Winter miles = Summer smiles.

Ncovidius
Ncovidius Posts: 229
edited October 2021 in Road general
Okay then, the dark, cold, wet months are upon us again . Even though there was no theoretical limit on cycling ( distance and / or duration) even in the middle of full on lockdown, practically speaking, it was difficult to do over 100 milers, because of the practical lack of opportunity to evacuate to a train / spousal evacuation, if you had a game ending situation, way off your patch, not to mention lack of stopping / feeding / using facilities opportunities. Now, barring any Government incompetence induced issues re: Covid restrictions ( again ) this year, I intend to crank the winter miles back up. I’ve found that the willingness of a lot of people I know to do likewise has waned massively, in comparison to previous ( pre Covid) years. Is this a blip, or the start of a trend?

Comments

  • de_sisti
    de_sisti Posts: 1,283
    I'll be using my Concept2 indoor rower a lot more during cold, icy days. I'll still try to get out during the winter months though (and try to use my insideride rollers https://www.youtube.com/embed/YFQdLLKxiww?feature=player_detailpage&rel=0&autoplay=1)
  • webboo
    webboo Posts: 6,087
    Ncovidius said:

    Okay then, the dark, cold, wet months are upon us again . Even though there was no theoretical limit on cycling ( distance and / or duration) even in the middle of full on lockdown, practically speaking, it was difficult to do over 100 milers, because of the practical lack of opportunity to evacuate to a train / spousal evacuation, if you had a game ending situation, way off your patch, not to mention lack of stopping / feeding / using facilities opportunities. Now, barring any Government incompetence induced issues re: Covid restrictions ( again ) this year, I intend to crank the winter miles back up. I’ve found that the willingness of a lot of people I know to do likewise has waned massively, in comparison to previous ( pre Covid) years. Is this a blip, or the start of a trend?

    Maybe they just don’t want to ride with you. :'(
  • DeVlaeminck
    DeVlaeminck Posts: 9,054
    As I've not raced in a few years it's hard to judge whether road cycling as a sport is on an up or a down. You stop going out on chain gangs and training rides and it'd be easy to think others have too. It's easy to get out of the loop.

    Certainly our local chain gang is nothing like as popular as it was 10+ years ago - back then numbers actually went up in Winter - but I'd guess a lot of that is down to Zwift, the local velodrome, modern turbo trainers etc rather than people doing less. Certainly last time I spoke to someone still into road racing he reckoned the racing was harder than it was due to everyone hitting virtual racing all Winter.
    [Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,110


    ...
    Certainly last time I spoke to someone still into road racing he reckoned the racing was harder than it was due to everyone hitting virtual racing all Winter.

    I think the old concept of tapering off in autumn and building back in spring has gone.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • singleton
    singleton Posts: 2,523

    but I'd guess a lot of that is down to Zwift, the local velodrome, modern turbo trainers etc rather than people doing less.

    This.

    Most people I know will still train through winter, but they just won't do it outside. I intend to go out this weekend as usual for a couple of hours (or more) and it looks certain to be wet. But I'll just wear appropriate clothing and take the bike that has mudguards - because being outside helps with my stress management and general well being - so it's worth getting a bit wet IMHO.
  • First.Aspect
    First.Aspect Posts: 16,898
    I've read the OP several times and I still don't know what a lack of spousal evacuation entails.
  • First.Aspect
    First.Aspect Posts: 16,898
    de_sisti said:

    I'll be using my Concept2 indoor rower a lot more during cold, icy days. I'll still try to get out during the winter months though (and try to use my insideride rollers https://www.youtube.com/embed/YFQdLLKxiww?feature=player_detailpage&rel=0&autoplay=1)

    Urgh. I can only manage 30 mins on a rower, at least in part due to boredom. It is a shame Zwift abandoned a rowing environment.

    A calm wet autumn day is perfect for getting on water in some way or another though, which can be good cross straining if your spouse has constipation.
  • singleton
    singleton Posts: 2,523

    I've read the OP several times and I still don't know what a lack of spousal evacuation entails.

    An emergency evacuation (recovery) by your spouse when you have a catastrophic issue on your ride.
  • webboo
    webboo Posts: 6,087
    I would have thought in Novcovidclues case it would be similar to a manual evacuation in chronic constipation.
  • ibr17xvii
    ibr17xvii Posts: 1,065
    singleton said:

    but I'd guess a lot of that is down to Zwift, the local velodrome, modern turbo trainers etc rather than people doing less.

    This.

    Most people I know will still train through winter, but they just won't do it outside. I intend to go out this weekend as usual for a couple of hours (or more) and it looks certain to be wet. But I'll just wear appropriate clothing and take the bike that has mudguards - because being outside helps with my stress management and general well being - so it's worth getting a bit wet IMHO.

    See I'm the exact opposite. No matter what gear I have I just don't find riding in the rain any fun at all. It's what I got I got a Kickr & Zwift for.

    Probably worse for me as I'm short sighted so have to wear prescription glasses all the time & I've never found a suitable way of keeping rain off the lenses so I can still see where I'm going. I end up stopping every 5 minutes to wipe them & I just end up thinking what's the point?

    I will still absolutely go out in the winter when I can but if it's raining or been at all icy / frosty overnight I just won't risk it. Learned that the hard way.
  • singleton
    singleton Posts: 2,523
    ibr17xvii said:

    singleton said:

    but I'd guess a lot of that is down to Zwift, the local velodrome, modern turbo trainers etc rather than people doing less.

    This.

    Most people I know will still train through winter, but they just won't do it outside. I intend to go out this weekend as usual for a couple of hours (or more) and it looks certain to be wet. But I'll just wear appropriate clothing and take the bike that has mudguards - because being outside helps with my stress management and general well being - so it's worth getting a bit wet IMHO.
    Probably worse for me as I'm short sighted so have to wear prescription glasses all the time & I've never found a suitable way of keeping rain off the lenses so I can still see where I'm going. I end up stopping every 5 minutes to wipe them & I just end up thinking what's the point?

    I will still absolutely go out in the winter when I can but if it's raining or been at all icy / frosty overnight I just won't risk it. Learned that the hard way.
    I wear prescription glasses all the time too, I've found that buying gloves with a pad on the thumb allows me to wipe the glasses - or a quick glance to the right & left will blow the water off them.

    I don't ride in "all weathers" - I avoid icy / slippery roads and really strong winds as both are too dangerous.
  • Ncovidius
    Ncovidius Posts: 229
    singleton said:

    ibr17xvii said:

    singleton said:

    but I'd guess a lot of that is down to Zwift, the local velodrome, modern turbo trainers etc rather than people doing less.

    This.

    Most people I know will still train through winter, but they just won't do it outside. I intend to go out this weekend as usual for a couple of hours (or more) and it looks certain to be wet. But I'll just wear appropriate clothing and take the bike that has mudguards - because being outside helps with my stress management and general well being - so it's worth getting a bit wet IMHO.
    Probably worse for me as I'm short sighted so have to wear prescription glasses all the time & I've never found a suitable way of keeping rain off the lenses so I can still see where I'm going. I end up stopping every 5 minutes to wipe them & I just end up thinking what's the point?

    I will still absolutely go out in the winter when I can but if it's raining or been at all icy / frosty overnight I just won't risk it. Learned that the hard way.
    I wear prescription glasses all the time too, I've found that buying gloves with a pad on the thumb allows me to wipe the glasses - or a quick glance to the right & left will blow the water off them.

    I don't ride in "all weathers" - I avoid icy / slippery roads and really strong winds as both are too dangerous.
    Ice is probably the only thing that will mean definitely not riding, for me. If you have an ‘off’ on ice, you’ll be running the risk of being off the bike for much longer.
  • imposter2.0
    imposter2.0 Posts: 12,028
    singleton said:

    I've read the OP several times and I still don't know what a lack of spousal evacuation entails.

    An emergency evacuation (recovery) by your spouse when you have a catastrophic issue on your ride.
    Not applicable to Ncovidiot then...
  • de_sisti
    de_sisti Posts: 1,283

    de_sisti said:

    I'll be using my Concept2 indoor rower a lot more during cold, icy days. I'll still try to get out during the winter months though (and try to use my insideride rollers https://www.youtube.com/embed/YFQdLLKxiww?feature=player_detailpage&rel=0&autoplay=1)

    Urgh. I can only manage 30 mins on a rower, at least in part due to boredom. It is a shame Zwift abandoned a rowing environment.

    A calm wet autumn day is perfect for getting on water in some way or another though, which can be good cross straining if your spouse has constipation.
    30 minutes is all you need, if you plan your session carefully.
  • First.Aspect
    First.Aspect Posts: 16,898
    de_sisti said:

    de_sisti said:

    I'll be using my Concept2 indoor rower a lot more during cold, icy days. I'll still try to get out during the winter months though (and try to use my insideride rollers https://www.youtube.com/embed/YFQdLLKxiww?feature=player_detailpage&rel=0&autoplay=1)

    Urgh. I can only manage 30 mins on a rower, at least in part due to boredom. It is a shame Zwift abandoned a rowing environment.

    A calm wet autumn day is perfect for getting on water in some way or another though, which can be good cross straining if your spouse has constipation.
    30 minutes is all you need, if you plan your session carefully.
    I just do steady state these days. I did try a bit of structure last year, with a 2k in the middle, but this reminded me (a) how hateful sprint/endurance actually is and (b) how old I am.

    I am actually a good enough sculler to be able to max out on the water for the occasional 500 or 1000 m blat in the middle of a pootle, which is more interesting. I find that the concentration required not to go swimming distracts from the abject lack of power.
  • womack
    womack Posts: 566
    For my part come the winter I will cycle, like most have stated, in almost anything apart from ice, snow and dangerous winds.

    I do not have the patience to sit on a static bike and go nowhere, get bored very easily, so my alternative on the bad winter days is running.

    I am not ultra serious, don't have expensive shoes or out, not very fast at my time of life but just the desire to go just one mile further than previously or a few seconds a mile faster keeps me interested.

    On this morning's run I have actually posted fastest time (over 65's) on a segment so made up and it will spur me on to try and beat that time next time.

    NB. I should add there are only six of us over 65's on that segment 😉
  • roscoe
    roscoe Posts: 506
    I’ll go out over winter but not if there’s any chance of ice.

    Rain is fine but always a struggle to get out if it’s teeming it down.

    Happy enough using the turbo but an hour is about the most I can stand it.
  • womack
    womack Posts: 566
    roscoe said:

    I’ll go out over winter but not if there’s any chance of ice.

    Rain is fine but always a struggle to get out if it’s teeming it down.

    Happy enough using the turbo but an hour is about the most I can stand it.



    It would appear this indoor cycling malarkey depends on the boredom threshold of the person doing it as quite a few of us in this thread answering similarly.
  • singleton
    singleton Posts: 2,523
    womack said:

    roscoe said:

    I’ll go out over winter but not if there’s any chance of ice.

    Rain is fine but always a struggle to get out if it’s teeming it down.

    Happy enough using the turbo but an hour is about the most I can stand it.

    It would appear this indoor cycling malarkey depends on the boredom threshold of the person doing it as quite a few of us in this thread answering similarly.
    For me there is also a comfort factor. I find riding on a turbo less comfortable than riding outside - probably because I don't move as much.