Travel Health and Fitness - Biking Season?!?! In March...wow

So we snuck out for a couple rides this weekend. The weather here is above average for this time of year by a bunch.

Last year we didn't start riding until 5/2 (hell there was still a lot of snow on the ground this time last year) and the year prior was early April.

While I'm happy to be out on the bike I'll have to figure out what my plan, workout wise, is going to be. I was planning on another 5 week phase of P90x then start biking.

My rough goal this year is 1300 miles outside....I normally do 1500 but want to stay focused on weights this year.



*While I enjoy biking a lot I tend to put on a few pounds during biking season even with weights/alt cardio mixed in as its not as good of a workout as I'm use to and its a huge time suck.

That said we do have snow in the forecast next weekend.

Yup. We were lucky to have a beautiful day here for riding on Saturday - we took the tandem out and got some climbing in!

Where I live some folk bike in the snow :eek:

Making this somewhat travel-related. Do FTers rent bikes when they're traveling, or just use the gym?

Cheers.

Where I live some folk bike in the snow :eek:

Making this somewhat travel-related. Do FTers rent bikes when they're traveling, or just use the gym?

Cheers.

Yeah a few "ice bikers" around here too. I keep telling myself that one of these years I'll gear up and have a full year season....I've just never done it.


If I'm going to be with a customer for a long period (more than 4-5 weeks) I'll ship a bike out there (if its summer and a nice ride area). I've rented a few places but find it to be somewhat of a pain.

If I'm going to be with a customer for a long period (more than 4-5 weeks) I'll ship a bike out there (if its summer and a nice ride area). I've rented a few places but find it to be somewhat of a pain.

Do you bring your own shoes and helmet? What about pedals?

I'll be in London for about 2 weeks for vacation in May-June. There's no way I'm shipping my bike, but I'm considering renting a bike and finding a group to ride with. I don't know how I'd deal with riding on the other side of the road either... I'm assuming the gears and brakes work the same way they do here.


Locally, it is quite possible to bike in the PHX area nearly year-round. We've had quite a bit of wind this spring though... The only thing that I've found worse than riding into wind is riding uphill and into the wind (I had both my slowest and fastest mile splits while riding AZ-87/Beeline Hwy on Sunday between Mesa and Fountain Hills).
I signed up for my very first bike event, a 65 mile ride on 3/31 :)

Do you bring your own shoes and helmet? What about pedals?

I would definitely bring my own pedals and shoes, plus helmet and other personal items.

Do you bring your own shoes and helmet? What about pedals?

I bring my own shoes/helmet but never pedals. I use the pretty standard SPD and find the couple times I rented the shop had SPDs.

I bring my own shoes/helmet but never pedals. I use the pretty standard SPD and find the couple times I rented the shop had SPDs.

Good point. I use Look pedals and cleats so find it easier to bring my own since they are less-widespread than SPD.

I bring my own shoes/helmet but never pedals. I use the pretty standard SPD and find the couple times I rented the shop had SPDs.

My bike has standard mountain bike pedals, and my shoes are mountain bike shoes. The shoes work with all the spin bikes I've used.
Do you think I'll have trouble?

My bike has standard mountain bike pedals, and my shoes are mountain bike shoes. The shoes work with all the spin bikes I've used.
Do you think I'll have trouble?

Do they look like this?
http://www.amazon.com/Shimano-SM-SH56-SPD-Cleat-Set/dp/B0029LIYE2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331851833&sr=8-1

If so you can always ask when you are calling to find out about rentals but this is pretty much the standard everywhere I've been (including many a different spin class/bike)

Where I live some folk bike in the snow :eek:I went to college in New England, and my bike was my transportation. I rode in anything short of a blizzard or monsoon (RI rain has to be seen to be believed).

Making this somewhat travel-related. Do FTers rent bikes when they're traveling, or just use the gym?
For recreational riding, I've rented bikes quite a few places. IME it's easier/better experience in Europe than U.S. but still possible many places to rent. I bring my own helmet (rental helmet - ICK!) but use any ol' pedals.

Where I live some folk bike in the snow :eek:

Making this somewhat travel-related. Do FTers rent bikes when they're traveling, or just use the gym?

I've rented downhill biks at a few occasions - road biking it too boring to bother renting one for sports, although I once got one for a commute long time ago. Much faster than a car in US traffic.

Do they look like this?
http://www.amazon.com/Shimano-SM-SH56-SPD-Cleat-Set/dp/B0029LIYE2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331851833&sr=8-1

If so you can always ask when you are calling to find out about rentals but this is pretty much the standard everywhere I've been (including many a different spin class/bike)

I think they're more like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Shimano-XT-PD-M780-Mountain-Pedals/dp/B004WOERVS/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1331942185&sr=8-7

I emailed a shop near my hotel yesterday; we'll see if they email me back.

I went to college in New England, and my bike was my transportation. I rode in anything short of a blizzard or monsoon (RI rain has to be seen to be believed).



I had a paper route growing up, and it was much easier to ride my bike to deliver papers. Each customer seemed to want their paper in a particular place, and I was able to ride across sidewalks, lawns, etc.

As this was in PA, in the snow I modified my route somewhat. When it was really bad I'd walk it. But what would take maybe 20 min by bike took close to an hour walking. Occasionally my father would feel sorry for me and drive me.

Early season didn't last long....winter storm warning here.

I think they're more like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Shimano-XT-PD-M780-Mountain-Pedals/dp/B004WOERVS/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1331942185&sr=8-7


That is the pedal....My pic was the cleat on your shoe....the two match.

S (Shimano) PD for both. They are very common and honestly the only thing I've seen on rental bikes.

That is the pedal....My pic was the cleat on your shoe....the two match.

S (Shimano) PD for both. They are very common and honestly the only thing I've seen on rental bikes.

Ok, cool.

The shop I contacted in London said that all of their bikes have, "standard platform pedals." It is 75 quid a week for a Trek roadbike; may do it for a week and experiment. They said they don't directly organize any group rides, but there's always flyers up in the shop. I also posted on bikeforums. A guy I swim with said there's a great bike route from London to Dover.


Did a 50+ mile ride on Saturday. It wasn't nearly as taxing as I expected. There were tons of people out since we were expecting a big storm on Sunday (I myself usually ride Sundays). Had only planned about 40, but bumped into a couple I know, we got to chatting/riding/racing, and next thing we had ridden 10+ miles.

"standard platform pedals."

I'm thinking this may be no cleats at all?

http://www.amazon.com/Shimano-EPDMX30-PD-MX30-Platform-Pedals/dp/B000XYD7EO

I have some colleagues who rent or bring their own bikes when they're in AMS, given everyone rides there. Not sure they do it other locations.

Where I live there are a lot of bikes in the summer, but also some in the winter. I think they're nuts when they're biking in the middle of a snow storm. Besides being dangerous for them, it's not great for cars or snow plows having to go around or hope not to slide into a bike at an intersection.

Weather's been in the 70s for 10 days now. Yest & today 84 - in Michigan - in March. It won't last of course, but it's been nice.

Cheers.

I enjoy biking to work (10 miles round-trip), but I've developed pretty specific limiting criteria over the years for safety and other reasons. I won't bike if there's heavy precipitation in the forecast or snow on the ground or if the temp is under 40 degrees.

I refuse to bike if it's over 30 degrees :)

I refuse to bike if it's over 30 degrees :)

I'm assuming you mean 30C, which would make sense in Innsbruck :p

I wish I could do that here in PHX, but it would really limit my riding :(

I'm assuming you mean 30C, which would make sense in Innsbruck :p

I wish I could do that here in PHX, but it would really limit my riding :(

We alredy got up to 20 (again C) today, but it still got some good power rides way up on the mountains when back country skiing. Weren't I flying to California tomorrow I'd go downhill biking.

I cut my grass for the second time this morning...in WISCONSIN! ^

Making this somewhat travel-related. Do FTers rent bikes when they're traveling, or just use the gym?If I think I can fit in a ride, I look for places to rent. But it can be a bit touch-and-go. I've gotten in some great rides on rentals; and I've been so furious that someone could possibly think the bike they've rented me was in any way appropriate for a ride. It can be hard to find a good road bike rental, but I think it's getting easier. I've had good experiences in Whitefish, Montana, Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Boulder, Colorado.

Everything in the preceding paragraph is strictly with regards to road bikes.

Do you bring your own shoes and helmet? What about pedals?I definitely bring my shoes, helmet and pedals.

So we snuck out for a couple rides this weekend. The weather here is above average for this time of year by a bunch.

Last year we didn't start riding until 5/2 (hell there was still a lot of snow on the ground this time last year) and the year prior was early April.

While I'm happy to be out on the bike I'll have to figure out what my plan, workout wise, is going to be. I was planning on another 5 week phase of P90x then start biking.

My rough goal this year is 1300 miles outside....I normally do 1500 but want to stay focused on weights this year.I have finally gotten back on the bike myself. I have only put in ~4 rides or so, but it's a start.

Last year was absolutely awful from a cycling perspective ... largely on account of two wee humans who now live with mrs. iapetus and me. ;) I got in maybe 1,000 miles, whereas I typically go 3,000+. This year I'm hoping to get in at least 2,000.

My regular riding should start up tomorrow with my first post-work ride of the year. :cool:

Where I live there are a lot of bikes in the summer, but also some in the winter. I think they're nuts when they're biking in the middle of a snow storm. Besides being dangerous for them, it's not great for cars or snow plows having to go around or hope not to slide into a bike at an intersection.And I am SO happy that I no longer need to feel guilty on account of not riding because of the cold. :eek: :o :cool:

I have some colleagues who rent or bring their own bikes when they're in AMS, given everyone rides there. Not sure they do it other locations.

Where I live there are a lot of bikes in the summer, but also some in the winter. I think they're nuts when they're biking in the middle of a snow storm. Besides being dangerous for them, it's not great for cars or snow plows having to go around or hope not to slide into a bike at an intersection.

Weather's been in the 70s for 10 days now. Yest & today 84 - in Michigan - in March. It won't last of course, but it's been nice.

Cheers.

We've rented a house in Hilton Head for a week in July/August. Rented bikes for the entire family for the week.
We also did the bike rental in SOBE while we were down there...pretty cool concept.

It can be hard to find a good road bike rental

Yeah mountain bikes are much more common it seems.