[Closed] How do you keep fit and riding in such bad weather?

Group rides. Two or three rides a week.

Surely if you live near Cannock just go there and bash out laps?

live in a somewhere where cycling is by far the quickest way to get to work. 60 miles a week isn't huge by some standards, but it keeps things ticking over.

Not to mention cheapest and most pleasant (whatever the weather, I'd rather cycle than take the tube)

Your right, I should just get out there and unfortunately I live 35 miles from my work 🙁

Indoors.

I enter an event and then it has to happen.....

Commuting works for me - not quality, not training - I'm not fit - but riding to work and back 2-3 times a week, 12 miles each way, gives a decent base for other stuff. And I love commuting at this time of year - the first light is just appearing in the sky as I set off in the morning, and I can get home when there is still a hint of light in the sky, it's the start of the year proper in February as far as I'm concerned.

Decent kit as well - warm/waterproof/windproof stuff, and a reliable wahing fairy to keep it all turning round.

And a healthy dose of MTFU, of course

OK then - drive 25 miles to work and ride the last 10?

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/todays-ride-what-did-you-do

Just get out!

Ride outside less, turbo trainer and run more...

in the last 3 weeks I have ridden the velodrome more than outside. All good fun, but costs a bit more !

Your right, I should just get out there and unfortunately I live 35 miles from my work

Keep riding. The mud just makes for additional resistance training. Good mud tyres help. So does decent wet weather gear. Your bike will get destroyed though but its great fun. Sometimes. Maybe

I found the best thing I did was to get a bike that was "maintenance free", i.e. ride in any conditions, on almost any surface, and just put away filthy with no guilt.

Said bike is an Alfine geared Pompetamine with cable discs. Gets ridden on the road in winter and on bridleways in summer (and dryer parts of the winter). Was out today in a gale on the local converted railway track - bit safer than being on the road. Came back muddy and just put away. If I remember at the weekend, I'll wipe and lube the chain.

Go to sufferlandria and suffer.

http://www.thesufferfest.com/suffer-stories/in-sufferlandria/

Commuting and running

Commute is 15 miles each way

Not training for owt just enjoy the riding

Keep buying new bikes or bike bits. Then you'll want to get out and test them whatever the weather.

I found the best thing I did was to get a bike that was "maintenance free", i.e. ride in any conditions, on almost any surface, and just put away filthy with no guilt

Roadie.
Intervals.
Die doing them.
Race.

road riding, and running

and mountain biking when the weather gets terrible (snow) because I can wrap up in lots of warm clothing and have fun

I commute by bike so it's either get on and ride or pay good monies for the tube, and I don't enjoy that.

I need to ride the mtb more though, I need to sort out a group to go with but so far have been useless at doing so. Anyone know of any good ones in West London? I don't have a car unfortunately but getting to Swinley is no problem.

Get single speed.
Wrap up warm.
Go and learn how too drift in the mud. 😀

Commuting.

Trying not to drink too much beer.

someone has to say it............MTFU mate
get out a ride..............cos one day, you wont be able. 8)

Training counts double if you do it in cack weather. Honest.

I agree with the uselesshippy. I singlespeeded an old frame. Built the whole thing up really cheaply. Flat peddles, old shoes, waterproof shorts. It hurts to start but great once warmed up. I've not had to service, clean or fettle with it all winter. I just does its ting

Commute. Just leave the Orange Five at home and ride something you don't mind ruining.

I've been having the same trouble lately ......it's hard to get the motivation to just go out .....but saying that once out ...love every minute of the ride ............def need to MTFU or get some very persuasive mates

The weathers not [i]that[/i] bad. I've been getting up early for the last few months and there's only been a few occassions where the weather has been so bad that I didn't fancy going out.

Commuting for me and love it whatever the weather - but I only do 26 miles a day - your 35 each way would be tough this time of year.

Before I started commuting used to do spin classes which are great for keeping fit. Also used a turbo trainer but that is dull compared to spin classes.

[i]*Smug mode on*[/i]

Fly to South Africa this Saturday for a 2 week business trip and take your cycling kit.

[i]*smug off*[/i]

I think it's simply a case of getting used to the seasons, sort of prepare for the worst and don't expect the best.

If you have a race just think how much easier it will be if you train now. And you must have mates that ride?

I don't know really. I plan my week and make commitments so that helps?
For example I've agreed to 82 miles on Saturday, and 62 miles on Sunday. a night ride Tuesday, another one with a mate on Wednesday, club turbos Thursday...and repeat.

I too am doing the Cannock XC and have riden twice in January, but have complimented that with light gym work and walking. Last weekend did 21 miles around Coed y Brenin in 2 1/2 hour which is good for me and felt ok so seems the gym and walking have been complimentary.

My lack of riding has been more time and commitments than motivation, big ride planned this weekend too so all good and then HTN, Cannock XC, Cannock Tread and Dyfi to train for and do :).

I should add I don't enjoy getting up at 6am on weekends to ride, and it isn't fun setting off for an all nighter when you've been on your feet in the freezing cold working for ten hours.
But once out 😀

I use my CX bike on the local gravel. Much less bike cleaning and clothes washing to do. Once you are out the door it's not so bad. Do it enough and you might get a bit obsessive and thats a real help.

man up

I think it's simply a case of getting used to the seasons

Unfortunately for us in the Ribble Valley and Forest of Bowland we don't get seasons, just rain and wind - lots of it. I enjoy commuting to work but heading to the Fylde coast each morning with the recent wind has been testing my patience to say the least, seeing as the road bike is out of action and I'm on the MTB. Luckily I've avoided the rain in the morning for a good while now, but I think I may have just cursed myself.

go on pinkbike and watch videos of people riding fast (if thats your kinda thing) but watch the ones with people with open face helmets. It somehow makes it feel more relative.

It instantly makes me wanna ride harder.

[i]How do you keep fit and riding in such bad weather?[/i]

I use rollers and I have a group ride once a week. Will get out more when the weather sorts itself.

Does anyone know if we've booked a real summer this year ?. As in not the wettest one ever, again.

get a couple of toddlers in your life.. become a stay at home dad..

you will soon relish every moment that you can manage to free up for riding..

it soon won't matter if there is a bit of weather outside, in fact it would probably take substantially more than the earth's atmosphere catching fire during a plague of killer bees at the height of a zombie apocalypse to keep me indoors at the moment..

[i]the earth's atmosphere catching fire during a plague of killer bees at the height of a zombie apocalypse to keep me indoors at the moment.[/i]

Yes, well I think we've all been out on days like that. But what about the Sun, Man !. I need some sunshine !.
🙂

Will we get a summer this year. This is the question that I need the answer to.

Yunki sums it up perfectly! If your riding opportunities are limited by the time spent with your kids, then you take every chance to get out. For years, when the kids were really young, I didn't ride in daylight. Ever! Just out at night, after the kids were in bed.

I find that not being a massive mincing gayer often helps too 😉

Seriously - MTFU! Its only rain. God/Allah/Supreme-Being-of-choice cleverly designed us so we wouldn't dissolve in rainwater. Just as well if you live where I do. They put reservoirs there for a damn good reason

[i]I find that not being a massive mincing gayer often helps too

Seriously - MTFU! Its only rain[/i]

😆

Here, you'll need one of these.

[img] [/img]

I've already got a wide selection. All with matching shoes 😉

[i]I've already got a wide selection. All with matching shoes[/i]

You're just showing off now.
😀

Ride on Friday afternoon and Sunday nights. Swim 4 sessions a week (upto 2 miles total per session).
In the summer that will turn to 3 or 4 rides a week and 2 swim sessions.

Riding fewer times in the crappy winter makes me want it more, I couldn't ride 4 times a week this time of year in these conditions.

[img] [/img]

this mornings wind in the face commute was a bit testing......but i passed with aplomb.... 😉

ppff!

I've missed the last 14weeks with a broken scaphoid, radius, dislocated perilunate, broken capsule and a really hurty knee. AND it now looks like I've got scapholunate dissociation which will require pinning and another 10 weeks in a cast but I'm still *riding!!!

*not actually offroad though, christ no! just turbo trainer stuff and the odd road ride at night. Anything to slow the winter coat around my belly from getting even bigger.

😯

*thought Bin-bins was joking*

Road bike and try not to care too much about it getting muddy/chain going crusty! Its been so windy recently though especially on our fairly open roads with not much tree/hedge cover to take some of the wind.

Training counts double if you do it in cack weather. Honest

Good kit is well worth the extra pennies. Staying warm and dry when it's wet and miserable outside makes it all seem much more enjoyable.

Now that we're in February I've resurrected my 35 mile round trip commute, first day was yesterday. Lovely ride in, cold but I was wrapped up nicely. Ride home nearly killed me - I naively decided to cut down on my food intake yesterday too so I was hanging on for grim death for the last 10 miles home last night. Into the wind. Got home and laid on the garage floor for 20 minutes while the missus fed me oranges and bananas and the children poked me with bike pumps.

Windy ride in this morning too, might eat a bit more today! It hurts but it's all good, and I'll be lighter and faster in a couple of months.

Man up!

Does anyone know if we've booked a real summer this year ?. As in not the wettest one ever, again.

I thought you said you were booking it this year?

With cold hands.

And a long walk home after getting 5 punctures last week.

I go to spin classes it hurts like hell ,but its better than plodding round the woods in shit all winter

I take a dose of MTFU then go our regardless of the weather, we not soluble so a bit of rain isn't going to hurt 😀

I'm off out now ...c'mon

The skies look biblical

MTFU advice taken, cross bike ready to roll, tomorrow heading out no matter what the weather is doing. Thanks every one.

I have 'MTFU' written on my bike frame!
I get out there in all weathers, it's not so bad once you're warmed up after the first climb
🙂

Running, roadie miles, general 'crosstraining' down the gym. They all help keep the base fitness up and the arse-lardness down over winter.