How do you keep your passion for cycling over the winter?
by Steve ~ February 11th, 2008. Filed under: Riding the Bike.
Where I live, in Winnipeg, Canada, winter is long and brutal. (That’s Rune Monstad in the picture, not me!) It starts in mid November and lasts for about five months. Some years, I take my bike off the road in the beginning of November and don’t put in back on the road until Mid April. Five months without cycling is a long time. Over the course of five months I can put on 10 or 15 pounds of weight and lose the level of fitness achieved during the previous cycling season. Okay, let’s not mince words, that’s exactly what happens to me every year.
I try to keep my passion for cycling alive by reading cycling magazines and books, reading blogs, or working on my bikes in the basement. This year, with the Bike of Doom at hand, I’ve taken a couple of mid-winter rides, but I’ve never acquired a taste for cycling in winter and don’t feel comfortable on roads covered in ice and snow. I may have to start, though. Being on the bike the last couple of weeks, despite the dangerously cold temperatures, put a smile on my face. I also read blogs by people who cycle in winter, like Michelle, in Alaska, who rides yearlong, or Viking Biker Rune Monstad who hit Winnipeg in near blizzard like conditions.
I’m curious as to how others in similar climates handle time off the bike. How do you keep in shape? How do you keep your mind on cycling? Or do you just let it slip away and rediscover the pedals, as it were, brand new, every spring?
I’d love to hear your suggestions because it’s 40 below zero outside right now and spring is months away!
Related posts:
Can a bad bike kill an interest in cycling?
End of the road for the Bike of Doom?
I survive my first week of winter bicycle commuting
February 12th, 2008 at 8:14 am
You know… I’m in Atlanta. And I’m a wuss when it comes to the cold. I couldn’t bike in the snow. Maybe it’s the islander blood in me or maybe because I’ve lived in Florida most of my life. Cold is hard to bear.
February 14th, 2008 at 4:14 am
I live in Winterpeg, too, and this is my first winter commuting. I have yet to miss a day riding into U of M, and the best advice I have is to not stop in November! Each day is just a little colder, and that makes it easier.
Here’s some gear that makes life even more fun at -35…
Tires: Schwalbe Snow Studs from MEC really grip well on everything except that chocolate mousse stuff in the road.
Head: UnderArmor poly balaclava base layer and Mountain Research GoreTex balaclava on top. Then the helmet, of course. My head has never been cold with this combo. The MR bala has a face cover that velcros on in severe conditions, but it’s rarely necessary.
Eyes: mostly just regular glasses/sunglasses. I have ski goggles for really windy days or when there’s snow in the air. Covering my nose with the balaclava makes the glasses or goggles ice up, though. Gotta solve that for the -40 days so my eyes don’t freeze…
Feet: Light duty hikers with 2 pairs of socks, poly under smartwool. Keep the boots loosely laces for circulation.
Hands: MEC lobster mitts, plus black diamond shells when it’s below -20
Good Riding!
February 14th, 2008 at 4:22 am
Great advice. Quitting in November was probably the worst thing I could have done. I figure I’m probably riding through the heart of the winter right now… so what did I miss? I have suffered the eyes frozen shut, the cable lock that will not a) unbend or b) bend back again, and hands frozen solid (until I bought a good pair of riding gloves.) Let me ask you this, Mr. Grimmer: what about the knees in winter? Does the cold have an impact on joints in motion?
February 15th, 2008 at 4:50 am
I haven’t had any problems with my knees that I don’t attribute to being 42. Mostly, I commute every day, but get out some weekends for longer rides in King’s Park on the single tracks through the woods there. Pretty Fun. My knees feel about like they do in the summer.
Now having said that, the tendons in both knees started hurting this afternoon while walking around work. It went away after a bit, and I hadn’t thought about it until you asked. I don’t think I’ll blame the riding….
So, what have you missed by starting back up in Feb? Well, there was that storm in mid November or early December that brought snow mixed with ice pellets and sleet. Didn’t have my goggles yet, and I was covered with a layer of ice anyway so I would have had to have taken them off, but it sure stung my eyes to get hit with frozen BB’s. On the other hand, there was that morning right before Christmas with the freezing fog and hoarfrost growing before our eyes, but not in the eyes. It grew to nearly a centimeter thick on me and the bike by the time I got to work. Really beautiful!
Happy Riding,
Steve
February 15th, 2008 at 5:22 am
Well, I’ll look forward to the ice pellets and hoarfrost next year!
I asked about the knees because I have a friend who’s main concern about winter cycling is damage to the knees caused by excessive motion when the joints are cold. I’m 48, my knees seem okay, but I was curious.
February 15th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
I don’t think joints are an issue in the cold any more than they are in the warm month(s). I have friends our age who run pretty serious km’s this time of year and only complain about cold cheeks and noses. We humans are built for hard physical activity in all sorts of conditions, and the more of that we do, the healthier we are. Enjoy!
Steve
February 18th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Considered a stationary exercise bike? 20 minutes a day may be enough to keep you in shape for the real deal.
February 18th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
I do own a stationary bike, not a great one, but serviceable. The problem is, I get bored. While I can cycle on a real bike for five or six hours on a marathon ride, I get bored within 10 minutes cycling on a stationary bike, even with the TV on or a book in front of me.
I suppose you could argue that the stationary bike I own is the DSB of stationary bikes. Perhaps if I bought one of higher quality… Nah.
February 19th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
How to keep a passion for cycling all winter? Try taking Winnipeg Transit for a week or two. Not being able to find an empty seat for a half hour ride on the 60 will get you back on your bike in a hurry.
February 19th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Ha ha ha. Yeah, you’re right. I don’t sit well in a car, either, though.
March 5th, 2008 at 6:55 am
Watching the gas gauge sink keeps me wanting to get back on the bike.
I did make a 40km ride last Sunday in -14C on my hybrid. The highway was finally dry enough.
I really miss cutting off the trails and mountain biking in the powder though. It’s better than skiing! I’ve been winter riding for years though. It’d take a hell of a lot for me to lose my passion for cycling.