Winter Training tips

AllezAllezAllez

It's that time of year when it's getiing darker and saftey becomes more of a concern on mid week rides.

I'd like to keep up my summer training up, on average 100-120 miles per week, but not sure how safe it is riding in the dark.

Is it just the case to packing more miles in at the weekend and dropping the mid week ride? Or does anyone have any good tips?

I can't say I fancy a turbo trainer and last week one rider (aged 23) was knocked off at dusk and killed by a car.

At the moment I'm thinking of mid week jogging and keeping up the miles on the bike at the weekend.

Any tips welcome.

P_Tucker

Get some decent lights and you'll be far more visible than you are in full daylight.

nmcgann

+1 for decent lights. I have a Lumicycle 3-led system and it rocks.

A turbo trainer is a necessary evil IMO. I don't think anyone really enjoys turbo sessions, but that (or rollers) is pretty much a winter necessity.

P_Tucker

nmcgann wrote:

+1 for decent lights. I have a Lumicycle 3-led system and it rocks.

A turbo trainer is a necessary evil IMO. I don't think anyone really enjoys turbo sessions, but that (or rollers) is pretty much a winter necessity.

I love the turbo (for short sessions). workout done in one hour, and I can listen to "101 Power Ballads" on full blast without risking my safety. Well, other than the safety of my eardrums and vocal cords, obv

nferrar

As has been said, with a decent set of front and rear lights night riding isn't inherently dangerous (at least no more so than day riding) when it comes to other traffic. Main issue is when it gets really cold and you have black ice around as well, that's when it becomes not worth the risk for me. Should hopefully be a couple of months before then though!

Tom Butcher

I think riding in the dark can be more dangerous - busy periods in urban areas especially in the wet bike lights can get lost amongst the car lights when motorists are looking through a wet windscreen.

On an quiet road I agree it's not inherently dangerous and the lower traffic levels can make it quite a bit safer.

Are there any midweek group rides near you - our winter chaingang is more popular than in Summer - well over 40 riders some nights split over 2-3 different speed groups.

Personally I wouldn't bother with a turbo except for getting fit for racing but it depends on you.

KnightOfTheLongTights

Find a good spin class? More fun than plugging away on the turbo on your own...

dawebbo

KnightOfTheLongTights wrote:

Find a good spin class? More fun than plugging away on the turbo on your own...

Emphasis on "good". Not a big fan doing pressups on the handlebars and cycling out of the saddle with no hands which some of them do.

In my experience few are structured in a good way for actual cycling, but if you struggle for motivation otherwise, then it's surely a good thing.

And besides, fit girls at the gym outweighs all the negatives!

KnightOfTheLongTights

dawebbo wrote:

KnightOfTheLongTights wrote:

Find a good spin class? More fun than plugging away on the turbo on your own...

Emphasis on "good". Not a big fan doing pressups on the handlebars and cycling out of the saddle with no hands which some of them do.
!

totally agreee, although cycling-orientated spin seems to be a bit of a growth area

theres' a very good studio that I go to in Putney that is specifically targetted towards cyclists

and I think there's one in MCR (or maybe Leeds?) that even has Wattbikes.

keef66

I just wrap up warm-ish, stick the lights on and go out on the quiet lanes round here.

Wouldn't fancy mixing it with traffic on busy roads; as a driver I know how hard it can be to spot some cyclists / pedestrians when it's dark and raining.

bluesparx

Turbo trianers aren't that bad, you can get used to the boredom so that the time seems to go much quicker. With plenty of structure the training can be interesting and diffficult and for the really boring low intensity stuff it is possible to listen to ipod, watch videos on lapto etc

ozzy1000

decent lights will transform night riding for you!!! I have an "exposure race", and i'm completely in love with it!! I was really reluctant to spend that much money on a bike light but after my first ride I honestly believe its worth every penny... i ride on lanes and cars will pull into laybyes when they see me coming, you can see enough to ride as fast as you like and its extreemly well made... I feel 20times safer... also rrp was £225 (or somthing similar?) and I found it online for £179....

I love riding at night, almost more than in day light, the roads are quiet and the airs cool.

turbo'ing is ok, I tend to do short interval sessions a couple of times a week with some mental tunes in ears

SBezza

For the OP, people get killed in broad daylight, I think it is possibly safer in the dark with decent lights as you are visible from a further distance away, though in the rain it can possibly be worse, but you are still pretty visible IMO.

I will probably end up doing the bulk of my training during my commute to work in the winter, as just training at weekends is unlikely to help much with the fitness. Some of the time it will be on the turbo (in snow and ice), or very bad rain, but the majority will be on the roads, just try and choose the quietest roads would be my advice.

jgsi

ozzy1000 wrote:

, you can see enough to ride as fast as you like and its extreemly well made... I feel 20times safer... also rrp was £225 (or somthing similar?) and I found it online for £179....

I love riding at night, almost more than in day light, the roads are quiet and the airs cool.

turbo'ing is ok, I tend to do short interval sessions a couple of times a week with some mental tunes in ears

yeah like minus 14... I thought we were talking about winter
Looking into these ueber expensive lights so as to extend winter training rides though...

meanredspider

Millions of commuters (like me) ride at night and not many of them get killed.

Good lights and visible clothing help - then choosing the right roads to minimise the risks.

doyler78

My personal experience of night riding is that I get passed much less closely than I do when riding during daylight. It's not that surprising to me considering that at night I have lights shining out like a beacon which attracts those that are paying attention. During daylight drivers IMHO take their skill level to be much greater than it is and skim past you. As for those not paying attention, again IMHO, you could be covered in fairy lights lit up like a Christmas tree and they still wouldn't notice me. I can do damn all about them so the question is do I take the risk that I come across that person day or night and just ride. I chose to ride.