For many of us across the country who ride, winter is a time spent staring out the window wondering when spring is going to arrive. The cold and gray seems to push on for ever. Its hard not to get stir crazy, our poor lonely bikes are just sitting in the garage, depressed and underused. Our minds and bodies start to feel the same way our bikes do, melancholy and in need of activity. Well don’t fret any longer. Although winter is plagued with short cold days there are ways to get out and have fun while still getting a work out that wont make that first bike tour or race of the season hurt so bad.
Many winter time activities are dictated by what part of the country you live in. I would say that those who live in the mid-west probably have been delt the hardest hand, having grown up there, I sympathize. Your options are limited, you can bundle up to the hilt and brave the cold and gray on a road bike or hit the trails that have remained open, or go for a run, a less than ideal compromise, even though lately I have even resorted to running, still a great workout and you stay warmer than being on a bike. Going to the gym, hey its better than nothing and there’s always eye candy for both sexes. And riding the trainer, I have vowed never to step foot on a trainer or set of roller again, having spent far to much time on one during the winter months back in my youth when I was trying to compete at an elite level. But those of you with the will power to put in a movie and do a two hour ride I take my hat off to you, for you are stronger than I. I knew a couple of guys in Wisconsin that would actually line up together in a designated basement each weekend and have a computrainer road race, sometimes for five hours, now that’s just craziness.
So If you are lucky enough to live in a place where you can actually do something with the winter consider yourself lucky. The snow can offer many enjoyable activities. If your really lucky you live near a ski resort or nordic center, being able to alpine or tele-ski is almost as good as riding a bike. I know some that consider bike riding as mearly occupying the time until winter comes back around. Personally I enjoy going to the nordic center for some skate skiing. Both classic and skate skiing are great workouts and probably the closest things there are to cycling from an aerobic stand point, in fact nordic skiing is probably the best overall workout that exists. The advantages of classic skiing is the ability to use both groomed track at the nordic center and to be able to ski back country allowing you winter time access where ever you want. Personally I don’t know how to nordic ski, or at least I have never tried; I prefer to skate. Skate skiing is probably the hardest single sport I have ever tried except for a team time trial. Its fast, it requires focus and the ability to suffer, but when you and a friend have a good rhythm going through the woods there is nothing better. Skate requires a wider groomed track unlike classic skiing, so it is a little bit more specific to a nordic center thats does a good job grooming.
If you don’t have a nordic center near by or a ski resort then go get yourself some snow shoes. Snow shoeing may not be as glamorous as alpine skiing or as Olympic as cross country but there’s no place you can’t go with a pair of snowshoes. Snowshoes are pretty affordable and you can go right out your door. Don’t worry about getting your workout in, if your breaking trail you’ll realize real quick that its not just a walk in the snow. If all else fails, well there’s always running, I know, but its probably the cheapest most time effective workout you can get away with, but it still sucks. Everytime I go for a run I wish I was on my bike, but hey, its better than nothing.
Its hard during the winter, by the time you get home it almost dark and its always cold. If you put a little effort into it, and some thought, you can keep your self from going crazy and keep your body from turning into a rust bucket. So don’t fret. Many are in the same situations you are. Except for those in southern Arizona, paying for it in the hot summers. Be a little creative and get out their and do something, even if it means bundling up and grabbing a head lamp. Mountain Bike Riding has some good advice for the winter as well as the Bike Shop Hub. Hang tough it will be spring soon.
