A Realistic Workout Schedule: Gym & Road

[SouthernBelle]

I can't speak much to cycling training, but I can to weight training. I second (or third) the suggestion to engage a PT to set up a regimen, esp. if you don't have a knowledge base. Look to improve your legs and core. Maintain or improve your upper body depending on where you already are there. You want your arms to look good in a strappy jersey.

With the days shortening and time changing at the end of Oct., my riding time will be curtailed so I will be spending more time at the gym and will be emphasizing those spots.

It's always helpful to tell your trainer what you want or you will get a rether generic program.

[cherinyc]

With the days shortening and time changing at the end of Oct., my riding time will be curtailed so I will be spending more time at the gym and will be emphasizing those spots.

This is the part that I'm struggling with.
By the time I had made the decision to start bicycling and finally got my first bike (June 29, 2006), the longest day of the year had passed, and the days were already getting shorter. July and half of August were great (but I was still learning how to shift, clip in and out, etc), then we had about 3 weeks of rain up here in the NE. By the time I got back on my bike again (trying to squeeze a ride in after work) I was barely able to go 15 miles before it got dark. I've become completely dependent on the weekends, which lately have included at least 1 rainy day. My BF (a long time cyclist) said the other day, "This isn't good. We've become weekend warriors".
Even though I just started cycling, I feel crappy when I don't keep up with it....like all my previous work is going down the drain. And, unfortunately, the longer I am off, the harder it is to get back on. (saddle soreness included)

I can't afford to join a gym or get a personal trainer (I am moving in 2 months anyway) and I certainly can't afford to work less so I can ride more.
I too, after just celebrating another b-day, realize that I want to keep feeling young, and by the way - bicycling certainly makes me feel young...and STRONG but how do I keep it up when the sun won't stay up?
BF has been talking about getting us each our own trainer, for inside, but....I feel like I will get bored of it REAL fast.

So.....extra, Cass, light, Ju, Belle....how do you all do it? How do you fit everything in?
I am struggling for time as it is, but the shortened days just kill me.

[Veronica]

1. Get lights and ride before work or after work.

2. Get a trainer and some training DVDs and ride in the house.

V.

[GLC1968]

1. Get lights and ride before work or after work.

2. Get a trainer and some training DVDs and ride in the house.

V.

Ditto and add:

1) Buy a couple of workout DVD's (core, weights, cardio) to supplement your cycling. (Cathe Friedrich, Firm, Tracie Long Training, etc)

2) Buy some free weights (dumbells are cheap if you get them used) and a stability ball.

With the trainer, the lights for outdoor rides, and some basic weight work and supplemental cardio, you'll have all the tools you need to get in (and stay in) great off-season shape (without a gym or extended daylight hours)!

[SouthernBelle]

I sympathize with not wanting to buy anything until after you have moved. Can't blame you there.

I've been trying to ride every decent day after work, but those rides seem to be getting shorter.

I'm hoping to run across a decent 2nd hand cardio bike suitable for spinning. I belong to a very nice gym with just OK spinning bikes.

Wanted to mention that there are all kinds of podcasts out there for myriad different types of workouts for free. I like free.

[han-grrl]

The best course of action is to talk to a trainer and coach. A coach will outline what swimming and bike workouts you need to do...the trainer can help you out with the weights and weight loss. Some coaches know about weigths, but most do not which is why i recommend talking to two separate people. Make sure the trainer is someone knowledgeable about sport, because training for endurance is different than doing weights for general health.

the coach might be a bit more of a long term investment, but there are many online coaches with generic programs out there that are not so much money. the trainer you can meet up with once a month.

you can invest in weights and bands and a ball and do your workouts at home, but it depends on your personality and motivation. I have actually been researching (i am a trainer - my specialty is in-home training) and at home exercisers tend to stay at it for much longer as long as they have instruction. pretty interesting.

Good luck!

hannah

[Cassandra_Cain]

1. Get lights and ride before work or after work.

2. Get a trainer and some training DVDs and ride in the house.

V.

You read my mind!

Shortened days still suck, but we do the best we can - the above helps a lot!

[extra-vert]

Well I'm in Sunny California, but I bought a fluid trainer anyway, (used from ebay). The biggest favor you can do for yourself if you're riding indoors and you really want the workout is to get one or two of two "Spinervals" DVDs. Talk about cranking it up a notch!

Btw, I love Bab JuJu's response about the workout - Very helpful! Thank you!



Now, just to motivate!

[midgetcycler]

So.....extra, Cass, light, Ju, Belle....how do you all do it? How do you fit everything in?
I am struggling for time as it is, but the shortened days just kill me.

Since you're moving anyway, why not move to the south?? The weather is decent enough here pretty much year round. I see lots of cyclists out even in January. Of course it's not all sun shiny perfect weather, but with a windbreaker and long pants, it's comfortable enough.

[xeney]

I thought I would be really bored with a trainer, but I'm not. Well, it's boring, but it's manageable boring. We used to have a stationary bike (still do ... anyone want it?) and that was horrible. It was so loud that you couldn't watch TV or even listen to headphones without cranking them up to a scary level, and it was uncomfortable to ride, and the angle was wrong for holding a book.

The trainer is a lot nicer. We have a book rack that I have not used yet, but my husband uses it so that he can study on the trainer. I listen to books on tape and those work pretty well, but my favorite thing so far, honestly, is to just set it up facing the television, turn on closed captioning (because even though the fluid trainer is quieter than the stationary bike it is still a little too loud to hear everything on the TV), and watch something stupid. It has to be something stupid because otherwise I get involved and stop pedaling. Those old Survivor reruns on OLN are good, and so are old X-Files and Law and Order reruns.

My husband is all meticulous with his intervals, but I am lazy even when it comes to exercise, so I go by commercial breaks and I just switch between the big ring and the little ring at every commercial. (Also, I have Tivo and I keep the remote on a table nearby, because if I had to pedal through commercials I would give up and go do something more interesting.)

It helps that I don't watch much TV otherwise. I was in the best shape of my life the year I made the rule that I could only watch TV if I was also exercising.

[cherinyc]

Since you're moving anyway, why not move to the south?? The weather is decent enough here pretty much year round. I see lots of cyclists out even in January. Of course it's not all sun shiny perfect weather, but with a windbreaker and long pants, it's comfortable enough.

Actually, I am moving to Denver, CO - which is more South than NJ. I hear that the weather is milder there, with more sunny days....so maybe I will have more "good riding" days.

Re: the suggestions about getting lights and riding at night....the area I currently live is NOT very bicycle friendly, even in daylight. There are practically no shoulders (just steep drop offs) and tons of potholes. I also have something called night myopia, which means I can't see very well in the dark even with lights. I feel that if I don't end up killing myself first, that one of the lovely residents of the Garbage...I mean Garden State would do it for me.

What's the return policy on these trainers I wonder, say if I realized after a month, that I just hated riding indoors?