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.

Next Riding Without Data »

Previous « Guest Article: "The Journey Is The Thing"- Homer

View Comments

VeloJello says:

Oct 28 2013 at 9:16 am

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.
Lukas says:

Oct 28 2013 at 9:27 am

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

Oct 28 2013 at 10:06 am

I'll just be doing laps in the velodrome, all warm and dry.
wiscot says:

Oct 28 2013 at 10:17 am

Ahh winter. Living in SE Wisconsin it'll be here soon enough. Rule 9 bike is all ready to go. At least I'm in sync with Merckx on one thing - the fenders are ON!

Outdoor rides may be a little more frequent this year - I got a cyclocross bike over the summer and there's a nice gravel trail near here that'll give me some good miles off the main roads. Otherwise, the trainer is all set up in the garage . . .
moondance says:

Oct 28 2013 at 10:25 am

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

Oct 28 2013 at 10:54 am

There's training, and then there's training.
Al__S says:

Oct 28 2013 at 11:52 am

17k commute. There's usually a wimp-out option of a train, but not this morning. Because of high winds. Blowing from the direction of work.

And it was one of the days when I had two full panniers with a fortnight's worth of shirts, socks, pants and trousers.

And there was rain as well.

It was very tempting to call in sick. I didn't.
Cyclops says:

Oct 28 2013 at 12:47 pm

All is lost.
RedRanger says:

Oct 28 2013 at 1:12 pm

@Cyclops vacation down here for a week
Mike_P says:

Oct 28 2013 at 1:28 pm

I hate winter weather but perversely love winter training. The group I ride with most weekends are all wham bang chain gang types. There are many Sunday's that I actually enjoy watching them thrashing away while I train properly and get my bases miles in. They seem a bit incredulous sometimes when i ride by them at the cake stop. As the great Obree once said, stopping for cake on a training ride isn't training, it's socialising. I owe @Teocalli an apology for that one.

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

Guns will be shaved through the winter. Just the way I roll.