Categories: Belgian AffirmationsThe HardmenTradition

Winter Training

There is drafting, and then there’s this.

Merckx famously professed that after a night of sinning, the body must be cleansed. He obviously meant this figuratively, not literally, because those mud guards on his bike aren’t going to take a big bite out of whatever that lorry has to offer him by way of a Flandrian facial.

Winter is a tough time for those of us pawing about in search of our climbing weight. With the shortening of days, the nesting instinct awakens. Darkness falls in late afternoon and when we wake, we are greeted by the same darkness that wrapped us all through the evening. Nature urges us to combat the darkness with food and drink; summer’s dinner salads are replaced by slow-cooked meat and potatoes served with a side of pasta and bacon and washed down with a few bottles of red.

Weight defies the conservation of mass; it is more easily gained than lost. Fitness occupies the opposite realm; it is more easily lost than gained. Riders like Kelly, Merckx, and De Vlaeminck were famous for their discipline throughout winter; training long and hard to lay the groundwork for their Spring and Summer campaigns. With a sea of months between us and next season’s goals, there is little urgency to train properly. But keeping our weight down and putting in the long base kilometers will reward us throughout the season. Besides, it hardens the character to train in the cold, wet winds that characterize the winter months. The training we do in summer feels a luxury by comparison.

I cherish the winter months when my training is peaceful and free of pressure. I look forward to the sun warming my muscles, but for now I am content to stock up on fresh Flandrian Best, prepare the bike for the winter roads, and submit to the solitude of the cold training hours that lie before me.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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frank says:

Oct 28 2013 at 1:30 pm

I am so fucking sorry in advance for posting this, but given that CX is a viable winter training option, I have no choice but to laugh to the point of tearing up looking at this.
frank says:

Oct 28 2013 at 1:32 pm

@Cyclops

All is lost.

Its not that hard. Just put the fork down.

But admittedly; over summer an assessment of the beer drawer with one or two beers in it meant, "Ok, I need to head to the store today or tomorrow."

In winter it invokes an all-hands panic and rush to the store. And I'd probably run out before getting to the store.
frank says:

Oct 28 2013 at 1:35 pm

@Lukas

With The Prophet using fenders on his winter training steed, I will be mounting some on my winter rain bike guilt free.

I knew that would happen. But the photo is so rad, even a mudguards argument is worth having it on the front of the site for a day or two.

@VeloJello

Living in the North East of England is enough to toughen the soul. Riding in the wet and cold is arduous but rewarding as well. The sense of accomplishment following a true Rule #9 ride enriches the soul.

Nice. Welcome to the fold, mate.

@moondance

Last New Year's Eve. A good ending to a good year. Rule #9 rides rule.

Last New Years Day. Maui does have its advantages.
Optimiste says:

Oct 28 2013 at 1:40 pm

@moondance

Last New Year's Eve. A good ending to a good year. Rule #9 rides rule.

Beautiful photo. I love rides like that.

@Bumbleberger

There's training, and then there's training.

That workhorse looks built for the task. I ain't knockin' it. But about that EPMS. Although those are extreme conditions (which may justify one), that one seems on the order of a Eurasian Posterior Man-Satchel.
frank says:

Oct 28 2013 at 1:44 pm

@Mike_P

Then there's the turbo. I just plain hate that F'ing contraption but its a necessary evil.

Considering buying a new one for the winter. (My old one requires too much setup.) Not that I can't train outdoors all the time, but it does offer a certain something to the pedal stroke that gets lost over the summer months.

And intervals can never be worse than on the turbo. In a good way.

@Bumbleberger

There's training, and then there's training.

That's completely fucked. And welcome to you as well. (Not your first post, but close.)
frank says:

Oct 28 2013 at 1:48 pm

@frank

@Bumbleberger

There's training, and then there's training.

That's completely fucked. And welcome to you as well. (Not your first post, but close.)

Amendment to Rule 9: If you are out riding in weather so bad your bike stands up by itself, you are a badass, period.
wiscot says:

Oct 28 2013 at 1:57 pm

I picked up a Kinetic Rock n Roll trainer off Craigslist last year. I love it. The wiggle you get really makes things more fun. There's something quite satisfying to doing 90 minutes without free-wheeling and it can do wonders for the magnificence of one's stroke. No more getting in the car and driving to the YMCA (with their silly hours, screaming kids, jocks and poseurs) Bottom of the stairs, in the garage. Easy to get at and ride, even for an hour or so.

I also use mudguards on the winter bike - always have done: I grew up in the west of Scotland where to go on a winter group ride without them was to be highly antisocial - no-one wanted a face full of shit off perenially wet roads. Even solo, not getting icy water all over your feet and arse is worth the rule violation.

I guess one secret to staying in some kind of shape over the dark months is to remove as many excuses as you can. Given the amount of sweet stuff that lies around work, I need the motivation.
Cyclops says:

Oct 28 2013 at 1:59 pm

@frank

I am so fucking sorry in advance for posting this, but given that CX is a viable winter training option, I have no choice but to laugh to the point of tearing up looking at this.

That is WAY funny.
Weldertron says:

Oct 28 2013 at 2:25 pm

Just picked up a bunch of Castelli Nanoflex stuff. It does exactly what it says. Road spray just beads up and runs off. Warm enough that at 4c it was very comfortable while pushing at a decent pace.
unversio says:

Oct 28 2013 at 2:26 pm

Just as you (Frank) have said on this site before, "The key to anything difficult is getting past the starting." We started a first winter ride (South Carolina) last weekend with 30 minutes of our faces falling off to get things started. The duration went well after our faces stayed on. 89 kms of pushing thru 32 degrees to something warmer later on. Now we just need to convince the rest of our gruppo that staying inside is not a plan.