With Thanksgiving over, and Christmas, Hanukkah and yes, Kwanzaa, on the horizon, the question begs: Now what?
If you’re able to ride outside, how much?
If you’re resigned to an indoor trainer or rollers, how long?
If you’re officially in “off-season” mode, what are you doing to maintain fitness but not burnout?
When it comes to cycling, this time of year is the most puzzling. I look back at training data and logs from the past. I see a trend. I bet you do, too. December is always the month where everything plunges. Miles. Elevation gain. Number and intensity of intervals. Everything. Always. Without fail. Except weight, resting pulse and appetite.
Why fight it? It’s impossible to maintain your best form — or a singular focus — 12 months a year. As our aerobic capacity decreases ever so and muscle strength dials back a few notches, we’re doing what Grizzly bears and other mammals find natural: hibernating. Laying low. Watching TV. Reading more books. Spending time with friends and family off the bike. Eating. Sleeping. Napping. Snoring.
What are your plans for December and beyond? Are you planning your 2010 ride calendar? Retooling your training program? Shopping for a power meter? An online coach? A killer virtual ride DVD for your pedaling dungeon? Completely unplugging from cycling and taking up bowling?
I know this much: I plan to work in the gym to keep the equivalent of a bowling ball out of my jersey pockets at any cost come February and March. An extra 10-12 pounds while climbing in the mountains may as well be the same as riding with the rear brake rubbing. But without a good story or excuse to share with buddies who easily drop me. So the big question: Now what?
YTD – 6,853 miles and 484,310 feet climbed
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
First off, Jeff. I love your writing. You get to the point, something not all of us are talented at doing.
As for your question, I’m finishing my last century of the year in December to complete 12 centuries in a row or CAM, otherwise known as a Century-a-Month challenge. I’m worn out, fat, irritated and the last thing I want to do is ride my bike next Saturday. But I will and the challenge will be met. You see, I have this illness – Cycleitis. It’s difficult to treat and is all about addiction to/with the bike. Denying oneself the bike can cause serious tremors and, in some cases, the belly to bloat, the chin to wobble and the butt to droop. Better to wean oneself from the bike than to go cold turkey, for sure! So, starting Dec. 17th, I will ride the bike, but only with my Dad (or solo) on Tennessee country roads where the sight of wild turkeys, the sun off frost-filled farm fields and iced-over ponds will distract me from doing much more than mere spinning on my old, trusted, steel Lemond. The rest of December? I will hit the gym. Come January….well, it’s back to business. 
Jeff, good questions, nice post.
Definitely weighing on my mind as well. My strategy this year is to build as much strength as possible in the gym throughout the winter — in addition to my mostly daily 10 miles of commuting, I will try and get a 30+ mile ride in each weekend, but there’ll no doubt be weekends I can’t be so motivated, and thus the rollers in the basement will have to do.
I am currently at 8lbs over my Shasta Super weight, which was 5lbs over my absolute ideal, and while it is a slight bother, I am not too worried about 10lbs or so, as long as my cardio fitness doesn’t drop to below 75% or so of my peak in August. I don’t have a hard measure for that, but I know you know that it is pretty easy to tell when the cardio really starts suffering. When I used to stop riding in the winter, that feeling of fully depleted cardio fitness in the Spring is the feeling I hated the most. That is what I want to avoid. I can deal with the 10lbs if my cardio is good
So my plan is to exit the Winter with the best strength fitness (due to core and lower body weight programs) of my life, and decent cardio fitness — at which point I can start my long rides and climbing again and burn that 10lbs off in no time
I’ve also added some running to my routine.
Most of all, I think we can inspire and motivate each other with our love of cycling. When I see your tweeted photos of a ride (even though I curse your ever present Sun), I am inspired to get on my bike. When I see Armstrong tweet about various power fitness, yoga, and riding workouts, I am inspired to put the ice cream down and do some stretching. When I read your blog posts, I go out and clean my bike so it’s ready when inspiration hits.
So thanks for that. And Ride on and Strong.
Cheers,
Ron
Ron, hey, would love to compare notes with you on your core routine. I couldn’t find my way to the gym / yoga studio in San Diego even if they laid a trail of $100 bills between my house and the front door of either facility. The closest I ever came to cross-training was my triathlon days in 1983 to 1986. And thanks a million for your kindness. I, too, get inspired, when I see words and images from dedicated riders from all parts of the world, including PDX. Please keep them coming!
Mary Elizabeth, best of luck on your December century. The CAM is a great goal — and even better accomplishment. Your comments on MTB love continue to ring in my head, and your beautiful photos from atop the trails make me yearn to ride there. Wishing you the best this holiday season.
just found your blog after getting into death ride (again), while surfing to see if the CtoK registration was open yet…now THAT’s a sick winter habit – signing up to go uphill for a day.
My winter routine? Just decided and committed to ride 5 hours one day each weekend rain or shine (being in Marin Co, that means rain), in addition to my measly 15 mile RT commute.
Now its all up to me to keep that committment…