rumrunn6

why do I go to the gym in the dead of winter when I feel like going straight home and getting under the covers?

because I know that something now is better than nothing, and I will reap the rewards many many months from now. I don't have to achieve my personal best heck I don't even have to complete full sets or reps. what I do have to do is show up.

and I will

Carbonfiberboy 

Show up! is the first commandment.

GeorgeBMac

Last year at this time I had well over 300 miles logged... This year, hardly any.
... But, maybe that was meant to be: I am getting some much needed cross training in with ankle weights as well as on the treadmill. The few times I've been on the bike, my legs have felt stronger and more balanced.

Myosmith

I was talking with my doctor today and she said that everyone is complaining of a lack of motivation this year. She blames the weather and I have no trouble believing her. I'm never a ball of fire this time of year, but this year I could hibernate til April. Forcing myself to go to the gym and praying for ridable days ahead.

rumrunn6

haha yeah, and #2 is do no harm ...

rumrunn6

I hear ya. I used to bike commute but can't right now. fortunately the leg work I do keeps me strong so that when I do ride I'm not all wimpy!

rumrunn6

a suggestion ... from some movie star ... just tie your shoe laces

CbadRider

I pay my personal trainer in advance. That's my motivation for showing up.

Heathpack 

Lol, me too. I simply won't do the core/upper body work on my own, it's some kind of hard different from cycling that I don't like. But if I've paid for in advance for a private yoga session, suddenly I'm motivated.

I also find it helpful to have a schedule. My job is appointment-driven and I'm like some kind of trained monkey about keeping to my schedule. Much of my energy every day at work is strategizing how to get everything done and still see all my appointments on time. So if I'm *scheduled* to climb a hill Wed Feb 13 at 5:15 am, I'm pretty likely to find myself *actually* climbing a hill that day at 5:15am.

H

rumrunn6

just got back from my lunchtime gymfest. had the place to myself with only a couple exceptions. what a joy to have free reign of the place!

Jared.

Been an absolute nightmare trying to get seat time in this winter between work and the weather. No gym for me so I've been pushing myself as much as I can. Still confident I'll be in good shape as soon as the weather breaks.

Calisthenics every day!

Myosmith

Been tying them and getting out as often as possible, still doesn't change the fact that it feels more like a chore than something I look forward to. The doctor I was talking to is an active runner and marathoner. We were comparing frost bite (nip) from recent outings. Still can't wait for that rush of motivation that comes with the first serious thaws in March or early April.

sprince

Inactivity is a normal response for mammals in winter, it's basically a hard-wired energy conservation strategy. But there are still things to do that are less boring than going to the gym, if you find the gym boring. If it's cold where you are there is snow and skiing, nordic if you live someplace flat, alpine if you have mountains. If it's not cold enough to snow maybe you have nothing to complain about. I ride my 29'r on the road for lunch or after work in warm, comfy clothes, doing hill repeats instead of distance or speed. Of course it's still cold and dark, but I find it sucks slightly less when you find something to do outside every few days.

travelerman

Worst winter for riding since I got back on the bike in 2010... I have been working on core workouts per Core Advantage, and have dragged the old Mag trainer indoors a few times.
Was just about ready to start tearing through P90X this week when the flu intervened... I am ready for something that steps it up a notch - nothing on the tube, and the Mrs. is subjecting me to HGTV.
I don't recall ever being this ready for summer.

elcruxio

Winter is full of fun stuff to do!

MTBing is different and even more fun than in the summertime. Road riding with a cx is still possible.

Nordic skiing is the bomb. It doesn't train the same muscles as cycling but is better for cardio.
Alpine skiing isn't a workout as such

Running can be done with spiked shoes.

travelerman

Five degrees Fahrenheit with -11 wind chill right now, and compacted snow all around. Ain't nothing I'm going to do in that except get from my car to indoors as fast as possible...

sprince

Could be worse, if you lived here...
https://www.weather.com/travel/breath...world-20140128

Machka 

I've found it helps to go somewhere warmer at some point during winter.

When I lived in Canada, I shortened one winter by going to Australia to cycle for three months (Oct/Nov/Dec), and I took a break from another winter with a 2-week Australian visit. During one particularly early winter, I went to the UK for a couple weeks in November. While the cyclists there were apologising to me for +15C and drizzly conditions, Winnipeg was experiencing about 2 feet of snow and -20C. On three occasions, while the Canadian prairies were experiencing very long winters, with one snow storm after another in April, I headed off to the Vancouver/Vancouver Island area and enjoyed some cycling surrounded by flowers and green.

And then I moved ...


Even here in Australia, winters can get long (cool and rainy) ... so we returned to Canada one August to take advantage of a Canadian summer, and we planned our recent Round-the-World trip so that we left Australia in the middle of winter, and then spent a nice long summer and autumn in the northern hemisphere. Shortly after it turned winter in the northern hemisphere, we returned to Australia.

But planning these little breaks from winter can provide some motivation to go to the spinning classes etc., and I tend to get quite a lot of cycling in during those breaks. I appreciate the good weather so I'm out there cycling pretty much every day.

ericy

Our gym has a giant jacuzzi, plus a steam room and a sauna. One of those is always my treat at the end of the workout. Usually jacuzzi.

But it is still a struggle getting there - between the flu and travel my schedule is all out of whack, and I am sure that I have lost some amount of the aerobic fitness that I had before Christmas. This morning I was going to go and I woke up with a sore throat, so I figure that now I am getting a cold.

2manybikes

I ride if the ground conditions are ok. Once I start I'm good to go. But, yes, starting is tough. Knowing that the road will have enough clear pavement to ride soon, helps me get over times when I can't ride. If there is lots of ice around I can usually ride an off road bike path with studded tires. Having two options helps a lot. I keep one MTB with studded tires and one without ready to go at all times. Not having to switch tires or wheels is great.

Yesterday was 30-18 F. Had a short 30 miles road ride on an mtb. I feel much better.

rumrunn6

re: "Our gym has a giant jacuzzi, plus a steam room and a sauna. One of those is always my treat at the end of the workout. Usually jacuzzi."

oh man mine used to have that, a Bally's. current gym ain't got squat, practically don't even have ventilation ...