Staying in bike shape

[north woods gal]

Given my lifelong love of bicycling, there's been only a few times in my life when I actually got out of bike shape, meaning having to start from scratch to build up my endurance and ride any distance. Staying in bike shape was an automatic, even, when using the bicycle was my only means of transportation, something I've done several times in my life.

Now that I am retired, though, staying in bike shape has come and gone a bit more than I would like. Part of the problem is where we live in the north woods of Wisconsin where winters are long (yes, we has snow flurries, this morning) and cold. That's meant staying indoors and working out on the trainer during the winter months, but let's face it, pretty hard to keep your enthusiasm up sitting on a trainer, month after month. Just not the same thing as riding outdoors.

All that changed, though, earlier this spring when I got my first fat bike. Oh, I've been biking in the snow for decades, way back when it was considered a bit eccentric even in the biking community. Yup, that was me, studded tires, tire chains and all, but riding in the snow under those circumstances was more out of necessity than out of fun. It was work and every outing felt like I was going on expedition.

Enter the fat bike. Riding in the snow and over ice is now quite practical, but even more important, it's fun. Where were these bikes when I need them? An unexpected bonus is that I now have a more year round outlook on my biking and that's given me a committment to do more biking of all kinds. As a result, I've been bundling up, as needed, and hitting the road bikes on a daily basis for the last month.

My one hour a day on the road bikes adds up to about 100 miles plus on a weekly basis. That's no great shakes compared to what I've done when I was younger and it's pretty anemic by some standards, but at my age (I'll be 67, next month), it's enough to give me the option of doing any one of a 12 mile, 25 mile or 45 mile loop anytime I want. I also mix in some fat bike work on access and fire roads on our daily runs with our dogs, so even more bike time.

It feels so good to be in bike shape like this, but it feels equally as good to be doing something I have always loved so much and not have to restrict it to our short warm weather season. Hope all of you have found a way to stay in bike shape, too.

My north woods, a road biking dream. Come for a visit.

[BikeDutchess]

I loved reading this! Glad you found a solution to keep you happily riding all year in what looks like a beautiful area! Thanks for sharing.

[rebeccaC]

An inspiring read! Glad you found an outside winter weather exercise that you enjoy so much. Fat bikes ftw!!! I can also easily see the enhanced positive moods it’s giving you through your words….
Improving mental stability and supporting optimal cognitive functioning is a great benefit of our exercising too! I see that as an important part of doing better in my working life.

Now if you just had fewer mosquito’s in the summer I’d be on those wonderful looking roads in a healthy heartbeat this summer

+1 on thanks for sharing

[Catrin]

Glad you found something that works well for you!

[north woods gal]

Thank you, all.

No mosquitoes, today, on my outdoor, one-hour ride - not with a cold north wind and snow flurries. Yup, not unusual for mid-May. Still loved it, though. Hubby had a hot latte waiting for me when I got back home. He's a keeper.

[Trek-chick]

I totally understand where you are coming from. I just got my fat bike at the end of Feb. I only got to do a handful of snow riding but, had a blast. I even take mine on some singletrack trails this Spring/Summer as it is just a blast to ride. I have noticed I am a stronger rider than I was last season (just doing the trainer indoors) at this time. Love my Fatty