Cycling through the winter
I had great intentions of maintaining a rigorous cycling schedule and keeping up my bike fitness through winter. But a combination of short days, cold wet weather, and a return to work has meant a bit of a rethink.
Unfortunately the weather is too unreliable to plan any cycling holidays in the short-term. I have a growing list of bike trails I am keen to explore: Otago Peninsula, the Clutha Gold extension, the Queen Charlotte Track and the Link Pathway in the Marlborough Sounds, the Taste Tasman trails, the Kawatiri Coastal Trail on the West Coast, the Hurunui Heartland Trail. And that's just the South Island.
But many trails are getting mucky and it seems a shame not to experience them at their best (or at least not their worst). While I can cope with a bit of rain or a bit of cold, I don't fancy being cold, wet and miserable. (Or taking the risk of snow or ice-covered roads to get there.)
So, for now, I’m saving my planned trips away until spring and taking a more opportunistic approach to cycling. This involves a mix of:
making the most of the good days
doing the occasional spin class
biking to work whenever I can.
Making the most of the good days
So far, my winter cycling has been close to home and unscheduled so I can make the most of the best weather.
Christchurch often has some stunning days at this time of year. We might get sub-zero temperatures overnight and a cold frosty morning but the reward can be a beautiful calm and sunny day - perfect for cycling. Most of my regular rides - along the Christchurch Northern Corridor, up the Port Hills, or out to the beach along the Avon Otākaro River - are sealed (or drain well) so are good to ride all year round.
I try to time my ride for late morning or early afternoon so the day has had a chance to warm up. Sometimes I am impatient and will head out straight after breakfast - but I invariably regret it. I have worked out that the temperature needs to be at least five degrees to be bearable. Otherwise I just end up with freezing cold toes and find it difficult to breathe while keeping up a fast enough pace to generate some warmth.
Christchurch also gets plenty of grey days during winter. While a bit gloomy, these days are usually less cold (that is, they meet the five degrees test) so I’m happy to ride. The days I really don’t enjoy are the cold, wet days (especially if it’s windy) - on those days I’ll settle for a (short) walk instead. Or join a spin class.
Joining a spin class
Spin classes are a great way of keeping up the bike fitness. They offer a short (45-50 minute) but intense workout - replicating a mix of hill climbing and speed work, with some recovery periods in between.
I’ve tested out two gyms and tried a few different classes, including one virtual class where it's someone on a video telling you what to do (with a road in France, Germany or the Swiss Alps in the background) rather than an instructor in the room with you. That was OK, but it can be hard to judge how to adjust the resistance on the bike to match the instructions (and so too easy to slack off).
There’s no uncertainty with the instructor-led classes. The council gyms have fancy bikes that take account of your sex, weight and desired workout, and flash up different colours to match the level you're working at. The instructor simply tells the class which colour and how many revs per minute to aim for so you can't go wrong. You still use a dial to adjust the resistance but, with the lights off in the room, it’s easy for you (and the instructor) to see if you’re on track. Add in eighties music, disco lights and glittery flooring, and it's a fun and colourful ride.
The spin bikes at the YMCA are simpler - with just a lever to adjust resistance - but I think I had a much harder workout there. The gym I went to attracts many retired people (particularly at the time of day I visited) so, to my shame, I was expecting an easier ride. That was not the case at all, and it soon became clear that there were many regulars in the room who were seasoned cyclists. (A nice lesson in not judging a book by its cover!)
The YMCA spin class is smaller, with about 18 bikes (compared to roughly 30 at the council gym) and has a nice vibe. There’s no flash lighting but there is good music to keep you motivated, and I found people very welcoming. At both gyms, instructors took time to make sure that - as a newbie - I knew how to set up the bike properly.
I’ll probably alternate between the gyms because they have different timetables, but the YMCA would be my first choice. If I can get in, that is. Spin classes are very popular so often book out several days ahead of time. Not so great for a casual like me who prefers to keep her options open for cycling outside.
Biking to work
I have a lot less flexibility on the days that I am working so I have started biking to work again. As well as keeping me moving, cycling to work is just so much quicker and easier than travelling any other way. I can take on-road cycle lanes or a separate cycleway for most of my journey, and there are good changing and cycle parking facilities when I get there.
Fortunately, it’s only a short ride (about 5km) so I don’t work up much of a sweat at the start of the day. Unfortunately, it’s only a short ride so I am not getting much of a workout.
I try to take a longer route home at least once a week to extend my ride - weather permitting. The only downside is that it's dark (and cold) and can be a bit smoggy with people lighting up their fires at the end of the day. So, not a perfect fix, and if it's raining, I just don't bother (wet and dark not being a great combination for cyclists).
I’ve had a bit of bad luck with punctures - three separate incidents in just two weeks (thanks to two pieces of broken glass and a very fine piece of wire). I am experimenting with routes to avoid going past the central city bars, where the broken glass is mostly likely to be. And I replaced my rear tyre in the hope that some extra tread might provide a bit of resistance. Fingers crossed. (On the plus side, I am getting much quicker at changing and fixing my bike tubes.)
Night riding
While winter can be a bit miserable, it does provide the opportunity for some night riding. I have discovered a women’s mountain bike group that does regular Tuesday night rides to some of the easier trails around the city (like McLeans Island and Bottle Lake Forest). I haven’t yet mustered up the courage to join in but it looks like a whole lot of fun. And Chris and Alex joined me in tagging along on this year’s winter solstice ride around Hagley Park.
