It's too cold to ride!

By Patrick Wigley

If your approach to staying in shape through the winter months is hibernating until spring, you must be the kind of person that will jump from a hot tub and into an ice pool. WHEW!

Taking time off the bike is not the end of the world, provided you continue to stay active. Here are some suggestions:

• Work on core strength by doing weight training at the gym or at home – low weight, high reps; you don’t want to gain weight with muscle mass.

• Work on flexibility through regimented stretching exercises or try a program like Yoga.

• Try other sporting activities such as running, rollerblading, tennis, racquetball or swimming (another good core strength workout).

• Try spinning classes at your local gym or bicycle shop. (I’ll be doing Spinervals on Tuesday and Thursday nights after Christmas at Wig’s Wheels.)

• Turn your own bike into a stationary trainer at home with a wind trainer that attaches to the rear wheel of your bike and allows you to pedal in place in the comfort of your own home.

• Just like in other sports there is cold weather riding gear available for the hardcore cyclist that just has to have his or her outdoor riding fix. As a rule I do not go out and hit the road if it is below 35 degrees (Brrrrrr that’s cold), but believe it or not, this is doable but you absolutely have to be dressed appropriately.

• Ever thought about mountain biking? This is a great time of the year to do that because depending on the trail you ride or the people you ride with, it can be more intense than road biking. If it is too windy to get the road bikes out, trees are excellent deterrents of wind, which means it may not feel as cold outside in the shelter of trees. Mountain biking also is a tremendous tool to work on your road handling skills.

• Almost as important as staying active physically through the winter months is to not forget about your bike. Even if it was working perfectly during your last ride, use the winter months to have your bike tuned up or even overhauled. Your bike should be overhauled at least once a year depending on the amount of miles you put on it. A properly tuned or overhauled bike will only ensure that the first time back out on the road or trail when it gets warm again will be a present experience.

• Spend time with your family and get them exercising with you. Make it fun!
  

The New Year is less than 3 weeks away so start thinking about your goals for 2007. Do you want to get faster, ride farther or just start riding? Start preparing yourself now so that you will have guaranteed miles of smiles when it warms up again.

Patrick “Wig” Wigley is the owner of Wig’s Wheels. He is a member of the Northeast Alabama Cycling Club, an active racer and cycling enthusiast.