Minuteman Road Club

When we get to the end of CX season, does MRC have a regular winter ride? I am used to doing winter rides of 2-3 hrs on weekend, back in the old days we used to have a fixed gear ride, but my guess is not many people do fixed gear training any longer. But is there a regular club ride in January/February on Saturday or Sunday mornings, starting from a Central location? Or is everyone just stuck inside riding Zwift?

You’d get a different answer before ~2014 when we’d regularly suffer together through long cold winter rides on road bikes and rejoice when the temp was above freezing, however the last few years have seen a heavy influx of MTB and trainer miles.

This is just my informal observation, I’d be interested to hear other opinions

Chris is right, this is why they make FAT bikes, Traineroad and Zwift.

I actually rejoice when it's below freezing. less melting.

I'd like to do more winter rides. Builds character.

As Chris knows, I am a convert to the MTB in the winter. It used to be that my cut off was around 30 degrees to road ride. Now it is more like 40 degrees. MTB is easier to stay warm in much colder conditions due to low speeds and being sheltered by the wind. I have been on my mountain bike when it is 15 degrees out. I don't love the trainer, but for a shorter ride, it saves the 20+ minute process of getting ready to brave the cold.

I sold my fixie last spring.

The problem is that the people who used to lead/organize the winter rides (myself included) switched to MTB, especially for the part of January/Early February where it's just hard frozen dirt without snow/mud, or frozen crusted snow/ice that rides well with studs. When there's non-ridable snow and the roads are a mess of salt/snow banks/black ice it is time for zwift just because I'm sick of having to clean my bike, and I don't have a fixie anymore. Then when mud seasons starts I switch back to road to save the trails from damage.

If someone less inclined to use the MTB wanted to organize regular weekend winter rides they'd probably find some takers.

Briana wrote: ↑Tue Oct 24, 2017 9:27 am Chris is right, this is why they make FAT bikes, Traineroad and Zwift.

I am definitely not buying a Fat bike! If there is snow, I cross train (snowshoes, XC ski). I like the indoor training, although it's not social like an in person group ride. But the quality of the workout on the trainer is better controlled than riding outside in the cold. You can't really do intervals in 30 degree weather. I mean you can, but you can get your HR higher and generate way more power indoors vs outdoors in the cold.

Winter rides for me date back to 2002, when I moved from San Diego to NJ (yes you read that correctly). Obviously in Southern Calif. you can ride outside 12M a year. Winters are a bit more mild in NJ vs here (and roads less broken up). The Somerset wheelmen winter ride would get 15-20 riders on a 45 degree day, maybe half that many on a 35 degree day and there was one day when it was 18 degrees, 3 brave souls showed up.

The Hunterdon Velo group I rode with (through 2014) used to do fixed gear (some people rode it on CX bikes but anything that coasted was discouraged). More recently they do road bikes all winter, but IMO the higher speeds make it cold and less fun than fixies.

It sounds like the general answer is there won't be a regularly (weekly) occurring winter ride.

Re: the social aspect of indoor training -- we have an MRC Discord channel that we use for our virtual (Zwift) FMR's and it turns out it's actually easier to have a conversation than out on the road. No coffee after though

Also we've been kicking around the idea of doing a structured group workout on Zwift, maybe on Wednesday night. So it would be erg-based intervals rather than the standard vFMR group ride format. It's still unclear how good/effective the new group workout module in Zwift is though, it's brand new.

Trainer tech is a lot better (and less costly) than it used to be. I know for myself, I'll get a lot more use out of my trainer than I would the winter gear I'd need (my cutoff is around 35, and that's pushing). I also don't like when there is excess snow on the roads, which makes things tight. Short daylight hours crunch things. And I just don't enjoy frozen bottles when I could be on the trainer binge watching Netflix.
I also don't have a mountain bike, but if I did, it sounds fun to be outside.

pace21 wrote: ↑Tue Oct 24, 2017 11:08 am Re: the social aspect of indoor training -- we have an MRC Discord channel that we use for our virtual (Zwift) FMR's and it turns out it's actually easier to have a conversation than out on the road. No coffee after though

Also we've been kicking around the idea of doing a structured group workout on Zwift, maybe on Wednesday night. So it would be erg-based intervals rather than the standard vFMR group ride format. It's still unclear how good/effective the new group workout module in Zwift is though, it's brand new.

Early reports are the group workouts are slick. Everyone stays together regardless of your power output. I vote "yes" for team workout on Wednesday nights.

Mkidd3 wrote: ↑Tue Oct 24, 2017 11:27 amI vote "yes" for team workout on Wednesday nights.

Seconded. Unless the group workout thing isn't what it's cracked up to be...

I'm digging into it

Are we in the barn Wednesday nights?
I'd like a rest day between barn and zwift structured workouts.

We'll be in the Barn EITHER on Monday or Wednesday night (still in negotiations trying to secure Wednesdays but it may end up Mondays). Regardless, the MRC Zwift workout night would be the other one, giving a Monday/Wednesday/Friday combo for the Barn/ZwiftGroupWorkout/vFMR. As in past years, Tuesday and Thursday are no fly zones for the Barn.

Mkidd3 wrote: ↑Tue Oct 24, 2017 11:27 am Everyone stays together regardless of your power output.

As long as you keep pedaling! If you stop, your magic rubber band snaps and you lose the group.

For what's it worth, and as the resident curmudgeon, I will still ride outside. So looking forward to anyone who wants to drag my slow as up hills this winter. But yeah, swift and better trainers mean that those rides will only ever happen in ideal conditions.

Carl, if you and Doug organize a weekly winter ride people will come.

Yes... to everything said here. Anyone want to buy my Kickr so I can get the new kicker with the climbing block thingy?

JeremyC wrote: ↑Wed Oct 25, 2017 8:36 am Yes... to everything said here. Anyone want to buy my Kickr so I can get the new kicker with the climbing block thingy?

Please confirm your paypal address I'll send you $1 now.

JeremyC wrote: ↑Wed Oct 25, 2017 8:36 am Yes... to everything said here. Anyone want to buy my Kickr so I can get the new kicker with the climbing block thingy?

I know someone looking for a Kickr Snap.

Brian

I’d be completely down to winter rides and even night rides with lights. I’m a fan of Zwift and all that good stuff but there’s nothing like real hills.

In past winters I've done 1.5 - 2.5+ hour weekend rides with various others: Suffering Bastard, Tiago D., Pat C., etc.. I recall going around the Quabbin in sub-25 degree temps, so we are not totally adverse to getting out there in pretty cold temps. If snow and ice are built-up on the roads or it's raining or snowing then Zwift it is. Problem is we don't usually get the rides together until Fri. evening or Sat./Sun. morning. I'll try to make it a point to think ahead so the ride can be posted on the forums. If any of the rest of you are going to ride you should post too.

cbusick wrote: ↑Tue Oct 24, 2017 9:11 pm Carl, if you and Doug organize a weekly winter ride people will come.

Yes. Like others have said, as long as the roads are safe and there isn't too much snow/ice built up on the shoulders, I'll happily ride outside. And I'll try to remember to post up with enough advance warning when I do so others can join in if their so inclined.