Maybe some folk are over-fanning too. For comfort, I've found that a small fan at head height has much the same effect as an industrial fan hitting my whole body, but without the consequential over-cooling effect.
@tinas, glad it's not just me.. 🙂
Maybe some folk are over-fanning too. For comfort, I’ve found that a small fan at head height has much the same effect as an industrial fan hitting my whole body, but without the consequential over-cooling effect.
This. Kinda makes sense, windchill etc. Just use layers and common sense, it isn’t rocket science.
When it gets cold I wear a long sleeved thin jersey and if I'm not racing I move the fan so it's not blowing directly on me, but still sucking in outside air. You need oxygen in there.
I’m really glad I mountain bike, commute (on a mountain bike) or go to the gym (to lift weights). I’ve ridden a road bike a few times and it seeemed quite boring and terrifying (due to traffic). And a static bike is just hell, almost as bad a treadmill and far worse than a rowing machine.
I think you’re all mad! ?
My 'setup' is I go outside whatever the weather.
I use two different fans. Both remote controlled though. One of those Vacmaster jobbies, and one weak tower fan.
When it's cold (<5c), I just use the weak fan for some minimal air flow. I use Trainer Road, so it's all interval work. I only want to fan for the interval/hard bits, so use the remote and turn it off on the rests between.
No heater, that's crazy! Layers, you quickly warm up and can lose layers.
I also use an old pair gloves, to stop some of the sweat, they do catch a lot of it.
Re. riding outside whatever the weather. I used to be that mindset too. But now I have my bike setup on a proper direct drive trainer, it's so easy to just kit up, jump on, get some work done. Feels satisfying. Then weekends are for longer social rides.
I set mine up this year with a Vacmaster at handlebar height directly below the TV, literally about 4 feet in front of my face it's bloody freezing when the temperature drops!
Used to get cold toes with my old floor fan hitting my legs, but with the air now moving over my upper half I haven't felt the need to reach for the oversocks.
I think you’re all mad! ?
It has advantages. Racing makes me try far harder than I ever would outside, and consequently is great for fitness. Racing in real life is a lot more demanding than on Zwift because it takes longer and takes more out of you whilst not reaching the same peak intensity. I can race twice a week on Zwift, I can't do that in real life even if there were races available, which there aren't. It's more like a super high intensity workout with better motivation than intervals.
It's also far less faff to deal with than slogging away outside in the rain and dark on weekday evenings. On the weekends, it's a lot harder to mentally sustain for longer low intensity rides but again there are advantages - I rode indoors on Friday evening and on Saturday, not sure many people got miles in outside.
Maybe some folk are over-fanning too. For comfort, I’ve found that a small fan at head height has much the same effect as an industrial fan hitting my whole body, but without the consequential over-cooling effect.
Works to a point, in winter I put the fan in the doorway to just waft air into the shed. It doesn't help though when the sheds heading to zero though.
I suspect the people who don't see the problem at all are those who's Turbo's are setup in garages, conservatories etc where the air might be "cold" but you don't go out to the bike and find the water bottle frozen cold, it's still a few degrees above ambient.
Mines in the 'summerhouse', which is wood so I put a fair amount of effort into making sure there's no condensation during / after exercise. With the doors open it's basically training outside, but with a roof to keep the rain off. Layering just doesn't really work, it's just one thin breathable layer to keep some warm but ventilating air against your skin that makes it comfortable.
Previously I had it setup in the conservatory and never had an issue as the room just warmed up around you as you worked.
I had a much more pleasurable experience with tonight’s session. Air in garage was 3.2 deg c, and I did a solid hour - some Zwift Base Camp and a Z2/3 ride. Went with Ronhill tracksters over bib shorts, slightly thicker mtb socks, an Endura Baabaa long sleeved top, and for the first 5 mins or so, a beanie and a zip up fleece.
I shed the fleece and hat and after a few efforts the fan was on low from around 15 mins. Not much exposed skin, and temp felt pretty decent throughout, long finger gloves also. Fan was off a few times on easy and cool down sections, and when I finished the air temp was up to 5.1 degrees.
I’d much rather be outside, but unfortunately it’s cold, dark and crap for doing long intervals.
I also don’t fancy having an accident on a quiet lane and lying in the road for hours before I’m found…
I'm convinced that for me I'd have to move continents to find it cold enough. Last year I was doing Zwift in the spare room with door closed, window open fully to the midwinter evening with two fans blowing it at me, and I still go blind from sweat. My kit weighs like 2Kg more when I take it off afterwards I'm sure.
