Winter training

Hi all, well I have a question or two for you. Actually I probably already know the answers, I may be just looking for support or confirmation. As some of you may know I recently moved back to upstate NY from Colorado. In the winter I could almost always ride my bike outside, even after work. ( my work hours in Colorado allowed me to get home by 230) Well, now I am here in NY and I don't get home from work until 430, which makes me wonder about the riding this winter. I know you all have spoken about the spinnerval DVDs. Are those pretty good? My living area is pretty crammped right now. My DH and I are living in 800 sq feet cottage until we find a house. Sorry for all the complaints. I am still going through an adjustment phase I guess. I keep telling my self that things could be worse. Today I went for a great ride along Lake Ontario. There was lots of fog out on the lake and along the wooded part of my ride I saw a deer. Very peaceful. My DH and I have also been doing a lot of kayaking out in the lake. We gave up the sunny skies and warmer winters for the water:)

I can ride sometimes during the winter - live in Flagstaff. Some winters we can ride all winter long - and can go down to the desert country on weekends to ride too.

However riding after work just doesn't get it. It is cold and dark. So, most of the time, I do other things during the week. I spin at home. I spin usually at least twice at the gym (we have a really great guy who does spin classes for cyclists so it is a class using chris carmichael techniques of training). I do some weights, yoga, etc. If we get good snow, we cross country ski and do hikes/snow shoeing. Winter time is a good time to mix it up. It keeps you from getting burned out on biking anyway.

Except for two weeks when there was too much ice/snow on the trails, I rode all winter last year. First and foremost, invest in a high-quality headlight and tail light. Get blinkies -- I put them on my helmet, back pocket of my jacket, saddlebag, and handlebar. Also, reflective tape on my helmet and wheels. You cannot be lit up enough when it's dark outside. When it's cold, layer. Usually, I wear a Craft or Patagonia undershirt, short sleeve jersey, bolero and then, jacket. Lobster gloves work best for me, with a chemical handwarmer in each glove. Cycling tights and if it's really cold, I put leg warmers under the tights. Wool socks, chemical footwarmers for each foot (really cold, one warmer on top of foot and one on bottom), then my cycling shoes covered with an Amfib shoe cover (the kind that zips up over your ankle). I'm not going to lie--there were days when my hands & feet were pretty cold.
I use Spinervals when it's just too dicey--weather-wise--for riding outside. I highly recommend them. I have all Coach Troy's titles except for "No Slackers." Using them to supplement my outside riding really has made me a stronger cyclist and better all around athlete.
Surprisingly enough, I have really come to enjoy riding in the dark (the good headlight is the key).

What kind of riding are you talking about? Road or mt????

We mt bike all winter in the snow. we bought lights and head out on the trails at 5 pm, and night ride. I can't help you with any roadie stuff, but if you want more info on winter mt biking, just yell.

Ruth

living not too far south of you, i can tell you that there are some great x-coutry ski areas around you, if you do that. i use that as my outdoor winter activity. i do ride my road bike during the winter, on occassion, but it depends on the road and weather conditions. i just have an older exercise bike that i use during the winter and it makes me appreciate my bike ever so much. what about going on the canal during the winter, i've never been there during the winter time so not sure what or if it's maintained..you might be able to ride there, and it would surely be safe..no traffic..

Um..... you could come to Middle Earth - lovely warm spring weather at the moment - summer is on track to roll on in very soon

:p

thanks for all of your replies. I do both mtn and road biking. I'm also a fan of cross-country skiing. I used to do a lot of skate skiing. Hope we get snow this year. I heard last year it was mild.

Upstate NY is one of my favorite places. If you mountain bike, you might try snow biking. Ok, it's not a true term, just something I made up when I first attempted it with my mountain bike, but you basically take your mtn bike and go on trails or paths with snow! Some women here who have done this a bit more scientifically may use studded tires. I haven't tried this in 15 years (just not something I have thought of), but I used to love it when I first got my old mtn bike.

I plan to try it again this winter. And you're right, all over the northeast, the season was very mild, much of it feeling like a constant month of March. I think all the winter sports businesses are hoping for a better year.

I don't XC ski, but I do snowshoe and it's very invigorating. You might add that to the rotation too! The opportunities for fun outdoors in upstate NY are nearly endless...

And keep in mind, the days are already getting longer by X-mas! So don't get too discouraged about the dark.