Winter training is generally going to be tough. You’re either going to be riding inside and bored, or you’ll be outside in the cold, harsh conditions. If you will be outside in the cold, along with your warm clothing, you’ll need a beater bike.

A winter “beater” bike is generally heavier, slower, cheaper, and tougher than your road racing bike. That’s good. Here’s why:

1. Slower speeds are safer.

You don’t want to hit a patch of ice at high speeds and go flying.

2. Slower speeds are warmer.

As if the cold air and wind chill aren’t bad enough, you create your own windchill when you ride. But the slower you go, the less windchill you generate.

3. You won’t overshoot your headlight.

With such short days, you’ll be riding in the dark before and after work, so you’ll probably be using a headlight. A headlight will only reach so far, so you want to be riding slow enough that you still have a good stopping distance just in case a road hazard appears out of nowhere.

4. You don’t have to worry about weather damage.

If I was riding my race bike in sloppy conditions, I’d be paranoid about all the salt and gravel getting thrown at it. Then I’d spend hours cleaning it after each ride. With a cheap beater bike, you can put your mind at ease knowing your race bike is tucked in safely at home!

5. Meatier tires for fewer flats.

A mountain bike or at least a cyclocross bike is nice for winter weather. These bikes have wider, tougher tires, so you should experience fewer flats. And changing flats really, really sucks in the winter!

6. You still accomplish a tough workout.

On a heavier bike, you can still put out the same number of watts (power) as your workout calls for, but you’ll go much slower thanks to the extra weight and rolling resistance. And as I mentioned, slower speeds are warmer and safer! It’s a win-win.

Do you have a beater bike for your winter rides? Let me know in the comments!

Photo: tandemracer

As of yesterday afternoon, I have signed-up for my first event of 2011: The Parker Dam Polar Bear Swim!

This involves a quick swim (maybe 2 meters) in very, very cold water. If you’re never seen a polar bear plunge type of event, it goes something like this:

1. Park officials cut a big square of ice off the top of a frozen lake.
2. Participants, sporting appropriate attire for a summer day at the beach, line up to jump in.
3. One by one, participants take the plunge.
4. Participants climb out a ladder on the other side… or are overcome by the freezing cold and pulled out to safety by the officials.
5. A crowd of spectators watches, cheers, and probably laughs.
6. Participants vow to never do it again, but then they forget how much it hurts, and proceed to do it again next year.

Now, this polar bear swim is certainly not a physical challenge like running a marathon, but it’s somewhat similar – both events attract people who think it’s fun to do very uncomfortable things!

I’m not completely out of my mind though. This is all for a good cause – to raise money for the local YMCA. That makes it feel like I’m doing some good this weekend, rather than simply satisfying my craving for stupidity!

I will post a video of my swim next week! (I’m sure a video of girls like I have pictured would be more enjoyable for most, but hey, I do what I can.)

Thank You for Your Donations!

And of course, thank you to everyone who went out of their way to send in a donation…

• Bob & Pearl Iliff of Louisville, KY.
• Marikaye DeTemple of Bigler, PA.
• Rosella Duttry of Clearfield, PA.
• Thomas Kuracina of California.

Thank you for your donations! Together we raised $75 for the YMCA. Your generosity combined with my stupidity, I think we make a good team!

Parker Dam Polar Bear Swim Video

Here is the video of me taking the plunge!

That was refreshing and invigorating!

Photo credit: Flickr/Wikipedia

As we approach that time of year when the cold, wet weather typically sets in, it is time to look into indoor riding options. You can choose between rollers and trainers, but the stationary trainer is the standard tool of the trade for most riders looking to train indoors.

Here are five indoor trainers including popular models that have been getting rave reviews for years as well as a couple new, high-tech offerings:

1. CycleOps Jet Fluid Pro

CycleOps has always had a nice flagship trainer option. Cyclists have been buying this for years, and many shops even use a CycleOps Fluid 2 unit for bike fits. This Jet Fluid Pro is simply the latest upgrade to CycleOps’ stable of fluid trainers.

The JetFluid Pro uses PowerTuned technology for a smooth fluid feel, which makes for realistic feeling accelerations when riding. In layman’s terms, this trainer makes it feel like you’re actually out on the open road. It is also “the quietest Fluid trainer ever made.”

Website: www.Saris.com

2. 1UpUSA

One trainer that’s very popular around the online cycling communities, yet I rarely see in person, is the 1Up USA trainer. How popular? It has been voted “Best Trainer” seven years in a row by MountainBikeReview.com and RoadBikeReview.com!

You’ll have to check the site to read all the details that set this trainer apart from the rest, but the number one reason is the Centrifugal Pressure Resistance, which I can’t explain other than the fact it is supposed to provide a more realistic ride than any fluid or magnetic trainer!

For just $299 shipped, the 1UpUSA trainer is definitely worth a look.

Website: www.1upusa.com

3. Kurt Kinetic Road Machine

The other extremely popular fluid trainer is the Road Machine from Kurt. This is a fluid trainer with smooth resistance and good road feel.

Website: www.kurtkinetic.com

4. Blackburn Tech Fluid Trainer

Blackburn has come out with an updated fluid trainer to expand your options. It is supposed to be as good as the others, but it’s $100 or so less, so it’s definitely worth considering. It also comes with a lifetime warranty.

Website: www.blackburn.com

5. Tacx Fortius

This is a serious trainer, with a serious price – well over $1000. Not only is it a solid trainer, it incorporates Virtual Reality and turns your slog on the trainer into a lifelike racing experience!

If you plan to log a lot of miles indoors and you have lots of extra cash, definitely take a look at the Virtual Reality trainers from Tacx.

Website: www.tacxvr.com

Another cyclist suffering through indoor training and wondering about some DVD workouts to get through it all…

Just got started on cyclo core workouts and like them. Question: I got a bike trainer and am wanting some workouts. I am a poor cyclist, do not like to ride outdoors in the coll tempatures. Do you have any good DVD bike workouts to get me in shape for triathloning for 2009?

Thanks, DVD Donna

Hi DVD Donna,

I rarely use indoor trainers and the corresponding workout DVDs (since I prefer rollers and some music,) but I can point you in the right direction.

If you like Cyclo-Core, you might like Cyclo-Zen, which includes a set of “Yoga Spin” intervals – it’s a 45 minute workout combining time on the trainer with power yoga. There are also some online spin classes available in the Cyclo-Club membership site that look interesting.

But the biggest name in indoor workouts has to be Spinervals. They offer a ton of DVDs, and some focus on time trials, which would be similar to the training you need for a triathlon’s bike leg.

Here are some of the Spinervals videos that might be best suited to you:

Competition 14.0 – Totally Time Trial
Competition 22.0 – Time Trialapalooza
Triathlon Performance 5-Pack (contains 5 relevant DVDs in one handy package.)

And here is a review I did of one of the workouts, to give you an idea of the style:

Spinervals 4.0 Muscle Breakdown DVD Review

Next in line is probably the CTS Train Right series by Chris Carmichael. Here is one DVD that focuses on time trials:

Train Right – Time Trial DVD

Surely one of those options will get you in shape! Good luck with your triathlons in 2009!

The ear band is one of the best accessories for cool weather outdoor activities, whether it’s running, hiking, or cycling. They keep your ears toasty warm without causing your head to overheat.

I got a thin, cycling-specific ear band when I first started riding, and I bought the “S/M” which was the same as my helmet size. Should have gone for the Large size, though, because the one I got cut into the sides of my head.

Not only was it too small, the fabric did not stretch at all! That’s why the seams cut into my head.

But I used it for a few years until I found a “one size fits all” Nashbar Polypro Ear Band on sale for $7 this past summer. I figured it was worth a shot…

It was! The polypro material is warm and soft, and there are no seams to cut into my head. The fabric is also very flexible so it stretches around my head nicely.

Sometimes you can run into problems where one size definitely does not fit all, but in this case I was very pleased with the fit and comfort. (It’s more comfortable than the skull cap.)

It’s still a pain to get used to when transitioning from Summer to Fall riding, but after wearing it a few times, I got used to it.

Remember – frozen ears are more painful than any extra fabric wrapped around your head!

So overall I can’t complain. It’s thin enough to fit under my helmet, thick enough to keep my ears warm, tall enough to completely cover my ears, and there are no seams to cut into my head.

My final verdict is…

I highly recommend this ear band. I have a collection of Nashbar polypro arm warmers, leg warmers, ear band, and skull cap, and each item is great. This ear band is probably my favorite item of my collection, and it’s definitely the best ear band I’ve ever worn.

Even if you are used to wearing expensive designer gear, I still think this ear band would be a good choice.

Official website: www.Nashbar.com