How are you staying in shape for riding?

[Adam]

Late fall riding season is upon us, and the regular after work rides have been replaced by occasional night rides. Has your riding volume decreased yet this fall, or are you still riding as much as ever?
What are your winter fitness plans (if any) to start off the spring riding season with a bang?

-Adam

I'm just curious:)

[Jisch]

See my previous post. I replace after work rides with lunch time rides. This only works until the snow flies though. Then its on to back country skiing. What kills me is not the transition from fall to winter - when I can easily replace MTB with skiing and ice skating, but the transition from winter to spring. I find there are many times where there isn't enough snow to ski, too much to MTB and the roads are too messed up to road bike (on my MTB of course).

I usually pack on about 10 lbs during the winter months. The first few rides are painful in the spring.

John

[Z]

As long as it's not below 15 degrees or raining I try to ride to work. My only hope for sort of staying in shape!

November is the critical month - if I can ride through that transitional month then I'm ok for the winter.

And when the snow really flies it's all about skiing for me - telemark, backcountry, skate skiing, whatever. Riding in the snow is cool, but when it's deep enough, glisse sports are where it's at.

But an official workout routine? Staying in shape? Yuck. (I wish!)

[steve_b]

and the regular after work rides have been replaced by occasional night rides.

Not yet they haven't. ;D I guess I'm fortunate, 4:00 comes and I'm out the door at work. :o You can easily get in a 1 1/2-2 hour ride in if you start by 4:30. Hell, start by 5:15-5:30 and you can still get in an hour. One hour is better than nothing, right? Until the time changes later this month, see if your boss will let you start earlier and leave earlier once or twice a week. Maybe like Jisch suggests, lunch time rides. Start a little earlier and take a longer lunch.

[Dawgee]

I bring my hardtail in from the garage but on the slick tires and ride my rollers. Kinda stinks but it works

[DEE]

I race with the inline club of Boston..so skate on the roads even at night with a light as long as the roads are dry...then there is always the indoor skates and gym workouts which I do 3 to 5 time a week year round... Skiing ~ downhill an cross country ... After all ...it is about staying in some sort of shape... ;D

[mtbtom]

The occasional wintertime Otis ride is handy for staying in shape although it's effects are usually negated by the post ride iHop Breakfast sampler platter. :-)

[CouchingTiger]

Uh, well, I ride.

Yes, riding tapers down a bit in terms of length but typically we still ride at least a couple times a week through the winter. Last winter was the 1st winter since I've be in MA that I haven't been able to ride offroad all through the winter. With all the snow last year we lost about 3 straight weeks in January. Other than that we still rode. Just find the stuff that gets packed down by foot traffic or snowmachines.

Additionally, night time XC skiing and snowshoeing help during the week nights and skiing on the weekend. Whenever the roads are dry we tend to road ride as well.

-Couch

[knucklebuste]

I haven't ridden in a week and I feel like I'm gonna phucking die. I've been riding 4 times a week on avg. Killing me. I can't see so good (Sal Rosenberg) when I get out of work. My H.I.D storm can't arrive quick enough. Then it's snoeshoeing when the snow is deep. Just get ya ass out of the house, don a backpack with a pint of OLE #7, and hike ya shite up a mountain. Full speed. SWEAT, SWEAT, SWEAT. It's all about pummeling yourselves folks, be it hiking, snowshoeing, biking. Ya gotta sweat. Remember
Calories in, calories out, and to get those calories out, ya gotta sweat. Beat yourself up, you deserve it.
knuck

[jsb2dc]

If you're looking for a place to ride in the winter, Georgetown/Rowley fits the bill. Snowmobiles use the place so the snow is packed down enough to ride virtually all year. I rode three days a week all last winter and only did two road rides (mushy snow days.) It's a killer workout since there is more resistance and on days where you use the spiked tires it's even tougher, like doing a weightlifting workout while riding (heavy tires=more rotational weight.) So stay in shape for riding by...riding!

[C.P.]

Late fall season isn't here yet! Fall only started on 9/23!

for the most part I keep cycling 2-3 times during the week as the seasons change.
The only real change is that the road bike rides end during the week, ending the aerobic workouts that road rides offer. This year I'm gonna try replacing those rides with a fast SS ride to try and cling to my aerobic capacity ::)

Also, I can already see an improved change by upgrading my old NR classic handlebar light that took 16 hrs to charge with a NR storm helmet light. (still can't believe I spent 300 bucks for a light!) But it's so amazing! Only 3 hours to charge, and is SO BRIGHT...it makes the lighting equation so much easier and hassle free as the seasons change.

[Adam]

Depending on the local weather & trail conditions I usually keep a mix of XC skate skiing, trail/snow biking, and spin class @ the gym.
Last year's March Moab trip was facilitated by semi-regular XC skiing & 2-3x/week spin class. I wasn't the fastest of our Moab group, but I was 1 of 3 who went the whole 8 days of riding in a row (on a 40+ lb bike w/ helmetcam).
It would be nice to have a safely frozen Harold Parker situation this winter, as 2 seasons ago we rode it all winter long!

-Adam
Off to order my new Gore-Tex shell...

[Mr_Cheeze]

I generally ride once a week anyway, lifting freeweights or running during the workweek. Believe it or not, squats and lunges and such have definitely helped me become a better technical rider. And upper body strength is also very helpful with balance and stability. No, I'm not breaking any speed records out on the trails but I don't care to.

Spinning classes are an excellent alternative to actual riding. You get your ass kicked for an hour but feel great afterward. Most gyms have them these days.

[pk]

Can't believe that no one's mentioned 40oz curls and high speed channel surfing. Oh yeah, by spring I'll have the fast thumbs in the country.... I just won't be able to get out of the couch!

;D

pk

[EVIL BOTA]

Well I start my Steak - n - cheese diet (little earlier this year) Then pulled out the trainer and ride that 3 times a week. I also circut train with weights 2-3 times a week. If weather permits I will ride outside (road or Mtb). I normally gain 20 lb's a winter ,but try to keep that down.

[errollthin]

Well i ride to work every day that helps. I will continue to ride to work all winter. I usallly get in two rides during the week and one epic during the weekend. if the weather is not coperating me and the weight machine have a little love hate relationship going on. But it takes quite a bit of weather to keep me in.

[johnbryanpeters]

I keep riding. October to the end of December is one of my favorite periods in the year. If it gets too deep, the snowshoes come out. For after work, I have lights, and I can ride at lunch time.

After paying the piper with a broken arm in July, I'm thinking of some gym time to work on upper body strength some in hopes that it will reduce crash cost.

J

[petembike]

Last winter was hard due to snow on the ground from late November to early april. I hit the gym a lot all year round and although it sucks, it keeps me in great shape for riding and more importantly skiing. Do an all body work out, legs to shoulders and all places in between. Do your curls on one leg, your squats on one-leg etc and build your core. I work out with a guy on my core and my ability to climb from a dead stop is unreal. Being a skier first, core is where its at. With no snow, get out the lights. Night riding is a surreal experience and I look forward to the fall so I can ride at night. Also, as someone mentioned, Spin classes are a great way to keep your bike legs going. Lots of gals in these classes is always a bonus

[splat]

I don't stop riding :)

Here is a Pic from last year before the snow got to deep , THe the Road , I leada CRW when it was 5 degree's out. and Snow shoe is a great way to figure out where to cut those new illegal trails come spring time ;D

[keram]

staying in shape during the winter = trainer + trainer + trainer + trainer + trainer + ... + trainer,
I use cyclops fluid2

[SloMoJo]

So far the plan has been ice cream...chips...beer...and baseball on a comfy couch. I believe my added weight will really help the studded tires grab this winter.

It's called the fatkins diet.
I love it so far. ;)
-SloMo

[steve_b]

So far the plan has been ice cream...chips...beer...and baseball on a comfy couch.

What, no wings? ;)

[EVIL BOTA]

Well I started push ups and sit ups this week. About all I can do with all my ALE-ments.lol I think I will try the trainer next week..


Evil Gimp