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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JACD214 says:

Oct 29 2013 at 5:02 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.

Straight up brilliant! The crashing dog at the hurdles came right over for a beer hand-up and a bit of bacon before continuing.
Gianni says:

Oct 29 2013 at 5:45 pm

@RedRanger

@Gianni Im originally from NYC and I spent 3 years in the twin cities. I can deal with some cold.

I was thinking of the wet and gray of Seattle, that would be a transition from Tucson.

@scaler911 We used to drive hours from Corvallis to get to Bend and Smith Rocks. The sun there kept us from committing suicide by 3.2 beer poisoning.
Puffy says:

Oct 29 2013 at 6:08 pm

Indoor vs Outdoor....

Aside from rollers smoothing your stroke.. is there really a benefit that can be had on a trainer that can't be had on the road? I live in a rural town, so 5min warm up and I have 100's of kms of uninterupted roads. Flat, rollers, steep hills, a mountain, you name it. Basically I can go out and do my 2x20min TTI intervals, or whatever you like without interruption. I've been giving it a lot of thought but I can't see how doing those on a trainer is going to be any different from a physicological responce point of view than on the road. Part of me wants to get one, but I think it's just because I like buying gadgets, not because it's a fine addition to my training. My coach was non-commital about it. He suggested that I should ride on the road or trainer, where ever I felt.
Rob says:

Oct 29 2013 at 6:25 pm

Frank, good one!

" prepare the bike for the winter roads, and submit to the solitude of the cold training hours that lie before me. "

I don't know why but winter training always seemed to be a solitary endeavor, both indoors and out. Riding the rollers and setting off in "exciting" weather - both needing that kick start that then leads to the reward of I did it and few others are.

Speaking of rollers I think that true roller racing should be brought back. I was part of a dozen riders who raced once a week in Cambridge Massachusetts at the BiEx. It was the best winter workout and also taught speed, snap, spin and confidence that you could go that little extra at the end.

This was real roller riding not what I think they are doing in NYC which is a stationary bike on rollers. Maybe it is still practiced in Oz (rollers set up on the bar in the pub) and I know it used to be popular in Scotland.

If anyone thinking of winter work indoors then @Marcus has nailed it.

@Marcus

@frank If you are thining of a new trainer, may I suggest a combination? A set of rollers (must be Kreitler) to maintain souplesse, and a LeMond Revolution for interval sessions. You wont be sorry.

I use them both, even in good weather.
PeakInTwoYears says:

Oct 29 2013 at 7:16 pm

@Gianni

I was mentored by the guy who was in the guidebook for the first nude co-ed ascent of Monkey Face.
Raymond Guerrero says:

Oct 30 2013 at 12:06 am

4 day weekend. .. I guess I requested this Friday and Saturday off which leaves me with my usual Sunday and Monday off.... so im going to pull off 300 miles in 4 days and 1,000 miles in November. This isn't something I expect people to understand amd you'll ask "why?" "what for?" And ill respond with "this is who I am. This is what I do. Rule #V. Obay the rules" so if you're willing to join me in my long journey this month let me know.
frank says:

Oct 30 2013 at 7:21 am

@gaswepass

@frank

the sad truth of the first 2 Segments of that video was the start of my race sunday costing me a carbon tubbie front rim (fortunately didn't realize at the time, was discovered well after the race). But if u run with the big dogs u cant cry when u get bit. That's racing...

It's amazing how hard some people are on their gear. Have you managed to finish a race on your main bike yet?
frank says:

Oct 30 2013 at 7:23 am

@Gianni

@frank

Love that photo. Who doesn't love jumping in behind some large truck and getting some monster draft? Eddy would go.

Dave always like to. And in the small ring no less.

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/mv-yXM8/breaking_away_chasing_a_truck/
frank says:

Oct 30 2013 at 7:24 am

@Bumbleberger

@Optimiste

That workhorse looks built for the task. I ain't knockin' it.

The Red Pony is a good girl. She has a knack for bearing my sorry ass to Painsylvania and back that other bikes don't have.

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.

So noted, though you are quite correct with regard to environmental conditions. To my mind, the Rules are not license to get all haphazard about gear.

Excuse me, are we talking about the SAME Rules?
frank says:

Oct 30 2013 at 7:27 am

@dissolved

I was all set for the idea of heaven @deakus had set before us until I decided to try for a space on the RVV or LBL sportives, now it looks like the holiday period will be all velodrome and turbo sessions if the weather is beyond a stern application of Rule #9.

I can't wait!

@Deakus

Forgive me father for I am about to sin.....can you request forgiveness before the act? I am afraid I will follow Big Migs winter regime...eat...drink...and be merry and worry about spring when spring comes. I will however still be riding but I lack the discipline....no fuck that...I simply do not want to deprive myself of all that the festive season has to offer...and...over indulge I shall!

Given the above, and assuming @dissolved is referring to the same @deakus, may I suggest you reconsider? Those are serious rides and you will be utterly fucked if you take the winter off and (worse) let yourself become a fat fuck.