Becoming a fair weather rider
Discussion
Not sure why I'm writing this but here goes....Since I turned to cycling from running (long story behind that one) I used to ride in all weather conditions, but just over 2 years ago I slipped on a wet/icy drain cover on a frosty November morning and broke my clavicle and really hurt my hip. I had to have a fair chunk of time off work and effectively lost a couple of thousand quid because of it. Since then, if the weather has been bad I have generally stuck to indoor training....I have a good set up....big TV, 2 massive fans + portable AC unit, Wahoo Kickr and a Kickr Climb.....doesn't get a great deal better. I have been doing 80% or so of my riding indoors, and I'm feeling noticeably stronger for it.
Well....doing a 16 mile ride into work on a cold morning on Thursday I went round a left hand bend and had another off after hitting a sheet of black ice. Literally nothing I could do. Luckily there wasn't a car coming the other way because I slid into the other side of the road. I have come away relatively lightly....severely bruised and grazed left hip, lots of groin pain (which was actually almost alleviated by having my pubic symphysis adjusted yesterday....it's now almost gone thankfully), my left elbow is grazed, both shoulders are bruised and achy, 2 left-hand ribs are very tender to the touch and deep inspiration causes some pain on my sternum and my right wrist is a bit sore too.
For all of those who say "no such thing as bad weather" or "indoor riding is stupid when you have the outdoors" etc.....well....you can f*ck off. I've never been hit by a car riding indoors, I have never broken a bone when riding indoors, I don't need time off work and lose money by having accidents indoors etc.
I'll be back outdoors when it's dry and warmer, but I have decided that winter riding is not worth the risk for me. I don't get sick pay, I have a mortgage to pay each month and I'm more than happy to spend hours on the Kickr.
Well....doing a 16 mile ride into work on a cold morning on Thursday I went round a left hand bend and had another off after hitting a sheet of black ice. Literally nothing I could do. Luckily there wasn't a car coming the other way because I slid into the other side of the road. I have come away relatively lightly....severely bruised and grazed left hip, lots of groin pain (which was actually almost alleviated by having my pubic symphysis adjusted yesterday....it's now almost gone thankfully), my left elbow is grazed, both shoulders are bruised and achy, 2 left-hand ribs are very tender to the touch and deep inspiration causes some pain on my sternum and my right wrist is a bit sore too.
For all of those who say "no such thing as bad weather" or "indoor riding is stupid when you have the outdoors" etc.....well....you can f*ck off. I've never been hit by a car riding indoors, I have never broken a bone when riding indoors, I don't need time off work and lose money by having accidents indoors etc.
I'll be back outdoors when it's dry and warmer, but I have decided that winter riding is not worth the risk for me. I don't get sick pay, I have a mortgage to pay each month and I'm more than happy to spend hours on the Kickr.
I've riden year on my road bike round for circa 7 years.
When the weather was really bad I'd just run instead (I'm also a runner who now also road bikes).
Three weeks ago had to turn back on a lane having riden onto sheet black ice.
Two weeks ago I came off on a lane coming round a 90 degree bend and the bike just went from under me.
I had been looking for a smart turbo and went and picked up a Neo 2 the next day.
No point riding when it's circa zero and the roads are icy, if it's really foggy and cars can't see you or pissing down.
Plus I get to ride in the evenings when it's dark and I can just jump on and do a quick ride.
Best of both worlds.
When the weather was really bad I'd just run instead (I'm also a runner who now also road bikes).
Three weeks ago had to turn back on a lane having riden onto sheet black ice.
Two weeks ago I came off on a lane coming round a 90 degree bend and the bike just went from under me.
I had been looking for a smart turbo and went and picked up a Neo 2 the next day.
No point riding when it's circa zero and the roads are icy, if it's really foggy and cars can't see you or pissing down.
Plus I get to ride in the evenings when it's dark and I can just jump on and do a quick ride.
Best of both worlds.
I can totally respect anyone’s decision to be a fair weather rider. It’s logical.
With indoor training so much more enjoyable with the hardware and software available today it has changed the game.
I commute when it’s dry and mild. In less than ideal conditions it’s just not worth it to me.
Ultimately if you’re pedalling whichever way and feeling better mentally and physically, it’s all good!
With indoor training so much more enjoyable with the hardware and software available today it has changed the game.
I commute when it’s dry and mild. In less than ideal conditions it’s just not worth it to me.
Ultimately if you’re pedalling whichever way and feeling better mentally and physically, it’s all good!
I've always only been a fair weather rider myself. Unless it is a particularly dry and not too cold day, I rarely ride November through to the start of March and run instead during those months to keep my fitness up. Managed 45 miles last Saturday though as it was relatively mild, albeit bloody windy! Can't wait for Spring so I can some evening miles in in daylight and warmth!
I've been commuting to work but I haven't done any other rides outside this winter.
I haven't fallen off or had anything that specifically put me off. I did the majority of my rides last year with a club or other people, whereas in the past I did almost all solo.
Cycling on the trainer is more convenient, more efficient and more enjoyable (in the winter).
I haven't fallen off or had anything that specifically put me off. I did the majority of my rides last year with a club or other people, whereas in the past I did almost all solo.
Cycling on the trainer is more convenient, more efficient and more enjoyable (in the winter).
I can relate to this thread
Not long ago I revelled in being one of my clubs winter hard cases and remember a particularly enjoyable 80km ride at an average temp of -7 without seeing a single other cyclist. TBH this was less reckless than it sounds as I have decent kit and I stuck to gritted A roads
And then the local councils decided to cut their grit budget
And then I realised I was the only one of the hard cases who hadnt broken a collar bone
And then I discovered Zwift
As I type this I can hear Storm Ciara work her magic and am happy in that I will be having a bit of a lie in tomorrow and then will thrash myself for 90 mins in Innsbruck
Cheers
If you only ride when the weather is clement, that’s fine. What’s the point in forcing yourself to do something that isn’t enjoyable? The only conditions which will keep me off the bike are ice / risk of ice, and thick fog. If that means a few days where I can’t ride, so what, if I have a big enough ‘off’ it will take a lot longer than that to get back out. However, don’t kid yourself that Zwift and the like are any sort of real substitution, you’ll get ‘Zwift soft’ if you don’t do any outdoors proper road riding, for any extended period of time.
Edited by GOATever on Sunday 9th February 17:10
GOATever said:
If you only ride when the weather is clement, that’s fine. What’s the point in forcing yourself to do something that isn’t enjoyable? The only conditions which will keep me off the bike are ice / risk of ice, and thick fog. If that means a few days where I can’t ride, so what, if I have a big enough ‘off’ it will take a lot longer than that to get back out. However, don’t kid yourself that Zwift and the like are any sort of real substitution, you’ll get ‘Zwift soft’ if you don’t do any outdoors proper road riding, for any extended period of time.
Firstly, and this may come as a shock, but I actually ENJOY indoor training. I know, madness, eh! Secondly, I don't use zwift....I use Sufferfest Edited by GOATever on Sunday 9th February 17:10
Since getting a Kickr, and more latterly a Kickr Climb, the sessions are so much more enjoyable and interactive.I still ride outdoors occasionally if the weather is bad, but if it's cold to the point there's a risk of ice I'm simply not going to bother now.
Lastly, I like to be consistent. I don't want to only ride outdoors when the weather is nice, because come summer I will be dog-slow. I also enjoy being fairly quick, especially up the hills....and training well and consistently means I get to enjoy that when the weather is nice.
Edited by TyrannosauRoss Lex on Sunday 9th February 17:55
GOATever said:
If you only ride when the weather is clement, that’s fine. What’s the point in forcing yourself to do something that isn’t enjoyable? The only conditions which will keep me off the bike are ice / risk of ice, and thick fog. If that means a few days where I can’t ride, so what, if I have a big enough ‘off’ it will take a lot longer than that to get back out. However, don’t kid yourself that Zwift and the like are any sort of real substitution, you’ll get ‘Zwift soft’ if you don’t do any outdoors proper road riding, for any extended period of time.
"Zwift soft"?Edited by GOATever on Sunday 9th February 17:10
I've ridden far harder inside than I can outside! I'm having to dial things back a few notches so I don't burn out before the weather improves.
2 months of mainly indoor riding got me round 75 miles solo with 5500 ft of climbing yesterday with no issues. Even got some nice PRs on some of the climbs which I was pleased with so early in the year with winter kit on.
Trouble is now I’ve got to clean all the crap off the bike so I can stick it back on the trainer for tomorrow mornings session
Trouble is now I’ve got to clean all the crap off the bike so I can stick it back on the trainer for tomorrow mornings session
What you haven't been out on you bike today? 
I went out today on mine - In the garage on the turbo!
Years ago I used to ride even if it was sub-zero, and fell off a couple of times. The last time I tried to go out when it looked icy (about 20 years ago) I just got my foot down on the grass verge having gone 400 yards as the front wheel started slipping! I walked back home and put the bike away.
Now if it's 4 degrees C or less I'll not even contemplate riding on the road..... Older and wiser? The enthusiasm of youth was a great feeling, but slipping off and breaking something just to get 40 miles in doesn't appeal.
I went out today on mine - In the garage on the turbo!
Years ago I used to ride even if it was sub-zero, and fell off a couple of times. The last time I tried to go out when it looked icy (about 20 years ago) I just got my foot down on the grass verge having gone 400 yards as the front wheel started slipping! I walked back home and put the bike away.
Now if it's 4 degrees C or less I'll not even contemplate riding on the road..... Older and wiser? The enthusiasm of youth was a great feeling, but slipping off and breaking something just to get 40 miles in doesn't appeal.
lufbramatt said:
2 months of mainly indoor riding got me round 75 miles solo with 5500 ft of climbing yesterday with no issues. Even got some nice PRs on some of the climbs which I was pleased with so early in the year with winter kit on.
Trouble is now I’ve got to clean all the crap off the bike so I can stick it back on the trainer for tomorrow mornings session
Last March I did an Everesting (ironically, starting out at 0 degrees Trouble is now I’ve got to clean all the crap off the bike so I can stick it back on the trainer for tomorrow mornings session
) on the back of extremely little outdoor riding. Lots (and I mean lots!) of Sufferfest and Zwift accompanied with the Kickr Climb got me through..... And strongly, too! I think my longest indoor ride was 9 hours riding time with an elapsed time of 9:15. Don't plan to do that again in a hurry Here's the other side of the coin! I don't have an indoor set up; a good one is at least as much as a "lucky" find on ebay for a proper bike. Plus my garage leaks, and the wifi signal is a bit of a stretch down there. A friend has a good indoor set up and he has used it to great effect over the last two years, none of us can keep up with him.
I do ride outside at this time of year, mainly on my old hardtail mtb with the 2.25" knobbly tyres. I will sometimes ride on the road on my road bike if it is zero, but I spend so much time looking at weather forecasts I'm fairly confident that the roads will be dry. I'm a fair weather cyclist in that I won't go out in the rain; the road bike doesn't have mudguards so both me and the bike get covered in s
te and by the time you have cleaned it and washed all your gear, any fun has gone. And if it is raining off road, that also is a total bog.
I commute to work a couple of times a week, I can go on quiet country lanes or properly off road. Down near the south coast, it's rare when you can't ride more than 3 days running because of rain. Sub zero up on the Downs is a magical experience, the crunch of the frost or frozen ground under the wheels, bright sunlight, solitude...
I really don't like how Strava includes indoor miles with outdoor miles. You can't compare 10 miles outdoor with 10 miles indoor especially at this time of year. I know you can make your indoor miles as hard - or harder - in training terms as an outdoor ride, but you don't have the 20 minutes hunting out all the layers of clothing, the checking charge levels of lights, the cleaning up after.
I do ride outside at this time of year, mainly on my old hardtail mtb with the 2.25" knobbly tyres. I will sometimes ride on the road on my road bike if it is zero, but I spend so much time looking at weather forecasts I'm fairly confident that the roads will be dry. I'm a fair weather cyclist in that I won't go out in the rain; the road bike doesn't have mudguards so both me and the bike get covered in s
te and by the time you have cleaned it and washed all your gear, any fun has gone. And if it is raining off road, that also is a total bog.I commute to work a couple of times a week, I can go on quiet country lanes or properly off road. Down near the south coast, it's rare when you can't ride more than 3 days running because of rain. Sub zero up on the Downs is a magical experience, the crunch of the frost or frozen ground under the wheels, bright sunlight, solitude...
I really don't like how Strava includes indoor miles with outdoor miles. You can't compare 10 miles outdoor with 10 miles indoor especially at this time of year. I know you can make your indoor miles as hard - or harder - in training terms as an outdoor ride, but you don't have the 20 minutes hunting out all the layers of clothing, the checking charge levels of lights, the cleaning up after.
frisbee said:
"Zwift soft"?
I've ridden far harder inside than I can outside! I'm having to dial things back a few notches so I don't burn out before the weather improves.
Unless you can magically replicate braking and cornering during your zwifterbation sessions, then yes, you will get soft, fairly quickly if you don’t do any outdoor road riding ( or any other sort of outdoor riding for that matter ). Clipping and unclipping ( if you ride clipless ) also puts a surprising effort on certain muscles when proper riding, as does clipless hill starting and the like. There are so many subtle things that you don’t realise, going on with a proper ride, that add up to quite a training effort, which you can’t get whilst rubbing one out on a turbo.I've ridden far harder inside than I can outside! I'm having to dial things back a few notches so I don't burn out before the weather improves.
Edited by GOATever on Monday 10th February 13:27
GOATever said:
frisbee said:
"Zwift soft"?
I've ridden far harder inside than I can outside! I'm having to dial things back a few notches so I don't burn out before the weather improves.
Unless you can magically replicate braking and cornering during your zwifterbation sessions, then yes, you will get soft, fairly quickly if you don’t do any outdoor road riding ( or any other sort of outdoor riding for that matter ). Clipping and unclipping ( if you ride clipless ) also puts a surprising effort on certain muscles when proper riding, as does clipless hill starting and the like. There are so many subtle things that you don’t realise, going on with a proper ride, that add up to quite a training effort, which you can’t get whilst rubbing one out on a turbo.I've ridden far harder inside than I can outside! I'm having to dial things back a few notches so I don't burn out before the weather improves.
Edited by GOATever on Monday 10th February 13:27
t. "zwifterbation" or "rubbing one out on a turbo"....are you 15 years old? Clipping and unclipping puts lots of strain on certain muscles etc? I reckon I unclip a few times at most during a 50+ mile ride....!I've ridden through the winter for years and now suffer Arthritis in both hips at 52 yrs old.
I backed off this year and have been riding mountain bike at a trail centre at least once a week to keep me out and about and am totally loving it.
Strangely it's less stressful on my hips than road work in the cold.
I won't be stopping winter road work, but I'm not killing myself to be fit for spring anymore.
I backed off this year and have been riding mountain bike at a trail centre at least once a week to keep me out and about and am totally loving it.
Strangely it's less stressful on my hips than road work in the cold.
I won't be stopping winter road work, but I'm not killing myself to be fit for spring anymore.
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