Winter Cycling Options

[CycleChic06]

Curious how everyone else weathers the winter months.

Emily

[SheFly]

I voted for sucking it up and riding in the cold anyway, and this is true. However, I will also hook my bike up to the trainer at least one night a week. I hate the trainer, riding indoors, and the gym, so if I can be outside I will.

SheFly

p.s.
I also cross-country and downhill ski, and on weekends, am usually *ahem* snowmobiling *ahem*.

[Bikingmomof3]

I voted other, since I currently cannot bike. As soon as I am cleared, I will be outdoors or on my trainer. I also run and that will be outdoors year round.

[Geonz]

Welp, I couldn't check off more than one. I do the trainer and I ride outside. Our LBS has a group ride so there were 18 of us there last night. I was part of a peanut gallery in the back, being incited to sing along with songs testifying to the endurance of a certain widow who lived on the moor and what have you... I couldn't tell you how others felt but it made things more pleasant for me ;)

I managed to get my trainer there on the Xtra cycle... hoepfully I can tote my light bike there with the Tray Bien as soon as I get it. Our local dealer (we have one now!) is waiting on them...

[mimitabby]

it wouldn't let me choose two, but i also ride in the winter. (and put my bike on the trainer)

[salsabike]

I ride through the Pacific Northwest winter (except on REALLY crappy days like this one).

[Crankin]

I checked other because I do 3 of these, trainer, spin classes, and ride outside when it's not too bad.

[emily_in_nc]

I don't care for winter riding much (cold, windy, dry air difficult to breathe when I'm breathing hard), so I cross-train. DH and I try to go on long hikes every weekend in the winter, though I plan to run some this winter since I am getting in that. Both hiking and running keep me a lot warmer than riding since I'm going a lot slower.

I go to the gym when I can at lunchtime (we have a gym at work) and use the treadmill and weights. I also have a road bike on a trainer and do ride that a couple of times a week.

And, when all else fails, I head south for vacation. We're going to Key Largo after Thanksgiving for five days of sailing! Now that's my kind of cross training!! :D

Emily

[7rider]

I'll ride year round, as long as there's no snow or lots of sand on the road. I'll put 28's on the commuter and use that a bit more than the Seven, however.
I also will ride the rollers...maybe...I actually used them twice last year! :rolleyes:
If we get lots of snow (rare in Maryland, but the bonus of them having no clue how to plow is I can break out the xc skis and toodle around the neighborhood before any plows show up), we'll go skiing.

[GLC1968]

I voted that I brave the cold...which is true for this year. I've committed to commuting all winter plus going on longer rides on the weekends. I will also likely throw in a spin class or two and I do other type of aerobic conditioning (step, kickboxing, treadmill, elliptical) to mix it up. (plus weight training)

Last year I stuck to spinning and the occasional trainer ride. I HATED the trainer though...HATED it. I'll take a 90 minute high intensity cardio video over a trainer any day. :p

[Veronica]

I wanted to vote for three - trainer, suck it up (because I commute no matter how yucky the day) and ride through the winter, since it is pretty mild here.

V.

[lph]

This is just so cool. I'm surrounded by people who can't really fathom why on earth I could possibly want to bike in winter - and here this forum is overflowing with people who think "oh no, I can't stand NOT biking all winter."

Love it :D

[CycleChic06]

I wish there was a way to set up the poll so that people could choose more than one option. I guess I didn't realize how many people can stand to ride outdoors in the cold.

I was also curious because I'm considering buying a trainer. My gym is cutting back on spinning classes over the next few months (why they do this during the busy season, I can't understand). But as my schedule goes I can only make it to one maybe two spinning classes a week. Buying a trainer would allow me to exercise in the mornings before work and use my own bike which is just so much more comfortable than the spinners at the gym. It's also a matter of space. Where am I going to set this thing up?

[Veronica]

One of the polling options, towards the bottom I think, is to allow multiple answers.

V.

[Tater]

Meh, I just add another layer or two and head out if it is cold. Thankfully, the winters are milder on this side of the state than they are when I was living up next to the Teton Mts. Now and then I will put the road bike on the trainer, but the weather has to be pretty bad for that to happen.

[SadieKate]

One of the polling options, towards the bottom I think, is to allow multiple answers.

V.But you can't change it after posting the poll. You have to start over. :( I guess some statistic guru type would tell you about skewing the results, blah-blah-blah.

I wanted multiple choice also but I sucked it up and voted anyway.;)

[MomOnBike]

My bike time is my fun time. A trainer is not fun. I will not hook my bike up to a trainer. Therefore, I ride in some pretty interesting weather.

I do like to cross-train when the roads are too slick to ride, though. Swimming is a favorite. Oddly, I find swimming laps (slowly) to be relaxing and contemplative.

[HappyAnika]

I voted that I deal with the cold and ride outdoors anyway . . . for me this also covers the trainer option. We have a very small house so our trainer is in our unheated detatched garage. So even if I want to ride the trainer, I still have to deal with the cold, just not the wind. I have been, and plan to continue to ride on the weekends when the weather is decent, but so far based on my rides in the 50's I don't think I can handle below 40's. Luckily we have a lot of winter days in the 40's and 50's. It was 24 yesterday on the way to work and I saw 2 people riding, Brrrrr. I'm afraid I'd have to wear so many layers I wouldn't be able to move in those kind of temps.

Funny, I just looked at my avatar after posting this and saw the road and I realized that soon all of the roads will be covered in sand and gravel, particularly the shoulders and bike lanes, and I really have no interest in riding in that crap. So my weekend rides may be limited once the snow (and sand and gravel) hits.

[crazycanuck]

hmmm..I am fortunate enough where I live to be able to ride year round on or off road.I don't have a trainer and force myself to go out in the rain even if I have to bike without my glasses..:eek:

This year Perth had a nice winter and I enjoyed having the bike path to myself when it was dark, wet and windy. I didn't care if it was 5c outside, i just biked.

I'd like some snow please.

c

[CycleChic06]

Snow, yeah, I remember that. White and fluffy stuff, right? It's 70 degrees in Massachusetts today...but it's not even a good warm weather, it's wet and rainy and not so pleasant for riding. This in-between weather stinks!