Winter Fitness Plan?

It's getting much colder and windier here, and I am a wuss about being cold. I really WANT to ride my bike but when I get outside I just can't do it. I want to stay in shape over the winter, but riding my bike is really the first exercise I've ever been able to stick with and follow through.

I have some big goals next year and don't want to have to start over with my fitness. I'm planning to get a trainer (although I haven't decided what kind yet, and I know there are lots of threads on the topic) but I was just wondering what every one is going to do for their winter fitness plan?

How are you going to exercise? How are you planning to stay motivated, or am I the only one who just wants to curl up with a big bowl of soup and a book all winter??

spinning is a great way to keep fit. I hope you at least try winter cycling. It's exhilarating and fantastic. You just have to dress appropriately.

As for me, I will continue with Pilates, yoga, and tai-chi. I will also ride my bike as much as possible--my goal is 3x/week even if it's just around the neighborhood (but I fully expect to do plenty of longer cold-weather rides), and spinning.

I gained a lot of inspiration from this blog:

http://www.stumptuous.com/no-weights-no-problem

in order to create my own At-home winter fitness plan. The ab work Krista suggests are really good for cycling - I found huge improvement this year by strenghthening my core over the winter. She's a good writer, too, and overall the blog has some really good information, especially about women and weight lifting.

I go to the gym. If it's not too cold I'll take a long walk outside.

Winter is the time for me to do something different and not have to worry about stuff like cleaning the chain and remembering to buy more gu. I need the mental break. If the weather is warm enough I'll go for a short ride and I'll include indoor riding as part of my overall routine, but in general I shift my focus to other things.

I keep riding my bike as long as it is at least 25F degrees out and the roads are clear (this happens somewhat regularly during the winter here)....I do a lot of fitness walking outdoors....and when there's deep snow I go snowshoeing through woods and fields.

wow I'm amazed at you wonderful women who ride in the cold. 25 degrees??? REALLY?? So maybe I should be asking what I need to do to ride in the cold then lol.

Thanks for all the great ideas.

I think 25 is my lower limit, provided it's not terribly windy or icy. We'll see how that goes. I'm taking the bike home over winter break, and since it doesn't get properly cold (most of the time) in Cincinnati until January, I should be fine. Hopefully the trail is relatively clear!

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Originally Posted by ny biker

I go to the gym. If it's not too cold I'll take a long walk outside.

Winter is the time for me to do something different and not have to worry about stuff like cleaning the chain and remembering to buy more gu. I need the mental break. If the weather is warm enough I'll go for a short ride and I'll include indoor riding as part of my overall routine, but in general I shift my focus to other things.

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I need the break, too, although last year, the break was a little too long as winter came early to Indiana. And this year I don't need much of a break because I've barely been able to ride the past couple of months. :(
Typically, I am able to ride a bit through the end of the year before the weather just turns to nasty and the roads are too covered in sand and salt.

I do a lot of spinning and yoga, some running, walking, weightlifting and core work. I just moved to a new town and was excited to see that the local rec center offers a class that mixes it up with different types of aerobic and strength training activities. I think I could benefit from some muscle confusion.

have you thought about getting a trainer so you can ride inside? thats what I'm going to do, thought I'd share. I don't do cold at all.

I for one will admit I am also a wuss when it comes to cold weather. My minimum temperature for riding outside is 50F. I tried to ride in the winter when I first got my bike but it hurt to breathe (asthma symptoms), and I just don't like being cold anyway. Sometimes I can't motivate myself to go to the gym because I'm not in the mood to walk there and back in the cold.

In general the best motivation for me is habit. My gym/exercise time on weekdays is after work at the same time every day. By making it a regular habit, I reached the point where it felt weird to just sit at home watching TV when I would normally be working out.

My other main winter motivations are (1) not wanting to gain weight and (2) I worked damn hard to get these muscles and I intend to keep them.

It also helps to have a goal in the spring, like a charity ride in April. That way even if I give in too much to cold weather avoidance in January-February, I've got a reason to get back on track by March.

BTW I've found the best way to make sure I actually ride the bike on the indoor trainer, rather than just thinking I really should do it but I just don't feeeeeeeel like it right now, is to keep it set up and ready to go. Which for me means having it constantly in the way in my very small living room. But it works best for me to minimize the amount of work I have to do to use it.

I would encourage you to at least try winter biking. To my surprise, I found it absolutely delightful. My lower limit is 25 degrees (and I check the wind chill); that must be the magic number.

I am acclimated to cold since I don't have a car and walk everywhere. Even so, I find that winter biking makes me more tolerant of cold which is very handy.

Pam

Biking in 25-35F is comfy if you wear layers of good merino wool stuff and light wool base layers. A lightweight balaclava, couple pairs of good gloves, insulated hiking boots with heavy wool socks (personally I'd never keep warm enough with clipless shoes and booties), couple good pairs of winter tights. I stay toasty warm that way. :)

I love riding in the winter. It makes me feel like such a bad-as$! ;)

It was my favorite time to ride when I lived in NC. Of course now that I'm in the PNW, it doesn't get all that cold here, but it rains. 45F and rain is actually much harder to ride in than 20F and sun (for me, anyway). It's also freakishly dark here in the winter. While I'm a northern girl at heart, I've spent the last 10 years of my life in the south, so these short, dark winter days are definitely an adjustment.

This winter, I'm really looking forward to have time for my fitness videos again. I miss doing them! I have all the weights and equipment I need in our basement...so I workout there. My husband opted for the gym. Either way, we both have committed to some weekend riding - even if it's at a casual pace (and I hope to get in one commute a week as well).

I will say that I'm opposite of most people. Cold makes me want to be outside and active. I LOVE it. Summer heat rolls around and I just want to hide in a cool basement or float in a lake somewhere. :p

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Originally Posted by GLC1968

I love riding in the winter. It makes me feel like such a bad-as$! ;)

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I'm cracking up over that. I feel the same way.

Pam

I will ride in the cold, but not the wind. I've begun a tradition (ok, last year was the first) of riding my bike on New Year day. The streets were practically empty :)
Otherwise, it's the usual spinning, Pilates and weights for me.

I ride semi regularly through November and December, but it mostly gets supplemented by hiking and walking as my outdoor activity. When the snow flies, I x country ski and snow shoe. I will take my hybrid or mountain bike out in January or February if it's around 35 and the roads are clear. It usually happens one to three times in those months.
I also do yoga, core stuff, and use my bike on the trainer. I dropped my gym membership, so this winter I am putting myself and my husband through a boot camp to get ready for our cycling trip in May.
Generally, I look forward to do other sports and taking a rest from riding. I get burned out very easily.

Again thanks for all the ideas!!

I did it ~ you all made me feel like such a wuss I dropped the little one off at preschool and came home, got all dressed up and went for a ride. :) Granted it was only 48 so not SUPER cold.

I did a nice 14 mile ride and it wasn't as bad as I had expected it to be. So maybe there's hope to get some riding in this winter after all. Last year we had a really mild winter so there were plenty of days like today to be had. :)

Jackie

Spinning, swimming (in heated indoor pool), running outside, and since it doesn't get that cold here in Southern California, i'll continue to ride outside as well.

I don't know what i'd do if I lived in a state where it snows...probably hibernate!