Everything you know about winter cycling is wrong!

Photo via the Daily Cycle Flickr Group. Added by The fixed factor.

Every magazine article or website I read with advice about winter cycling tells me that it’s time to take it easy and start to build my base level endurance (*yawn*). Well, I’m here to tell you that spending all winter peddling slowly in the freezing cold is not only unnecessary it’s painful, boring and most importantly – not the way to get fast on your bike.

If you think that I’m going to spend 6 months, trudging out into the cold to cycle slowly around some dank, pot hole ridden training route, then you need to go grab yourself an espresso.

The only thing I can think of that’s worse than that - is to forget about going outside completely and instead settle myself onto a ghastly turbo trainer for hours on end, 3 times a week. *Shudder*.

All right funny boy, what should we do instead then?

I’m not saying that building your base level endurance is wrong. Far from it. Pro cyclists do it each and every year. But if you think that they do it in the freezing cold, you are very much mistaken my friend. They swan off to some semi exotic location for some warm sunny training sessions. Sounds awful.

If you really want to work on your base endurance then good on you, it will help come spring time. But it is my personal belief that spending more than 4 weeks on doing so is a waste of time, and more importantly will destroy your motivation.

Instead here is a list of things I like to do during the winter months…

1. Cycle like its summer time! Tell me why I shouldn’t? Because it’s cold, or dark or wet? No problem, just wrap up warm, invest in some good quality clothes and lights. Get yourself some winter tyres. And away you go.
2. Do some serious hill climbing. Hill climbing may not sound like your idea of fun. But the great thing about it is that it keeps you warm. You’re not going too fast so the wind factor stays low and it gets the blood pumping. I like to try and devise the craziest hill climbing route I can, set a time at the start of winter and try and better it through the cold months. This is a great way to nail your technique and come summer time you’ll be a mountain goat. Just be sure to take it easy on the descents.
3. Take some photos! This sounds a bit odd. But on your next wintery ride – take a camera with you. If you like your camera and you like taking pictures, two things will happen. Firstly you will find that you can quite happily cycle far and wide searching for a great picture. Secondly, you will take it a bit easy for fear of busting your camera! This is a great way to build endurance, see some nature and embrace winter. Don’t forget to add your snaps to the the Daily Cycle Flickr Group :)
4. Try Cyclocross. If you need any convincing, then check out Rob’s article on Cyclocross. This sport is not only incredibly fun, it will massively improve your bike handling skills, speed and endurance. Plus you get muddy. Which is always good for a laugh.
5. Try mountain biking. Got an old mountain bike? Why not use it for its proper intention – cycling off road!!! Go find some trails and let rip. Again, it’s an awesome way to improve the bike handling skills. Lot’s of riders get out on mountain bikes during the winter. Lance Armstrong is one of them. And it’s the main reason why he’s able to get out of tricky situations on the road.
6. Go for a run! Alright, it isn’t cycling but why not sign yourself up for a duathlon or triathlon? Running is great fun in the cold and rain. Last year I ran on Christmas day and it was one of the best runs of my life. It was so quiet and peaceful, and I felt much better about wolfing down full Christmas dinner and multiple puddings later that day!
7. Go for a swim. If the weather is too bad to even run, why not go for a swim and really get prepared for that triathlon.
8. Go spinning. As much as I hate turbo trainers, spinning is actually really good fun. I think it’s because its a group of suffering people. Most gyms do it these days and I find it a great way to train my heart, improve my determination and boost my speed and endurance. For me it’s also a matter of convenience as I’m an office worker so getting on a bike at lunch times is difficult.
9. Join a club. If you haven’t already, join a cycling club. If you really have to slowly munch those miles, what better way to do it than with a bunch of like minded people. Check out Rob’s article on his first club run for some inspiration.
10. If all else fails, come to Daily Cycle for a read, or check out the Daily Cycle Facebook Page. The internet will never let you down :)

Conclusion

Cycling in the winter shouldn’t be hard, or painful. It sure as hell shouldn't be boring. Unless your a pro cyclist, the reality of being British is that each and every year you can guarantee you will be facing a winter (and possibly a dodgy summer too!).

Don’t dread it, embrace it. What will make you stronger in the spring is not the weeks of depressing base endurance training but the fact that you continued to get out there. Training outside, throughout the winter will make you strong. Fact. But it needn’t be dull.

If you have any more suggestions about how to tackle winter, please share your thoughts with everyone on the Daily Cycle Facebook Page.

Until next time, Happy Cycling.

p.s. – the competition to win a set of Exposure headlights is still open (until 1st November). Good luck.