How to survive winter part 2

So I wrote a post a while back called Surviving Winter. I decided to do an update because it seems like every year, the same thing happens over and over as people make excuses to stop riding. It's dark so much sooner and cold weather makes some just shut down from riding bicycles. But what folks don't understand is that riding in the winter is great. It's the best time really for all kinds of riding. Long rides are by far the best in the winter time.

So, how exactly do you make it through the winter and come out ready to go really good in the spring?

The thing is, if you can just keep your riding consistent through the winter, that temperature that once was "way too cold" now becomes no big deal. For example, let's say 30 degrees was your cut off temperature. If you get a bunch of rides in at 30 degrees and a bunch at 20, 15, 10 etc. and get used to that, 30 and 40 start to feel really good. A 50-60 degree day feels awesome when they randomly come around.

Lake Hefner dam is the perfect place to do technical FTP intervals under these conditions

I guess my point here is, it's always going to sting a little for the first 10-15 minutes, but after that, it always feels good and the more you do it the easier it gets.

 First off you need to acquire a few key clothing pieces. Knee warmers, arm warmers, medium thickness full finger gloves, long and short sleeve base layers, a light jacket or vest, and maybe a hat that covers your ears in addition to your normal kit to start with, and you're good to around 45-50 degrees F. A light shoe cover would be nice around here too.

When it gets colder, I'll add another layer for every 10 degree drop. A heavy jacket counts as two layers.

There's also different gear for different temps. - tights with wind block and/or inner lining, heavy-med-light gloves, same with hats, shoe covers etc. Just make sure you have the right gear for the temperature you're riding in. I've been riding in the winter consistently for many years now, and there's still a learning curve at the start of each season as to what works best in any given temperature.

Bikes thawing out

Indoors Vs. Outdoors

I know a few guys that do the majority of their riding and training in the winter indoors on a trainer and thrive on it. In fact some even do a substantial amount year round. I'm not faulting them in any way. There's no wrong way to get fitter or faster for bike racing if it works for you.

There's hasn't been a winter that I haven't done some riding indoors. It can be difficult to do FTP intervals outside in an ice storm or blizzard (and we had a few last year). It's also tough to do a recovery ride outside if the wind is blowing 50mph.

The best way I've found to deal with riding indoors is to have a plan. Get your warm up, main set, then cool down and done. 30-90 minutes seems best to me. Going along with some of the cycling workout videos works well.

The wrong way (or at least the way that feels like torture to me) is to just get on the trainer and start riding with no time goal or plan. It's not the same as just going for a joy ride outside. 15 minutes on a trainer feels like 1 hour outside in this manner.

All and all, the benefits to riding indoors:

• It's available to do anytime you have to do it
• The conditions are the same- it's easy to control your workout
• No time wasted getting all bundled up
• No chance of getting hit by a car or chased by a dog
• No stoplights or stop signs= steady uninterrupted workout
• It builds a different kind of mental toughness

Some of the benefits to riding your bike in the cold winter weather:

• If you have lights and the proper gear, you can do it any time you're tough enough
• There's no substitute for the mental toughness and inner hardness you develop
• Essential skills are learned by riding in snow and ice
•  After a winter of riding outside, the early spring races feel warm
• You develop ninja like bike handling skills dodging cars, dogs etc.
• It's hard to do a 5-6 hour endurance ride indoors





Early spring road race in 2011 - Cold but it felt good

So far this year the temps haven't gotten too cold, so it's time to get out and get acclimated ASAP!