How to get motivated to ride when it's so cold out?
12-30-10, 08:40 AM
#27
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Not this morning it wasn't...danged roads were slicker than cow slobber, even my studded tires weren't much help.
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
12-30-10, 09:13 AM
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It's the gear and the food. Whether it was winter backpacking or now winter biking/hiking, the correct clothes makes it happen for me. You can be warm and sweat-free, but it's costly.
Then I eat more high energy food often as well. We learned winter backpacking that eating often kept us warmer.
However, right now I'm waiting for the snow/ice to diminish enough on the mountains to hit the bike trails. Possibly tomorrow.
You also have to be prepared to adjust the clothes during the ride. Hard for road bikers as most won't wear a pack or use a rack. I do the rack thing for road and of course a larger hydration pack for winter mountain biking down to the mid/upper 20's.
The Event based Shower's Pass cycling jacket/parka is a break-through garment for the outer layer. As wind/water proof as Grotex, but breathes so much better. I can do long, steep climbs and then the subsequent down-hills with no sweat and no chill. May have to adjust inner layers if the day warms.
Event is an improvement over Gortex developed by the Swiss I believe.
Gortex shoes are a plus as are the Gore wind-stopper gloves. If I'm not wearing gortex shoes, I carry shoe-covers in the pack.
Al
Then I eat more high energy food often as well. We learned winter backpacking that eating often kept us warmer.
However, right now I'm waiting for the snow/ice to diminish enough on the mountains to hit the bike trails. Possibly tomorrow.
You also have to be prepared to adjust the clothes during the ride. Hard for road bikers as most won't wear a pack or use a rack. I do the rack thing for road and of course a larger hydration pack for winter mountain biking down to the mid/upper 20's.
The Event based Shower's Pass cycling jacket/parka is a break-through garment for the outer layer. As wind/water proof as Grotex, but breathes so much better. I can do long, steep climbs and then the subsequent down-hills with no sweat and no chill. May have to adjust inner layers if the day warms.
Event is an improvement over Gortex developed by the Swiss I believe.
Gortex shoes are a plus as are the Gore wind-stopper gloves. If I'm not wearing gortex shoes, I carry shoe-covers in the pack.
Al
12-30-10, 09:33 AM
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I put on the skis and ski a few K
12-30-10, 09:59 AM
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12-30-10, 11:31 AM
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How to get motivated to ride when it's so cold out?
A couple years ago was a thread contrarian to this one asking "When does hardcore become stupid?". The best answer as I recall was by Stephen H who answered that it becomes stupid when one does not prepare properly for it. 
12-30-10, 12:16 PM
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While I don't live in snowy climes (anymore), many of our rides start in the 30-40 degree temps this time of year. My motivation is that I ride with a club and we ride every MWF. The only thing that cancels a ride is if it actually raining at the start or the radar promise rain. Our ride leaders (we have three different groups who meet at the same time) want to get out to ride as much as anyone.
Other than that, just be sure you have the right clothes. AND a big thing for us is the "Grabber" hand and foot warmers. Those little packets that get warm when they hit the air. They really keep your toes and fingers warm.
Other than that, just be sure you have the right clothes. AND a big thing for us is the "Grabber" hand and foot warmers. Those little packets that get warm when they hit the air. They really keep your toes and fingers warm.
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12-30-10, 01:41 PM
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How to get motivated to ride when it's so cold out?
A couple years ago was a thread contrarian to this one asking "When does hardcore become stupid?". The best answer as I recall was by Stephen H who answered that it becomes stupid when one does not prepare properly for it.
A couple years ago was a thread contrarian to this one asking "When does hardcore become stupid?". The best answer as I recall was by Stephen H who answered that it becomes stupid when one does not prepare properly for it.
I've worn a 36 waist for, like, ever. Earlier this year when I decided I'd challenge Hermes to a grudge match I dropped about 8 pounds and was almost ready to drop down to 35s. I still have the slacks, although they are a bit dated.
Then I decided that I probably couldn't beat Hermes no matter how hard I tried.
Now my 36s barely, barely fit.
So, unless there's ice on the streets I'm hitting the road.
After the New Years.
12-30-10, 02:01 PM
#35
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Hopefully, you live someplace where there's a warm breeze, warm tropical sea, palm trees and soft, clean sand. I'm visiting a friend in Hell (they call it Nebraska), and I can tell you that Hell is frozen over.
What can I do to get my un-motivated butt out there on my bike and ride in the cold? What mental tricks do you use on yourself to make it work for you?
What can I do to get my un-motivated butt out there on my bike and ride in the cold? What mental tricks do you use on yourself to make it work for you?
Marc
12-30-10, 02:18 PM
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Today's motivation: Sun peeking through the clouds, clear streets and temp in the 40's. Ten miles today was my first ride in a couple of weeks following a bicycle-less week in Phoenix preceded by cold and snow in Indy.
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12-30-10, 02:26 PM
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The posters who say "the right clothing" have it nailed. With the right clothing, I'm good down to maybe 5 °F.
But what I can't do in the real cold (<20 °F by my definition) is to HTFU. I can take it easy or I can ride with a little oomph, but if I try to HTFU and really start sweating, my glasses and/or goggles fog and I'm a dangerous mess.
But what I can't do in the real cold (<20 °F by my definition) is to HTFU. I can take it easy or I can ride with a little oomph, but if I try to HTFU and really start sweating, my glasses and/or goggles fog and I'm a dangerous mess.
12-30-10, 03:02 PM
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Don't laugh at my yo clothing gear..
.. It was 14 degrees,
I did about 5 sweet miles and I had fun..
I had my cold weather motorcycle gloves on.. I needed them too..
.. It was 14 degrees, I did about 5 sweet miles and I had fun..
I had my cold weather motorcycle gloves on.. I needed them too..
12-30-10, 03:38 PM
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It isn't so bad after a mile or two. It helps to make a commitment ahead of time to ride with somebody else. You don't want to let another person down by wimping out. One of my friends showed up to ride with me. He said the only reason he was riding was that he told me the night before that he would meet me at my house at 8AM.
12-30-10, 04:30 PM
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Thanks for the memory.
12-30-10, 07:25 PM
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My motivation is my job. If I want to keep it, I have to ride in the cold.
12-31-10, 04:09 AM
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Sweet indeed. You know, I often ride with sweats (+ long underwear, etc.) in the cold, but it's a pain when it gets damp (either from sweat or from the snow). The available alternatives are too expensive, it seems. I have my eye out for some kind of wool pants that have the right fit for cycling.
12-31-10, 07:37 AM
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tsl wins the prize.
You want motivation to ride in the cold? Sell the damned car.
Over 6 years now, and I get behind the wheel of ANYONE'S car less then 3x/year.
But then, I LOVE to ride...................
You want motivation to ride in the cold? Sell the damned car.
Over 6 years now, and I get behind the wheel of ANYONE'S car less then 3x/year.
But then, I LOVE to ride...................
12-31-10, 08:07 AM
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I'm between marina management gigs right now, on very limited funds, and am in this frozen over wasteland the locals call Nebraska. According to the news, it's 12 degrees F outside right now, with a forecast high of 14 F today. All the way up to 20 F tomorrow.
I could beg, borrow or steal some expensive riding clothes. Okay, maybe not. But I could maybe put on several layers of jeans and sweat pants.
I just can't justify spending several hundred dollars I can't afford for cold weather riding gear, that I hopefully won't need when I move on to the next marina on a tropical coast somewhere.
Part of the attraction of bicycle riding for me is, getting the exercise while having an adventure. The ever-changing scenery, exploring and seeing unusual and interesting things. So, "riding" indoors on a stationary trainer where nothing changes would be mindless torture for me. But I guess that's what I'm gonna have to do...
I could beg, borrow or steal some expensive riding clothes. Okay, maybe not. But I could maybe put on several layers of jeans and sweat pants.
I just can't justify spending several hundred dollars I can't afford for cold weather riding gear, that I hopefully won't need when I move on to the next marina on a tropical coast somewhere.
Part of the attraction of bicycle riding for me is, getting the exercise while having an adventure. The ever-changing scenery, exploring and seeing unusual and interesting things. So, "riding" indoors on a stationary trainer where nothing changes would be mindless torture for me. But I guess that's what I'm gonna have to do...
Last edited by xizangstan; 12-31-10 at 08:12 AM.
