Training All Year Around

austin_parratt

ok, so it is coming up for that time of year when the nights are drawing in .. yada yada ...

But I was just wondering how many people continue to train (outside) all year around, and by that I mean similar distances / times (weather permitting, obviously tricky in snow & ice)

Over the last few years I have become less 'bike' fit during the winter months, tending to use the gym more, and have to pick up my game again in the spring.

What do others tend to do..? Gym? Turbo? combination?

MountainMonster

It is normally quite hard to train in the winter here, we get loads of snow that stays for a good 4-5 months. Turbos or home trainers in the gym work wonders for me.

vorsprung

I commute 15 miles each way all year round, in snow, in ice, in rain

I train a bit in the spring and do events in the summer

The old boys say "winter miles count double"

austin_parratt

I have to admit I like the idea of training all year around, and agree with 'winter miles count double' statement (at least mentally if nothing else), but it is so tough to get motivated when dark / cold /wet certainly to do around 30 miles ...

Secteur

I dont fancy cycling in the dark, so I will only be able to cycle on the weekends come winter, as opposed to 6 days a week which I can do now.

Turbo it is, then.

lfcquin

I wouldn't say I manage the same mileage in the winter, but its not far off. I still do a 40 miler one night a week, a 60 miler on a Sunday and commute to work one or two days a week. If the reather is really bad then I might pull out the MTB or the CX bike and stick tyo some local cycle ways and main roads, but I still try and get out and maintain the same sort of time and mileage.

Riding with a club helps as you don't feel so isolated in the evenings and big groups tend to be easier to spot.

keef66

I don't really train, but I do cycle all year round. Lights, mudguards, decent clothing incl gloves, warm socks and overshoes, and quiet traffic-free lanes.

Still considering a turbo in the garage for when it's absolutely beastly though!

austin_parratt

I am lucky enough to own a turbo, but I find I stuggle to do more than an hour on there, bordom more than anything else....

I think a club sounds like a good idea, I have been meaning to join one for sometime now ..!

Chip \'oyler

If you have any goals for next summer i.e. entering a sportive, doing some crit races, your local club TTs then training through the winter will reap loads of rewards.

cougie

I'm not sure i 'train' through the winter. You need time to rest and recover after all.

I never stop riding though - unless its icy or snow on the ground. The distances come down as the nights draw in, but riding through winter maintains form and then you ramp up for the spring.

StorckSpeed

Coming from the North of Scotland, winter training is always difficult.
I still train over the winter just have to change the type of training from quantity to quality.
When the suns shining I'll put in as much miles as I can. I'll go cycling in the dark and in the rain but frost and snow scare me.
Otherwise it's sprints etc on the Turbo trainer combined with some Gym work, squats etc.... I always think the point of winter training isn't necessarily to improve but rather to make sure your fitness doesn't slide backwards. I try to work on my strength and speed and then come the spring I'll try to work on my endurance by putting in the miles again.

Of course an alternative is training camps in the MED.

coopsman1

No matter what the weather I shall still be cycling the 5 mile each way commute. Last year I had a few scary moments on the ice but didn't come off once.

If the cycle paths are covered in ice or snow then I use the road, motorists don't like that but as long as you are well lit up and keep as far over to the left your safe.

fish156

austin_parratt wrote:

What do others tend to do..? Gym? Turbo? combination?

One thing I try to do at least once a week over winter is drive to work with the bike in the car. I can then get a decent 90min training session in over lunchtime. Colleagues have just had to get used to the occassional scary sight of me in lycra.

neilo23

I actually like training in bad conditions. I'm a bit of a romantic (or a plonker) and imagine myself as being Hinault freezing his hands on the bars or Hampsten in the Giro. One of the longest rides I've ever done (170 km on the best bike path I've ever seen, in Austria) was in a snow storm. I have a kind of triumph through adversity mentality in bad conditions.

That said, the snow wasn't settling on the path and I'm very cautious when riding on icy roads. I'm lucky enough to be able to ride when I want to and am not too keen on cycling at night. That's when I wuss out if I can. But only because I don't trust the car drivers.

Still never found a way of keeping my feet warm, though, even when the rest of me is warm. Thinking of ordering a pair of those chemical, reusable insoles. They are good for "only" 90 minutes, but that would be a start.

rolf_f

Secteur wrote:

I dont fancy cycling in the dark, so I will only be able to cycle on the weekends come winter, as opposed to 6 days a week which I can do now.

Why? You are more visible after dark (assuming otherwise good weather) so probably safer. Plus there is lots of extra stuff you can buy

lemoncurd

I have mixed feelings about cycling in the dark, in some respects you're more visible than daylight. But it's no fun sorting a puncture in the middle of nowhere in the dark when it's cold and raining.

Whatever, I do less miles on the road over winter so the turbo comes out the garage in a couple of weeks.

austin_parratt

Cheers all .. I like the idea of getting out in my lunch break ... (any excuse for a long lunch ..)

So I think it is going to be gym and turbo, (with plenty of it) with a decent endurance ride over the weekend ...!

Roll on spring... (did we even have a summer?)

SBezza

I train all year round, take it easier in October for a break. If you are not happy cycling in the dark, rollers or turbos are your friends.

I can't see the point in letting cycle fitness go to be honest if cycling is your thing.

I will put some of my biggest monthly mileage in during the winter.

sheffsimon

Commute through the winter.

Plus a longer ride a couple of weeknights by extending my commute on some hilly, street lit routes round Sheff, maybe 90 minutes to 2 hrs. Or club ride on Tuesday or Thursday evening.

Occassionally do a sufferfest vid on the turbo, but not very often.

On Sunday, either a couple of hours on the road with a stop in a caff, or got a few cross races pencilled in.

Either way, maintain something through the winter.

MichaelW

Cycle commuting solves the issue of motivation and bad weather. There are days when I really wouldn't choose to ride if I had a choice but once you get into a routine, the conditions don't matter very much.
I rode through last years snow and ice, using a change of tyres.
You could go to the dark side in winter and ride an MTB off-road.

bompington

coopsman1 wrote:

as long as you ... keep as far over to the left your safe.

WRONG!
Counter-intuitive maybe, but you are far safer getting out where cars can see you and have to consciously overtake than you are sitting in the gutter or up against the kerb.

Also +1 to commuting - if it wasn't for a) commuting and b) walking the dog (on my mtb) then my mileage the last couple of years would be appalling for any time of year - but just get into the routine and it's easy. Well, not quite when it's 6am, freezing and/or raining, but the more often you do it, the more you get used to it.

unixnerd

Living in Aviemore getting bike-fit again can be a real struggle. The other year I could still ski to the next village and back on the 15th of May, and the other night we had our first snow higher up! But that's a little exceptional.

The plan as the weather degrades:

1. Road bike
2. When the weather gets a bit worse the tourer comes out. It has mudguards and 28mm tyres with a much rougher pattern.
3. Mountain bike, mostly at night.
4. Cross country skiing, often at night.

I got a bit too keen to get back on the proper road bike last year and took it out when I really shouldn't have. Skidded the back wheel on grit and had a fall. The tourer wouldn't have done that as it has a bit more grip but crucially the brakes are pants and wouldn't have been able to lock the wheel! Rubbish brakes are your friend in such conditions.

The other thing that's vital is clothing that lets you work out without boiling in the bag. My winter top has zips from the armpits to the base and it's great, fully closed up it's still OK for xc skiing down to -25C. Other bit of essential kit are my Planet-X neoprene overshoes, warm dry feet make a huge difference.

fossyant

Commuting by the bike is the way to do it - I do between 15 and 30 miles a day, every day.

For icy conditions, I spring out the MTB with studded tyres, and often take the off-road route to work - makes for a nice change.

samartin26

I'm guessing all these cycle commuters have shower facilities at work. I'd love to bike to work along the local towpath, but turning up mud splattered is not a great way to start the day...so maybe a turbo in the shed is the way forward....until my boss decides to install a shower!

sheffsimon

samartin26 wrote:

I'm guessing all these cycle commuters have shower facilities at work. I'd love to bike to work along the local towpath, but turning up mud splattered is not a great way to start the day...so maybe a turbo in the shed is the way forward....until my boss decides to install a shower!

Nope, steady ride to work, then extended loop on way home.

Ride on the road instead of the towpath, change into clean clothing at work.

No problem - stop making excuses and ride to work.

marcusjb

I never like to think that I am 'training', it's all just about riding my bike when I can.

So, commuting is a big one - sadly I work at home, but usually go into town 3-4 times a week - so that's a good base mileage.

I will continue with RRtY (Randonneur Round The Year) this winter - so I will ride at least a 200km audax event each month (should complete my first 12 consecutive months this weekend) - I found that really motivated me over last winter (which was a cold, snowy one).

I don't mind riding in the cold - in fact, it can be very enjoyable being out on a crisp morning.

Snow and ice is less fun though, but the biggest challenges in winter is really the lack of daylight - you're going to spend 3-4 hours at the end of the ride in the dark, so good lights etc. become essential.

But, yes, the biggest help in at least staying on top of fitness levels is commuting or riding your bike every time you go anywhere. There will be the occasional day where the weather is too much (particularly ice where things go from simply be uncomfortable to being dangerous at times) - but try not to make getting the tube/bus a common thing.

As they say 'winter miles = summer smiles'!