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Layering
My goal is to cycle outside at least once a week throughout the winter unless weather or trail conditions prevent it. I’m still trying to figure out cold weather cycling clothing and this past week I nailed it on one ride and failed on the other. The wind created while cycling that isn’t a factor when running is the problem. I have all the layers, but the problem with layering is where to put the clothes as I shed them once I warm up? As I figured out and adjusted with running many years ago, I’m sure I’ll do the same with cycling…
Overview of the Week
Before getting into each day’s workouts, here’s an overview of my workouts from this past week. Scroll beyond the infographic for daily details…
Sunday
Cycling: 21 miles
• Average speed: 16.2 MPH
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 9:02 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 66° in basement and raining outside
• What I wore: bike shorts and jog bra
Unfortunately, an outdoor ride wasn’t an option as it was rainy all morning and I didn’t have time for an afternoon ride so I hopped on my spin bike (affiliate link) before heading to the gym to teach a fitness orientation class.
Monday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Walking: 45 minutes, but not recording with my Garmin
Tuesday
Cycling: 25 miles
• Average speed: 16.0 MPH
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 6:27 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 62°
• What I wore: bike shorts and jog bra
After training a client virtually while spinning on my bike, I opted to stay inside rather than layering up and heading outside. With a little research I discovered that I can manually add indoor cycling to Garmin Connect. My Garmin watch (affiliate link) is very basic and doesn’t have an indoor cycling mode, and I haven’t been able to figure out a way to use my bike Garmin (affiliate link) on my spin bike because I’m not sure where I’d attach the speed sensor since there’s no wheel and therefore no hub. I gave myself a thumbs for taking the time to do a little research!
Wednesday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Thursday
Running: 5K
• Average pace: 9:56 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 111 feet
• Start time: 5:58 AM
• Location: neighborhood circle
• Weather: 34° (feels like 31°) and cloudy
• What I wore: capris, l/s t-shirt, nylon shell, ear warmer headband, gloves, and mittens (took shell off after 1 mile)
Walking: 2 miles
• Average pace: 15:12 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 123 feet
• Start time: 6:51 AM
• Location: neighborhood circle
• Weather: 35° and cloudy
• What I wore: capris, l/s t-shirt, puffer vest, velour jacket, ear warmer headband, gloves, and mittens
Cycling: 20 miles
• Average speed: 11.6 MPH
• Bike: Salsa Warbird
• Surface: gravel
• Elevation gain: 1,010 feet
• Start time: 10:27 PM
• Location: W&OD Bridle Trail Ashburn/Leesburg loop
• Weather: 40° (feels like 36°) and overcast, climbing to 43° (feels like 39°)
• What I wore: bike shorts, leg sleeves, l/s jersey, jacket, ear warmer headband, and double gloves
Stretching: 10 minutes
I reunited with Kim for an early morning cardio workout after a couple of missed weeks. I ran outside while she cycled inside so she could run in warmer weather later in the day.
I rode on the bridle path later in the day to check off my goal of cycling outside at least once a week through the winter. I’m still trying to figure out cold weather clothing and I nailed it, never feeling too cold or too hot.
Collage credit: Kim
Friday
Strength training: 1 hour of total body
Balance and stretching: 45 minutes
Saturday
Cycling: 25 miles
• Average speed: 12.1 MPH
• Bike: Salsa Warbird
• Surface: gravel
• Elevation gain: 1,535 feet
• Start time: 10:10 PM
• Location: Unison in western Loudoun
• Weather: 42° and sunny, climbing to 48° and mostly cloudy
• What I wore: long bike pants, s/s jersey, arm sleeves, jacket, ear warmer headband, and double gloves
It was a beautiful day, but I was cold the entire ride. I quickly discovered that my favorite VeloPigs jacket is great for fall and spring transitional weather, but not warm enough for colder weather. It’s going to be a work in progress figuring out what to wear while cycling this winter.
Last Week’s Blog Posts
In case you skipped checking in on my blog this past week, here’s what you missed…
Questions
- • What kind of winter weather are you supposed to have? ~ We’ve got an el niño winter headed our way which can bring a lot of snow to Virginia. Last year we only had one dusting which melted in just a few hours.
- • If you own a Garmin, does it have lots of bells and whistles or is it very basic? If it has lots of features, do you use them all?
- • Did you run in race this weekend? ~ No
And that’s my rundown… Have a great week!
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I’m linking up with Deborah at Confessions of a Mother Runner and Kim from Running on the Fly for their Weekly Run Down. Be sure to check out not only the hosts’ posts, but those of the other great bloggers joining in on the fun!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on the blue product link and then make a purchase, I will receive a small commission for referring you. You will pay no more or less for the product; however, Amazon will show their gratitude for my referral by paying me.
It was pretty windy and chilly this past week. I commend you for getting outside to ride. Even when I loved outdoor cycling, I never did it in the winter. Who knows what kind of winter we will have! I do hope we get at least one snow storm
We shall see how I do when it gets really cold. LOL
Yes, I’m hoping for at least one good snow storm, too!
We are also having an El Niño winter, which for us means warmer temperatures (it’s all relative when you live in Chicago) and drier conditions. I would like some snow, tho! Last week when I was in the city, I saw a lot of cyclists–in fact, my boys ride their bikes to work. I’m just not that dedicated of a bike rider, I guess!
I’m kind of excited that we might have a snowy winter. Good for your sons for biking to work!
We had a cold snap recently but now we’re back to quite standard West Cork winter weather with 10C and wind, but we’ve had more storms than usual the last few months. Storm Fergus hit today but not much effects down south.
My new Garmin has quite a lot of bells and whistles but this model is more for overall fitness and strength rather than running. I can record all sorts of workouts though and after a strength session I can add exercises and weights in the app. It also has a lot of useful features for walking, cycling, safety features etc. I use quite a lot of it.
Well done going out for your bike rides in the cold-ish weather!
Your new Garmin sounds like a great one to have. Which one is it?
It’s the Venu 2. There’s a version 3 of it with a fancier screen but this one had a good discount right now.
Well I’m in Florida now. Warm but a front is coming through as I leave tomorrow.
We had rain and snow last week. I guess it’s supposed to snow tonight. Not a fan of either.
Basic Garmin that I only wear on race day. And yes I ran a 15k today.
I hope you had fun in Florida and had a good race.
We had snow last night, but it only stuck to the grass. Still that was equal to or more than we got last winter.
Nice job on the outdoor rides! I think my problem on the bike would be cold hands and cold feet.
The new Garmins have (eg Forerunner 955) have great new features: they give sleep recommendations (like: this is a good time for a nap!), they have a better navigation ability and they can measure heart rate variability. There aren’t many studies on that metric but I’m excited to learn more about it.
Thanks, Catrina! Cold hands are my biggest issue and it’s dropped low enough on my last couple of rides that my feet have gotten cold, too (something that never happens when I run).
Good information on the newer Garmins. Thanks!
I think the coldest weather I ever rode outside in was 28 degrees. I remember black ice being a concern, but I have no recollection as to what I wore. I know you will figure it out. Looks like an activity-filled week!
Much respect for riding in 28° weather. Time will tell how low I can make it, and yes, I’m very nervous about riding when the pavement is wet in the winter.