off-season training

[fredrikw]

Quiet here in the cycling forum... now, for us in the northern hemisphere, especially the farth north part, winter is here and cycling isn't that funny when it's -10 degrees and snow...

So, what's your favourite off-season training?

For me, spinning more or less replaces regular cycling, with some added weight training which I neglect too much during spring and summer. This winter I'm taking up skating (you know, on ice), I have two rather small lakes at walking distance from my flat, one of which snowploughes actually removes the snow along the shoreline so there's a nice 15 km circuit.

[Dave Noisy]

Wow - that's cool they snowplow the frozen lakes around you. =P

Most racing cyclist use the winter (mainly Nov-Dec) for heavy weight lifting programs, then lighten and replace with more on-bike time Jan onwards..

That's pretty much what i'm doing...tho i'm working my upper body almost as hard as my lower..need more strength up there!

I posted my workout routine in another thread:

http://www.veganfitness.net/viewtopic.php?t=2034

I'm a monster. =)

Cyclists typically stay off the weights come summer, and spend the time on-bike doing bike programs..various types of intervals.

[fredrikw]

yeah, I know that you should do weights during the off-season, but since weights are rather boring in my opinion, it's more fun doing other things... we all want to ride our bikes all year around, don't we?

[Dave Noisy]

You know, i used to think weights were boring, but i quite enjoy them now! Especially when i see it transfering to gains on the bike. =)

[fredrikw]

yes, you're correct. I had problems with my lower back a couple of years ago, and it disappeared when I started working my upper body (abs and back) too... I think I haven't come to a point that I can see any real gains (other than no pain in the lower back), but that I think has more to do with inconsistency than anything else...

[Dave Noisy]

Yeah, i had serious lower back issues as well, they flared up as i hit the 95km mark the other day, but i'm not gonna complain at that point!! I'd sometimes ride for an hour or two in pain...

Other than the long ride, i haven't had any in months, and i'm riding considerably harder and faster than i ever have. =)

[fredrikw]

well, the pain is what motivates us, right?

my lower back pain really hit an all time high after a 120km mountain bike race, where I litterally couldn't walk after stumbeling off my bike after the finish line...

[bronco]

Quiet here in the cycling forum... now, for us in the northern hemisphere, especially the farth north part, winter is here and cycling isn't that funny when it's -10 degrees and snow...

Oh, I get homesick when reading this . We've had some snow here in Austria but the temperature is just above zero so it melts away immideately. What's the point with that?
Luckily I'm going home on wednesday, I hope the snow stays until then .

This winter I'm taking up skating (you know, on ice), I have two rather small lakes at walking distance from my flat, one of which snowploughes actually removes the snow along the shoreline so there's a nice 15 km circuit.

Ice skating is nice, I hope a get a chance to do some this winter. It's to bad the season for it is so short.
/Gustav

[Dave Noisy]

Holy crap - 120km off road?!? That seems insane..i seem to recall 1km offroad was about as hard as 2km onroad..

How long did it take? Good job doing it!!!!!

[fredrikw]

there are a number of these long off road races here, the longest are about 120 km... bear in mind though that most of the track is dirt and gravel roads, but still... I've only done it once, and I wasn't in a very good shape since I wasn't aware of my hyponatremia (lack of salt). It took me 7:15 to complete, I had to stop for one full hour to get massage for my lower back, and felt like I'd die after finishing... My goal for next time is under six hours...

[fredrikw]

Oh, I get homesick when reading this . We've had some snow here in Austria but the temperature is just above zero so it melts away immideately. What's the point with that?
Luckily I'm going home on wednesday, I hope the snow stays until then .

well, you never know about the winter down here in the Stockholm/Uppsala area, the winter tends to come three or four times per season... but it's still quite a lot of snow right now, and the temperature outside my window is -7, so... cross your fingers (as they say in english that is)

[Coney]

I'm planning on commuting by bike to work all winter. Last year was my first winter on bike, so I didn't really know what to wear, but this year I've got me some really warm gear, so I'll be out there unless it's below zero farenheit!

I'm not much of an ice skater, or any skater, for that matter. I do much better with my feet firmly planted on the ground or on bike pedals.

[fredrikw]

Yeah, I used to ride my bike all through the winter too, but I've gotten very lazy the last couple of years... and as you say, the best place to put your feet are on the pedals.

[Dave Noisy]

Ahh..gravel roads wouldn't be too bad then..i'm thinking 8hrs of gnarly singletrack..hehe

[fredrikw]

120 km of single track would be madness, especially with around 1200 participants all starting at the same time... the track consists of about 9 km pavement, 26 km of single track and the rest is gravel. the gravel roads are quite tiring though, it just gets on and on forever...