Is it actually possible..............

[Flybye]

Oh, I am SO SO SICK of being locked inside my house!!!!! Let me out of the box to play in the sun! I would give anything to suck a bug down my throat!!

It is a balmy 19 degrees and we have a wind chill warning in effect - they are suspecting -10 with winds. AARRRRGGGGHHHH~

So, as I am bored, I wonder, is it actually possible to do ALL of your training for a century on a trainer in the house?

Has anyone actually done this??

Wow, I have WAY too much time on my hands!!!

What have your winter contemplations been??

[VeloVT]

How are the roads???

It ***is possible*** to ride outside in those temps if the roads aren't too sloppy/icy.

Layers!!! Something to cover your face!!! Maybe dorky ski goggles, if you will be riding for a while but will have to stop at lights occasionally... (sunglasses can get really foggy at stoplights below 20f, and if it's really cold the condensation freezes, so you can't see without pushing them down your nose for half a mile or so. Lovely.).

But it's so pretty out on cold sunny days. The light has a different quality, the air is invigorating (if you're dressed warmly enough) and it's generally a little quieter out.

However, I sympathize. While it's also fine to run in these temps if dressed adequately, I really miss my summer running shoes (6 oz vs 10 oz), but they have zero traction in the snow. I'm faster in the summer. Really. What I wouldn't give to be able to throw on a bra, shorts and shoes instead of agonizing over exactly which 3 layers today's temps require.

[Flybye]

Oh, I wish!!!

Our roads are STRAIGHT ice. There are a few roads here and there that have two tire ruts with a middle island of ice, but even those roads have ice here and there. Our poor friend just got a Harley in November and the road conditions are killing him, too.

I suppose I could go to the mall and ride my bike with the walkers Now that would make for a fun morning I might even make the papers

I have ran once outside a few times. I ***might**** just give it a try at the end of the week.

Sigh......................

[tulip]

Oh, I wish!!!

Our roads are STRAIGHT ice. There are a few roads here and there that have two tire ruts with a middle island of ice, but even those roads have ice here and there. Our poor friend just got a Harley in November and the road conditions are killing him, too.

I suppose I could go to the mall and ride my bike with the walkers Now that would make for a fun morning I might even make the papers

I have ran once outside a few times. I ***might**** just give it a try at the end of the week.

Sigh......................

Ah, but if you had studded tires on your winter bike (a must in your climate), you could be out not only getting a few miles, but also working the upper body and having a blast! Winter is young, get yourself some studded tires and a beater winter bike and go have fun!

[Pedal Wench]

I can get out a bit more often than you, but I'm training for a 24-hour event on the trainer too. Many 2-3 hour workouts at night, in the basement. Yuck. But, I mix up the workouts - different length/types of intervals, cadence work, easy spin, one-leg drills, and the time does go by.

[indysteel]

Flybye, when's your century?

[Mr. Bloom]

So, as I am bored, I wonder, is it actually possible to do ALL of your training for a century on a trainer in the house?

I hope is warms up enough that you don't have to figure out if it's possible...

[Flybye]

I hope is warms up enough that you don't have to figure out if it's possible...

Sniff, March at the earliest. Why do I live here???????????

[KnottedYet]

have you checked out the "Ice Bike" thread at www.bikejournal.com ?

Lots of good ideas there.

[smilingcat]

yes you can train on the trainer. But you have to be willing to sit and spin for 2 to 3 hours at a time. you can take breaks too if you want. just like a regular ride. And you need to vary your cadence as if going up a hill, vary your output... If done right, I think you can get in better physical conditioning but at a cost of your bike handling skills. Oh and your tush may not be toughened enough for the real ride.

At least you can stay really fit when the weather gets nice with no ice on the road.

Smilingcat

[NoNo]

While there's no ice on the roads (well, maybe in a few spots), there's loads of sand which I hate riding on. And, as has been mentioned, it's really a pain to figure out just how many layers you need to put on and then actually do it. I've been doing a lot of cross-training since November, but like you, I eagerly await being able to just hop on the bike and go.

[Mr. Bloom]

Why do I live here???????????

Because you like potatoes and the mountains?

Did I just do a Dan Quayle? How do you spell potato?

EEEEK I NEED SUNSHINE!

[sundial]

Did I just do a Dan Quayle? How do you spell potato?

LOL!

Fly, I don't have any advice for you--just sympathy. You could always trade ice for tornados and enjoy cycling in the south pretty much year round.

[bmccasland]

Summer home, winter home? Just trying to help....

[Flybye]

Because you like potatoes and the mountains?

Did I just do a Dan Quayle? How do you spell potato?

EEEEK I NEED SUNSHINE!

Potato
Potatoes

if in doubt:
tater
taters

spud
spuds

Don't feel bad........... I have been spelling banana wrong for my entire life as a speller and learnt' just a month ago that it ISN'T spelled bannana!!!!!
DOH!