What’s your winter riding/fitness strategy?
10-28-22, 10:29 PM
#1
Grupetto Bob
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What’s your winter riding/fitness strategy?
Do you-
go out in the elements and tough it out?
Use an indoor trainer or gym?
Hang it up for the season?
Cross train with other winter sports (skiing, skating, boarding, etc)?
Some combination of the above or something I didn’t think of?
go out in the elements and tough it out?
Use an indoor trainer or gym?
Hang it up for the season?
Cross train with other winter sports (skiing, skating, boarding, etc)?
Some combination of the above or something I didn’t think of?
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10-28-22, 10:47 PM
#2
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Wait for decent weather.
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10-28-22, 10:51 PM
#3
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Winter?
John
John
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10-29-22, 03:36 AM
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Thanks to studded tires I go out in the elements.
10-29-22, 03:48 AM
#6
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Cycling has always been an all year round activity for me and my fitness strategy is the same all year round regardless of the season. I continue to ride through the winter. I just purchased a new set of studded tires to replace my old ones which were worn out. I also cross train by lifting weights.
10-29-22, 04:52 AM
#8
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Many hours on the elliptical machine. My upper body actually is more fit in the winter.
10-29-22, 05:01 AM
#9
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Studded fat tires, Alpine skis and a boat on the Gulf of Mexico.
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10-29-22, 06:17 AM
#11
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Studded snow tires and extra clothing layers.
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10-29-22, 06:35 AM
#12
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I am in Tallahasse these days so summer is the tougher season to ride during the relentless heat. That said since I ride in the early AM I do ride in sub freezing temps some of the time. It isn't a big deal. I have been enjoying the trails year round and not riding the road bike much. I have some nice single and double track trails that start closeenough to the house that I can ride right from the house with only a short hop of pavement. The trails connect into several other trail systems so I have lots of nice options.
I might do more rowing workouts on my Concept 2 Erg during the relentless summer heat, but still ride and I think that the erg helps rather than hurts my overall fitness anyway.
When I did live where there were winters with snow and ice I tended to trail ride on the MTB and get on snowshoes or XC skis if the snow was too deep. The most recent years when I was up north I was more into trail running than riding so the trail riding wan't daily anyway.
I might do more rowing workouts on my Concept 2 Erg during the relentless summer heat, but still ride and I think that the erg helps rather than hurts my overall fitness anyway.
When I did live where there were winters with snow and ice I tended to trail ride on the MTB and get on snowshoes or XC skis if the snow was too deep. The most recent years when I was up north I was more into trail running than riding so the trail riding wan't daily anyway.
10-29-22, 06:37 AM
#13
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I go to the gym 5-6 days a week to lift. At age 76 this is not about lifting big weights. Expl....leg lifts with 150 lbs (3x10) and curls of 20 lbs each arm, again 3x10. There are others of course. We have one of those video spin bikes so I'll do that 3-5 days a week. Other than that it's whiskey & good food for me.
Last edited by bruce19; 10-29-22 at 07:29 AM.
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10-29-22, 06:47 AM
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Zwifting away the winter months.
I may go outside to ride now and then but slippery roads and 67 yo bones are not a good match.
I may go outside to ride now and then but slippery roads and 67 yo bones are not a good match.
10-29-22, 07:29 AM
#15
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Another from Southern California. It gets a bit chilly here in the morning (40F), but after a mile or two you warm up and its quite nice. We're supposed to be in another La Nina weather pattern this winter so rainy days should be minimal; great for bicycling 
, bad for the water supply 
, bad for the water supply
10-29-22, 08:07 AM
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I am figuring that out now. Ride outside if temps are above 20F and sunny and roads are not icy.
Florida in January for 2 weeks including a 200k and 300k.
Sebring Race in Florida in February. 400k and 600k end of month.
The 4-5 weeks in between is the worst weather. I have a trainer, thinking of zwift,
March, I would like to go touring somewhere warm. Sri Lanka for 2 weeks would be nice but don't feel like going alone.
Florida in January for 2 weeks including a 200k and 300k.
Sebring Race in Florida in February. 400k and 600k end of month.
The 4-5 weeks in between is the worst weather. I have a trainer, thinking of zwift,
March, I would like to go touring somewhere warm. Sri Lanka for 2 weeks would be nice but don't feel like going alone.
10-29-22, 09:28 AM
#19
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Embrace my inner lazy man.
That's not the plan, that's actual.
That's not the plan, that's actual.
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10-29-22, 10:14 AM
#20
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Hike when there is little snow, ski when there is a lot of snow. No cycling till spring, generally.
10-29-22, 10:36 AM
#21
Grupetto Bob
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I Zwift, do rail conversion trails on MTB, ski and watch the year’s efforts waste away. Always do light weights and core. Walk the poodley-doodley about 3 miles every other day - trade off with Mrs RSbob.
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”Your lips move but I can’t hear what your saying” DG
10-29-22, 11:05 AM
#22
Newbie
Montreal winters chase me indoors. I generally ride until mid November or until the snow starts to accumulate.
I switch to an indoor trainer (Tacx) till spring. You can't really replace the outdoor experience with trainers imo but at least it keeps you exercising.
Always hope for a "short" winter, lol.
I switch to an indoor trainer (Tacx) till spring. You can't really replace the outdoor experience with trainers imo but at least it keeps you exercising.
Always hope for a "short" winter, lol.
10-29-22, 11:11 AM
#23
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Indoor trainer (Wahoo Kickr Bike + Zwift, Rouvy, SYSTM)
Weight training
Skiing
Weight training
Skiing
10-29-22, 11:29 AM
#24
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I used to concentrate on low-end endurance training on the bike, mostly on my rollers because this is the PNW and I don't want to spend more time on bike maintenance than riding. But in my mid-70s, that stopped working - I just got weaker. So this year, I've adopted a variation on bruce19's strategy up in post 13. I'm in the gym for an hour 3 days/week. On the other days, I alternate riding Z1 on the rollers for an hour and walking a brisk 3-5 miles. I'm only 3 weeks into it and already it is wonderfully successful for me. Weight is down, strength is up, walking speed is up, HR on the rollers is down at the same power. I'm going to keep at it until my strength gets back to where it was in my early 60s, then I'll start trying to Really Ride again. In winter, that means weekday rollers in all zones, 2 gym days most weeks, and 40-60 mile group Sunday rides on the tandem if it's not pouring down rain. I'm hopeful at least, but I'll have to see what my cardiologist says on Tuesday.
Apparently, geezers have to squat bodyweight just like everyone else, who knew?
Apparently, geezers have to squat bodyweight just like everyone else, who knew?
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