Winter motivation!
Winter motivation!
I'm aware of "winter miles, summer smiles" !
But how does one keep cycling in the winter? Think it's been a full 23 days since I've been on the bike! Torrential gales, heavy rain, core roads I use blocked by trees and cables for several days have blocked the motivation. Thought stripping the bike down, rebuilding it would help - but cycling along local roads, 3-4" deep in farmers excrement, hasn't been enticing!
Normally use a gym. And will again force myself today, though gym issues are even blocking motivation there!
Walking 6-12 miles a day isn't the same. But a forecast of 3-4 days torrential rain isn't enticing!
But how does one keep cycling in the winter? Think it's been a full 23 days since I've been on the bike! Torrential gales, heavy rain, core roads I use blocked by trees and cables for several days have blocked the motivation. Thought stripping the bike down, rebuilding it would help - but cycling along local roads, 3-4" deep in farmers excrement, hasn't been enticing!
Normally use a gym. And will again force myself today, though gym issues are even blocking motivation there!
Walking 6-12 miles a day isn't the same. But a forecast of 3-4 days torrential rain isn't enticing!
Re: Winter motivation!
A few downed trees and a bit of snow aint going to stop me - in fact I think I love the winter cycling more than the summer - from just after the big storm last week
This took some negotiating
think these high up trees have seen a storm or two in their time
just wonderful
Looking north to the Lammamuirs
Snow clouds moving in
More roads blocked
Needed to walk the tram lines, my road was the other side of the wall
Getting cold as the sun goes down
Thats the snow on. - the next ew mile in the dark were testing
This took some negotiating
think these high up trees have seen a storm or two in their time
just wonderful
Looking north to the Lammamuirs
Snow clouds moving in
More roads blocked
Needed to walk the tram lines, my road was the other side of the wall
Getting cold as the sun goes down
Thats the snow on. - the next ew mile in the dark were testing
Last edited by Pebble on 5 Dec 2021, 9:30am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Winter motivation!
I know the feeling but to me it is mostly an initial barrier to overcome (I now know I will enjoy it if I just get out there) a different target to set yourself (coming back dry and invigorated having ridden in driving cold rain always feels like a significant achievement) and a chance to experiment with choice of clothing (chemical foot warmers are ace - see thread on cold feet).
Having said that I do tend to take shorter rides and avoid the very worst weather, the truly miserable, long rides can be demoralising.
I have also tried to master weather timing. That howling cold front will be followed by at least an hours dryness before the showers set in so I have the bike set up ready to go as soon as the rain stops.
PS riding a recumbent does help, headwinds aren't an issue and your feet always stay dry
Having said that I do tend to take shorter rides and avoid the very worst weather, the truly miserable, long rides can be demoralising.
I have also tried to master weather timing. That howling cold front will be followed by at least an hours dryness before the showers set in so I have the bike set up ready to go as soon as the rain stops.
PS riding a recumbent does help, headwinds aren't an issue and your feet always stay dry
Re: Winter motivation!
I manage to ride two or three times a week in winter - I don't ride if there is a risk of ice - I might walk instead.gbnz wrote: ↑5 Dec 2021, 9:02am I'm aware of "winter miles, summer smiles" !
But how does one keep cycling in the winter? Think it's been a full 23 days since I've been on the bike! Torrential gales, heavy rain, core roads I use blocked by trees and cables for several days have blocked the motivation. Thought stripping the bike down, rebuilding it would help - but cycling along local roads, 3-4" deep in farmers excrement, hasn't been enticing!
Normally use a gym. And will again force myself today, though gym issues are even blocking motivation there!
Walking 6-12 miles a day isn't the same. But a forecast of 3-4 days torrential rain isn't enticing!
I've also gone back to using the gym after having my booster shot.
I'll ride in light rain but not heavy rain.
I could use the turbo in extremis
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Re: Winter motivation!
If there is a nice day will go for a ride , otherwise a Zwift session keeps the fitness up.
Re: Winter motivation!
On wet changeable days I watch the live rainfall radarStradageek wrote: ↑5 Dec 2021, 9:23am
I have also tried to master weather timing. That howling cold front will be followed by at least an hours dryness before the showers set in so I have the bike set up ready to go as soon as the rain stops.
www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/obs ... &lat=55.53
then I can hopefully maximise the dry bits with a start as soon as the rain clears
Re: Winter motivation!
Indoor bike/Zwift.
Peloton are doing 2 months free so I sometimes run Zwift and Peloton together on my bikes monitor via Apple TV.Makes it feel like a spin session at home
Peloton are doing 2 months free so I sometimes run Zwift and Peloton together on my bikes monitor via Apple TV.Makes it feel like a spin session at home
Re: Winter motivation!
Nice pictures, must be just 50-60 miles North of me. Never had an issue in the past, but 11 months returning to an unheated temporary flat doesn't help (11.5 degree's indoors the past couple of weeks)
Never mind, 60 minute spin at the gym, walk this afternoon, then who knows, back on the bike IF it dries up some time in the next week!
Last edited by gbnz on 5 Dec 2021, 11:40am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Winter motivation!
+ 1. Very close yesterday, but 3-4 hour walk instead. Will try and get the bike back on the road this week!Stradageek wrote: ↑5 Dec 2021, 9:23am I know the feeling but to me it is mostly an initial barrier to overcome (I now know I will enjoy it if I just get out there)
Re: Winter motivation!
I would struggle with that too, don't mind long cold days on the road but need a big hot dinner followed by toasting myself in front of a big open fire to get my batteries recharged.gbnz wrote: ↑5 Dec 2021, 11:35amNice pictures, must be just 50-60 miles North of me. Never had an issue in the past, but 11 months returning to an unheated temporary flat doesn't help (11.5 degree's indoors the past couple of weeks)
Never mind, 60 minute spin at the gym, walk this afternoon, then who knows, back on the bike IF it dries up some time in the next week!
Heading out now for a few hours now, its cold +2, but dry and little wind, even the roads are dry, hopefully all the roads will be passable, althogh seeing trees lying across the road is starting to fell normal.
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Re: Winter motivation!
Not riding much. Every farmer appears to be either muck spreading, ploughing or hedge flailing. The roads are pretty awkward just now, and I feel a scared cat.
Oh yes....and a bit of wild weather about
Oh yes....and a bit of wild weather about
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Re: Winter motivation!
After the famous year when ice lingered on the roads for nearly two months I invested in a recumbent trike, also very useful on slippery roads, fallen leaves etc. The fact that trikes are a bit slower/heavier than my two wheelers just results in extra fitness for when the two wheelers can be used
I too tend to eschew heavy rain but I've never considered a turbo, which I guess means I'm more driven by the desire to be outdoors than the desire to be fit
- Traction_man
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- Location: Bangor NI
Re: Winter motivation!
It's been so dismal here these past few months today's the first time I've been out on the bike since early October, outrageous, and although only a pootle up and around Glenariff Forest Park some of the hills reminded me I need to get out more, my summer fitness has sadly slipped... Nice views today though
Re: Winter motivation!
I ride fat bikes: just building a third, so winter is where it is at for me.
Ice is great on spikes, and if the snow gets too deep than I switch to XC skis....
Ice is great on spikes, and if the snow gets too deep than I switch to XC skis....
Re: Winter motivation!
today was a hard, +2 when I set off, 0 when I got back - cold wet damp - brutal and fantastic all at the same time, 40 mile of near torture,
if only I could afford the woman with the whips and chains - lol
if only I could afford the woman with the whips and chains - lol