[Closed] I need a new winter sport/ activity to keep me fit, help please.

Squash. 45 mins of intensive fartlek training. 😀

A Wii? 8)

Have you got an indoor climbing wall near you?I found it helps in the dark months,good for flexibility,core and upper body strength and good fun too.

+1 for the indoor climbing, I dont go that often but it is hard work/ good workout/ fun

Running.

I used to play squash and badminton and enjoyed them but they both rely on finding a willing partner who is free at the same time as me.
I'm an outdoor activities instructor so I do abit of climbing most weeks, indoor walls leave me a little cold I'm afraid.
Can't run much due to shin spints.

Sorry to seem so negative! Keep the suggestions coming...

Some sort of martial art perhaps?

but, hot_fiat, i might have to spar against a 16 stone bruiser like you and that wouldn't be fun.

guess I could get a Cinq and push it up and down the road 😉

organised keep fit groups are hell

I was going to suggest circuit training, but since you don't like people ( 😉 ), the some solitary turbo training sounds just the thing.

Twice a week should help loads. Do a google for routines.

[i]but since you don't like people ( ), [/i]

do I know you 🙂
other people smell, sweat and are generally unpleasant...

how loud are modern (cheap) turbo trainers? able in a house with sleeping kids?

surely there is some local riding in pembrokeshire?

@TJ, it's poor, very poor, especially at night in winter 🙁 It's really no worth the hassle and misery.

Swimming, but this can be as dull as dishwater

Rowing machine. Get a quiet one, set up a dvd - job done.

Rowing machines are just as boring as turbo trainers ime.

punch bag, boxing gloves job done

kickboxing or similar... they wont make you spar against someone bigger or more experienced than you... , It is good fun if they do a good warm up etc, hard work.

Running + head torch.

mountain style trail fell running sort of thing you do not have to do that much and its well good even for a 44 year old with crap knees

mountain style trail fell running sort of thing you do not have to do that much and its well good even for a 44 year old with crap knees

Rowing machines are just as boring as turbo trainers ime.

Hence the dvd.

do you have a dry slope for skiing or snowbaording centre near you? I snowboard a little during the winter on dryslopes and can just arrive by myself and chat to people there. Second hand boards and gear is availbale cheap on ebay although its best to do some research and get some lessons. Great winter evening workout. It is best on dryslope when wet too. Gloves good enough for the dryslope are availble chaply at tkmaxx as are jackets ( alhough i wear jeans and a normal non technical sports jacket) . Good adrenalin buzz. Also you'll need some pads and possibly a pisspot helmet.
People buy boards and boots, use them for a week in the mtns and then sell them. They may only be mid range but that's fine.Seroiusly I find it as spiritual as winter night rides! Once you learn to carve and have a bit of experience you will find that you use your all the core muscle groups esp your stomach muscle and legs.And you get a good adrenalin buzz and a nice calm feeling!!

LOL I sometimes found with watching dvd's on the turbo I got to engrossed in the film and then realised i've stopped peddling.

So you're mid-30s, won't ride in the dark, don't like the gym, won't swim, can't run and don't like other people?

How about you keep ****ing moaning all winter; that should see you right. 🙄

I agree with the climbing suggestion, it helps develop the forearms which reduces arm pump when riding.

I would ask the advise of a local outdoor activities instructor .... they should be able to help you.

climbing - Get through the first 3/4 sessions of burning forearms and push the grades.
circuit classes - BUT find a small, friendly gym, not your mass-produced chain gyms. They are very inpersonal and dull. If you happen to be in Sheffield I really recommend fitnessclubcentral (google it).
rowing's good - check out the concept2 winter league for motivation.

I agree with fadda, squash is great for an all body physical workout.

How about setting yourself a training programme of eating and drinking for the first part of winter. Then do the StrathPuffer as a soloist in January.

This will give you all the exercise you need for the rest of the winter and the extra weight you have put on will serve as resistance training. Just one day of misery and it's all over and done with.

Oh, and don't worry about the moaning, everyone at the 'Puffer is moaning.

Ride a full season of cyclocross races. They'll get you fit, your kids can watch their dad suffering, shout bizarre encouragement to everyone else and they also get to see you throwing up like a wretched dog at the end.

why can't you road ride??

Fair comments about moaning...thing is in Pembrokeshire there is very little indoor stuff to do, and I do all the outdoor things anyway. Just wanted to see if any 'new' ideas came up...

The road bike would cost me too much and the roads round here are lethal during the day never mind on a wet winter night, truely the worst drivers I've ever come across.

Thanks though. 🙂

oh, and it's not that I won't swim, the pool isn't open at the times I could get there.

Just get a bloody road bike and MTFU

Commute to work on it and keep pedalling past your house on the way home before turning around

Get a pair of those cross country skis with the wheels on them! All the benefits of running without the stress on the legs.

MTFU, run/turbo/sit-ups/press ups/pull up bar/crunchies, etc, etc all do-able whilst kids asleep on dark nights.

Have you checked whether there are any masters swim clubs in the area? Often pools are booked in the evening for club use.

road cycling? 😕