Anyone riding their trainer yet

[prolesunited]

in anticipation of spring? I am, but it is so hard to be disciplined about it.

I did make it outside a couple of days when the weather wasn't so bad, but I know I can't wait for the snow to melt and for it to hit the upper 30s-40s.

[BiggJawn]

1. Yes, and yes.

"The Hamster Wheel of HELL!" So mind-numbing, so pointless...And I just got home from 8 hours of more of the same, too, only with a desk instead of handlebars...

One good thing, though. I'm developing a 90-105 RPM spin that's pretty smooth.

Upper 50's is my trigger. Much colder and my toes freeze after 10 miles.
So how long are your workouts? I usually go for a 1/2 hour or so 2-3X a week.

[prolesunited]

5. I just started back up

After we got home from our honeymoon, I ended up with double pneumonia and it took awhile to get my energy back after that.

I'm putting in as much times as possible. I have a small TV down in my exercise room and I read as well to just put in the miles. If I'm more focused, I'll do spinning drills and play games with my gears and heart rate monitor. I got a new cyclometer in the fall that takes the measurements from the rear wheel so I can better track my mileage and speed along with the cadence, so that helps.

I lost so much of my season last year due to illness and surgery. I didn't even get in one century ride. I'm hoping to have a better year this time out.

[BiggJawn]

7. Honeymoon?

Belated congrats to you and the Bluejay!

The other night I tried something different, and I'm not sure I liked it. Instead of putting on my usual Euro-Techno-House Music track and trying to keep up with the beat, I listened to Air America while I pedalled. I just don't think I was able to focus on the workout as well. Heart rate and distance/max speed were all way off from what I usually see. I think I'll go back to something that isn't so distracting.

Here's to a better 2006! :toast:

[stop the bleeding]

2. Weather here in Florida has been between 40 and 80 degrees all

riding is done outdoors @ just under 300 miles per week. I will increase the miles as the daylight comes back.

[prolesunited]

6. That's great

The weather sure helps. How do you find time to get in all those miles? 150 a week is all I usually mange.

[stop the bleeding]

9. I ride everyday usually 1hr 20-30 minutes after work (25 miles)

we get in about 5hrs roughly 90+ miles on Saturdays, Sundays is 3hrs or slightly less at a fast fast fast group ride in the "hills" about 60 miles. The overall works out to be around 280++ but lately with the holiday here and there I have been able bone a week up here and there up by about 30-40 miles and that has made a huge difference.

I am a racer and this is what I race, use to live in VA and have raced MTB's all up and down the Appalachians, now I just ride road because of limited time in a 24 hr day.

Good luck staying warm and no matter where you live it is all about time in the saddle and that usually means sacraficing sleep time in the mornings but you would be surprised at how much extra riding you can squeeze in here or there on a daily basis. Try to shoot for at least 10+ hrs/week if you can do 15 great if you can do more go race.

Peace!

[prolesunited]

15. I'm not racing

I just enjoy it and like challenging myself. It does sound exciting, though. I'm much too timid for that.

[wtmusic]

12. question

where do you find the time to do 300 miles? Are you retired?

[stop the bleeding]

16. see post# 9 n/t

[bvar22]

3. Been riding outside in Minnesota.

My first Winter on the bike.
I bought studded tires for the ice patches, plastic fenders to keep the slop off.

I wear my leather boots (with toe warmers) and platform pedals.
I found most of my outer clothing at the Thrift Store.
I usually wear 2-3 layers with the top layer "breathable" windbreaker shells and ski pants.
I have mounted a bag on the handle bars to carry another layer of warm clothes with me (just in case).

It is easier to stay warm than I imagined. Once the blood gets pumping, I am usually "overdressed".

I'm much more careful and my speeds are down, but the adventure is great.
I am having fun and staying in shape.
(I must mention "for the record" that we ARE having the warmest January on record, but I've been out and comfortably warm in the low 20's, and look foreward to riding in the "teens".)

I am planning on taking some pictures and posting on "Winter Riding" soon.

[prolesunited]

4. You're much braver than I

I won't take my expensive road bike out in that muck. And I still haven't cleaned up my hybrid and repaired my flat from my misadventure in Michigan during which I got stuck alone in the middle of nowhere by myself with a flat and broken air pump. I'm going to get to it soon to get back to using it for errands around town.

Even so, when it's too cold, I can't exercise outdoors because it aggravates my asthma too much. As it is, I have to use my balaclava when temps are under 40. You are a much hardier soul than I.

Although by Friday, I think the temps will be nice enough and the snow melted so I can take a cruise before work.

[stop the bleeding]

8. Man your hardcore - period. If you could post the link to those pictures

when you get them up. Spin spin spin.

[happyslug]

10. I have been biking also all winter long.

But just between my home and work (1.1 miles each way). Do to my work I sometime do the trip 2-3 times a day (and other times none) but I have been biking all winter long. I live in Johnstown Pa and use studded tires and fenders.

Now in previous Winters I have biked on longer trips, but those were winters where I could use slicks do to lack of snow and ice on the ground (and in my area that can occur as the temperatures reaches into the 20s). Once I switch to studded tires I stop making long trips, the increase resistance of the tires over slicks are enough for me to reduce my biking (Through once spring hits and I switch back I notice that I am still in decent shape for long trips with slicks).

As to overdressing, I rarely do that, first my trips are short (10-15 minutes) but second given the trips are short I am willing to run a little "Cold" when I start knowing I can be in a warm place within 15 minutes. I found out that once I start biking and the body heats up I am no longer cold provided I have adequate protection from the wind (which in my experience a bigger factor in biking than snow, ice and temperature).

What I normally wear are poly-Cotton Army BDUs (When temperatures drop below freezing or if it is raining or snowing I put on a Gore-Tex rain pants) over my legs. I wear my regular tennis shows (So if it rain I can slip over my Neos over-boots). I wear a shirt and a wind proof jacket (and when temperatures below 40 a inner goose down inner-jacket). When It Rains I wear Gore-Tex Jacket (But I tend to take it off when it is NOT raining for it retains to much sweat when I am biking unless I have a lot of clothing underneath it to absorb the sweat). I wear a rain proof hat with a flap that goes under my Neck (And fits beneath my Helmet) and Gore-Tex Gloves (Which I tend to take off if the temperature gets above 40, and add with a glove liner if temperature gets below 25).

I rarely wear long underwear (I do if temperature drops below 20, but that is rare in my area), the poly-Cotton BDU is warm enough when I am biking at temperatures about freezing.

Now when I did do long trips in winter I always changed my T-Shirt half way through the trip. Changing that T-Shirt (Even in 20 degree temperatures) tended to warm my up getting all that Sweat away from the middle of my Back.

Thus biking in Winter is possible, but you have to work around the Temperature and wind (which includes the "wind" you cause by biking at fast speeds).

Picture of My bike (with Trailer). Since I took this picture I removed the top bag at the rear of the bike, it did not have a very secure way to attach to the rear rack, and once I removed the bag I could drop my trailer hitch lower. I rarely use the trailer in winter, but in summer it gives my a lot of space to haul things in. You only notice the trailer going up hill (you have to down shift sooner do to the weight in the trailer) but on the flats no significant difference that I can tell (On my 20 mile trips I use to take I always hauled the trailer behind me).

[bvar22]

13. It was your reply on another thread....

...that provided the initial information and extra motivation to go for it this Winter.
Thanks, happyslug.
:patriot:

[happyslug]

14. Just re-read what I wrote.

And boy are the typos obvious now. Damn Spell-Check, not indicating mis-spelled words if the misspelling is a correct word.

Ode to the Spell-Check:

ODE TO SPELL CHECKERS
I have a spelling checker
I disc covered four my PC.
It plane lee marks four my revue
Miss steaks aye can knot see.

Eye ran this poem threw it.
Your sure real glad two no.
Its very polished in its weigh,
My checker tolled me sew.

A checker is a blessing.
It freeze yew lodes of thyme.
It helps me right awl stiles two reed,
And aides me when aye rime.

Each frays comes posed up on my screen
Eye trussed too bee a joule.
The checker pours o'er every word
To cheque sum spelling rule.

Bee fore wee rote with checkers
Hour spelling was inn deck line,
Butt now when wee dew have a laps,
Wee are not maid too wine.

And now bee cause my spelling
Is checked with such grate flare,
There are know faults in awl this peace,
Of nun eye am a wear.

To rite with care is quite a feet
Of witch won should be proud,
And wee mussed dew the best wee can,
Sew flaws are knot aloud.

That's why eye brake in two averse
Cuz Eye dew want too please.
Sow glad eye yam that aye did bye
This soft wear four pea seas.

Jerry Zar, Dean of the Graduate School,
Northwestern Illinois University

[Longhorn]

11. I got a trainer and tried it for about 30 minutes one day and hated it.

At the time, I was still riding my bike so I didn't like hauling it in and out of the house. Plus I had read that the trainer can wear out your tires. :shrug:

I prefer working out on my elliptical trainer. It's permanently set up, of course, and the movements I use are similar to riding a bike. I can adjust the resistance and I also do intervals where I use my arms as much or more than my legs.

I don't have much of an excuse for not riding this winter as we've had an unseasonably warm and mild winter. However, I've always been better at commuting than riding just for fun and my commuting schedule just won't work for me until it stays light later. So it's the elliptical for me until later this spring.

[wtmusic]

17. Trainers are everything that is not fun about cycling

and nothing that is...other than that, they're great! :crazy:

[BiggJawn]

18. House Music makes it bearable.

JUST....!/2 an hour's plenty. I don't get some of these training plans that have you warm up for 1/2 an hour, do intervals for an hour, then cool off for another 1/2 an hour....

Must be some guys really serious about bustin' out of Cat 5.

[wtmusic]

19. true

and I'd be on a trainer in the winter if I lived in Chicago where I grew up...in SoCal there's no excuse for not getting out on the road unless you're afraid of traffic (and then, maybe bicycling's just not your sport...)

[stop the bleeding]

20. I watch old races on tape that last 1 -4 hrs of course I don't ride that

long but I can put the TV on mute and listen to the Ipod and rock and roll

http://www.gnofn.org/~nobc/2005/rouge05_r.htm

[bvar22]

21. So far, Winter has been mild in Minnesota.

The rest of Feb is forecast single digit High Temps.
Jan was OK, daytime temps 20-35 Degrees F.
3hr rides were comfortable.
May need a facemask for single digits.




The studs are very cool and safe on hardpacked snow and ice, but hard to pedal on dry pavement.

I took off across a golf course today. There was only 2" of snow over frozen ground.
I expected to get "bogged down" and have difficulty, but it was surprisingly easy to pedal and very smooth.
I LOVED it.
Definately planning more of that.
It was actually easier than pedaling on dry pavement with the studs and much more FUN!