Winter Bike Blues

[Roadtrip]

After the Christmas Tree came down, trainer and bike made it's return to the house, just in time for some Winter training.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs048.snc6/167800_1721421362722_1453956770_1830654_3411516_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs793.ash1/168307_1721427082865_1453956770_1830672_2480361_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs012.snc6/166224_1721424442799_1453956770_1830664_358599_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1371.snc4/164332_1721427642879_1453956770_1830674_6200526_n.jpg

I soooooooo can't wait for Spring!!!
Shannon

[Owlie]

I hear ya! To top it off, it's been really snowy this winter, so I haven't even gotten out for those few "warm" days.

[Geonz]

I put my Christmas tree on my bike instead of in the house, so the trainer didn't have to move (hey, more people see the Christmas Tree on the bike). The days *are* getting longer...

[emily_in_nc]

Roadtrip, awesome bike and lovely house you have!

[Melalvai]

I love the brooks and the "fight like Susan" sticker. Looks like the saddle is tilted up or maybe that's just the angle of the picture? The mirror must be handy for keeping people from sneaking up behind you while you're on the trainer, lol!

[Catrin]

Very nice indeed! I hear you about the winter blues...now that I am recovered enough to ride the weather just won't allow it... It DOES look like the saddle is tilted up, but pictures can show things that aren't there... It looks like you have plenty of room for your trainer, that is great!

[Roadtrip]

After reading here and looking at those pics again, I went and looked at the bike and indeed, I think the saddle is tilted slightly. It was sorta hard to tell as it was in the trainer already when I installed the saddle as the front wheel in the block is a smidgen higher then the back wheel. I thought that's what was making it look titled. We have only one trainer, so I took mine out for DH, so I was able to confirm it was tilted up a bit. LOL

Shannon

[marni]

well your view is a lot nicer than mine, which is the back of the garage door and whatever plants are pulled in out of the cold. If I open the door I can see down the street and watch the emptiness of the local streets- I live in a large suburban stepford wives type sub division where the kids are in school, the wives are all off volunteering or working, at the gym working out, at home watching the soaps or doing whatever they do. The only traffic I see is an occasional delivery truck, service truck or mexican gardeners truck. I tend to spen my time with my eyes closed, remembering or re-envisioning previous rides.

[FunSize]

We recently got a second trainer in our house. So now our bikes keep each other company in our media room. Which is a disaster in the picture... we also had to move a couch to accommodate the bikes' spots. We like to watch tour of france dvd collections on our projector while we ride. I'm new to riding on the trainer so paul and phil's constant talking is a good distraction. In the picture my bike is the little rag tag one. My bf's is the trek. Nothing too exciting. And yes... my front wheel is on a brick, which I may have stolen from my neighbor's yard.

[tulip]

I'm trying to figure out where to set up my trainer. My house is very small...last year I had it in my second bedroom, which is also my office. Since I work from home, it's the most active room in the house, and it's not very convenient to have to climb over the bike in order to get to the filing cabinet.

I suppose if I got around to filing the HUGE pile of stuff on my floor, it would help...:rolleyes:

[Owlie]

My trainer's in the basement--I can't figure out where I'd set it up in the apartment, because the floors aren't level at all! :eek: I've got it in front of the giant TV, where I watch episodes of old British comedies...I'm at a point where I can make it through an episode!

I've also got a rear wheel-friendly computer duct taped to it. Easier than cutting zip ties when I can ride outside. :rolleyes:

[FunSize]

Road trip - I forgot to mention that I do like the color of your bike very much. Very pretty.

Owlie - it took us a good 2 months to figure out how to set up our bikes. I do like having them infront of a giant tv, though. Actually, the reason my bike is awkwardly infront of my bf's is because the tiles on the floor are slightly uneven and I felt like I was falling to the left the entire time.

[Owlie]

My problem is the apartment is sort of bowl-shaped. :eek: It's an old building, so the floor is kind of sagging. The furniture (couch, dinner table, etc) is occupying most of the level floor.

[Roadtrip]

I'm going to adjust that saddle tonight and give it a go.. so far about 20 miles on the new Brooks and it's feeling better each time.

Shannon

[Cataboo]

My bike's on the trainer in my unheated sunroom. I've got my netbook set up in front of it, on a couple boxes to get it level & with some speakers hooked up so I can stream a tv episode on hulu or watch whatever. Generally I get bundled up at night, go out on the trainer and after 10 mins or so I'm warmed up enough that I can take off the arm & leg warmers & hat & what not and cycle comfortably in tank top and bike shorts. It's been cold enough lately that I haven't had to, but in previous years I've opened the windows to cool down. I don't understand how you guys can not overheat having your trainers in your houses.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_WfCe0A3iU1c/TTCRFHcEeUI/AAAAAAAAb-s/mHJ46YCMSn4/s640/IMGP6317.JPG

Yesterday's random procrastination project was taking the stupid looking fuelbox logo off my bento box and fabric gluing on reflective hand stickers I found at the dollar store when we were at the wild goose chase. Now it's much cuter and more functional:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_WfCe0A3iU1c/TTCRIIT8UeI/AAAAAAAAb-0/wQrYth16FXk/s640/IMGP6319.JPG

[Becky]

I don't understand how you guys can not overheat having your trainers in your houses.

I prefer to think of it as heat acclimation :D

[Cataboo]

I prefer to think of it as heat acclimation :D

I will admit that putting on the winter hat & arm & leg warmers and stepping out into a 35 degree room initially sucks. I am quite happy with how cold it is after I get moving.

[Crankin]

Some years we have used a fan or actually put the room ac on. Our bikes are in our loft (4th story), which gets warm enough in the summer that we need a separate ac, even though we have central air. This year, I haven't become that hot, yet. I figure if I sweat, it means I am working.

[Cataboo]

Oh, I sweat. About 20 mins after I come back into the warm house, I'm freezing from the sweat drying.

[Bike Chick]

Ours are in the basement next to my sewing room. We keep the heat off down there and turn on a fan but it's still too warm. Now that the Christmas tree is down, we will move them upstairs where there is daylight and we can open a window.

Nice bike, Roadtrip, and pretty house! Cataboo, I love your bright, sunny porch!

[MyRubyE]

Wow, I love that Brooks Saddle! I recently just added a vintage Raleigh Ladies Sports bike to my collection and it has a beautiful Brooks saddle which I'm bringing back to life. As far as beating the winter blues, I still take my bike out when I can. I'm cautious, but it's doable. I don't have a trainer but do have a life cycle, which holds me over when the weather is extremely bad.

[Jo-n-NY]

I am now in my 9th winter on the trainer. On the weekend I ride to 1-2 episodes of Army Wives (never saw the 1st to seasons). During the week after work I just ride for how many miles I have time for which could be as little as 5, but whatever. Something better than nothing.

I loved the Fight Like Susan & Fat Cyclist stickers as well as the bike!!

[Crankin]

I don't depend on the trainer for all of my exercise in the winter. That would drive me nuts. I have a winter training program that I do 2-3X a week. It's usually 2 rides on the trainer and one outdoor ride, which I change to a x country ski or snow shoe. It's not that I never ride outdoors in the winter, but right now the roads are not in any way in the shape I would go out in.
Variety is the spice of life. The way I deal with winter is to get out in it, on my nordic skis or snow shoes.
March is coming soon enough.