Snowshoeing. Lots of farm land around my house. I'd hate to see it go to waste.

Paul Y.

Try walking in deep snow for a few miles. Good exercise, but you look very silly.