"Off-season" training

[peterharris]

Thanks, all, for your suggestions and advice.

Moving to Florida IS NOT an option. If I had my druthers, I'd move to New England! I am a native-born Floridian and lived there (in a couple of different places) for a total of 14-15 years. Nice place to visit ... wouldn't want to live there.

An earlier post nailed it - I do live in Northern Virginia (Fauquier). And while last winter was an exception regarding snowfall, you just never know. The Farmer's Almanac, or some such, is forecasting an icier winter this year although without as much snow. Still makes it tough to ride on these mostly rural, two-lane, shoulderless roads sometimes!

Cross-training is an option but I already run and kayak and hike and those take up 4-5 days of each week anyway. I'm running out of days! And I did do some serious snowshoeing last winter but usually we don't get enough snow depth to make that worthwhile unless I drive up to the mountains (which I do pretty often anyway). I think the trick is to figure out how to avoid working and just spend all my time outdoors. Retirement is still some time away ...

[Tandem4Rider]

Wow, considering the global reach of this forum we're practically neighbors!  I'm in Harford County, MD.

Do you ride the W&OD ever?  I rode it a couple times years ago.  Can you link up easily to it?  If my memory serves me correctly that should provide at least 70 miles (round trip) of safer surface for you.  One way or the other - be safe and enjoy.

[peterharris]

Tandem4Rider:

I used to live in Bel Air - moved away (to Florida, of all places) in 1986 for another job with my company. That was back when Bel Air was still a small town and Rt 24 was a winding 2-lane road!

I ride the W&OD frequently - the closest access point to where I live is Leesburg or Sterling, either about a 45-minute drive. Easy enough to get there even on snowy roads but the W&OD didn't get fully cleared until weeks after the roads were cleared!

[johnsondasw]

As much as the weather will permit (I live in the D.C. area) I plan on riding through the winter. However, there will be those times when it's too cold, rainy, snowy, icy, whatever, and I just won't want to go out.

Right now where I live, there's 2 feet of snow and the temp is 20 degrees.  The roads are covered in ice and snow.  It will be this way some winters for 3-4 months.  So, the past 2 weeks, I've been cross country skiing 5 times, snowshoeing twice, and gone on about 4-5 long walks.  I fit my outdoor activities to the conditions and welcome the cross training.  It's good for the mind and body.  Besides, I really dislike exercise machines indoors.  In a pinch, I'll use one at the local gym for 30 minutes or so.  I even go out xcountry skiing at night with headlamp on occasion.  It's spectacular with a full moon.

No matter how bad the weather is, I can always find a place for a good long walk, usually with some uphill involved to increase the aerobic factor.