How do you stay in shape through the winter months?

Question

When ya can't get out and ride, what other kinds of exercises do you do to keep up your leg strength and endurance?

Answer 1

oh cause i love cycling and its also the off season for us to get abit lazy, We usually buy those cycling trainer which is similiar to the stationary bikes but this is attached to our own bikes. I am currently using the elite parabolic trainer (check out that site for an idea), its really good for balance control and also to train your endurance indoors.

to keep the muscle that we trained so hard for, we do a few weight training regime like squats and leg press. Keep Staying healthy ! Cheers

Answer 2

Well, I'm not sure what type of climate you live in, but unless you are living somewhere in the northern tier of the U.S. or in Antartica I would suggest running.

I recently started running (July) a few times a week because it's just easier to get out for a run now that daylight is fleeting. I run for an hour 2-3 times a week and if the weather is still nice then I'll try to ride a couple times a week as well. The running makes a HUGE difference in your climbing ability. You'll start to notice that you will get significantly less winded on climbs that used to beat you up before, and you'll also notice that your legs stay a bit "fresher" throughout the ride.

My program may be a little much for someone who hasn't run in a while, but even 3-4 days a week for about 30 minutes will make a noticable difference. Only ONE workout per week should be intense enough to have you notably out of breath and the rest should be gentle "casual" runs. i.e. You should be breathing heavy and probably sweating a little, but never to the point of being out of breath. Try this for a couple of weeks and you'll be amazed how much running boosts your cycling!!!

Hope this helped...and I hope you aren't snowbound or this may have been of no use to you. :)

Answer 3

I lift weights a lot and ride a little, when it's nice. Someone said spin class, which is fun, but a little too high intensity for the off season for me.
When January rolls around I start braving the cold, like it or not, but I go for long slow rides of about three hours or so. Sometimes I'll go climbing because it's slower and warmer, and take the train home.
By the time march rolls around I go for faster rides and, hopefully, its a little warmer.
Denver is an awesome place to live and I wouldn't live anywhere else, but the cold sucks - almost as bad as the trainer.

Answer 4

Try exercise videos and dvds. Pilates and yoga are both great for endurance and strength. There's a lot of exercises that really make a difference that you can do yourself at home. Get an exercise ball (those big round colorful balls). I have one and I can seriously get a full body workout on it. You can do ab wortk, leg work, arms, chest, back...almost anything!
For cardio, try a fun dvd like tae-bo. You can also buy a set of weights at Target for like $12. Good luck!

Answer 5

I ride through the winter by dressing warm unless it is wet.

If conditions don't permit riding outdoors, I use a bike trainer and ride indoors. Thre are some really good videos that focus on different aspects of riding (strength, pedal speed, climbing, etc). I also use pilates videos, rowing machine and weights. But riding outdoors or using the bicycle trainer are my favorites.

Answer 6

Skiing (nordic or alpine), snowshoeing is a great winter exercise.

Gym.

Indoor trainer. I always used the winter months as kind of a rejuvenation period...didn't ride too much. Mostly just skied! A little on the trainer, maybe once or twice a week.

Answer 7

I go to spin classes whenever I can, run on the treadmill, lift weights 3 times a week, and attend yoga and ballet classes. But I'd rather be riding outside!

Answer 8

I go swimming every day, there's lots of ways to swim, lots of ways to train your legs. Also, I just go cycling in winter here in Belgium! It's not that cold every day, it doesn't rain every day. When the weather is bad: swimming pool, when the weather is not so great, endure and go cycling!

Answer 9

Believe it or not, you can actually cycle! There are tires out there that with spikes that can handle snow and ice. There's really no reason anymore to let the winter interfere with your cycling (unless perhaps you live so far north that it's dark all day).

Answer 10

get a stationary cycling unit or go to the gym and use the treadmill. i use my bowflex more often in the winter, but i still prefer riding. just dress warm and go out when the sun is shining bright.