Is anyone interested in doing some light weight training this winter? I was thinking one day maybe midweek to compliment the spinning classes. It will also give us a chance to practice our slogan shouting, i.e. “max the zone” and such.
I will definitely be doing some lifting of weights this winter, and I intend to start some regular weight lifting sessions/clinics, but that is not going to happen until my thesis is finished on Dec 15. Everyone mark your calendars.
Generally, November is my “off” month where I basically do jack and catch up on all the school work that I neglected during the cycling season. Plus, that will give me more of an incentive in the weight room, since I’ll have to work off the pizza belly starting mid december.
Stay tuned.
Also, check the team only section for the ultra-top-secret Varsity Weight room door code
I usually hit the gym 3-4 times a week during the winter so anytime you want to go let me know.
I am going to start training again Monday Wednesday Friday, Saturday at 6:30 (at night), starting tommorow. By myself I do ~20 minutes of interval sprinting, 80 minutes of weights, and then spinning again until I can’t walk.
If anybody wants to join or suggest a different regimen its more fun with people. Truth is I’ve never trained as a cyclist, so I am definately open to suggestions.
well, my first reaction to that is if you try to do a workout like that 4 times a week all winter long, you are gonna burn yourself out. we’ll talk specifics later, but I guess my first advice is just easy into it a little bit more. There’s still a few months before the season starts.
I tend to agree with Ben on this one. But at least drop the Saturday evening workout so that you can still turn a pedal in the Sunday AM spinning class.
If you are just starting to train as a cyclist, you need to do lots of BASE riding during the winter, and all year really. The Winter (especially this early) is not the time for 4 interval rides a week. I have been cycling for a while and my the majority of my winter is long base (that is constant pace at about 70% of your max heart rate). This means being able to ride for excess of 4 hours straight on a trainer (very fun indeed ). The only way you will be able to ride long rides at a good pace come spring is working on your endurance through the winter. I would suggest a one of Joe Friel’s bike training books, they are key!!
You guys sound like snake oil salesmen.
I’m surprised there hasn’t been more talk of taking up another sport. There are plenty of outlets for it at McGill and in the city of Montreal. Speed skating? Soccer? (Cross country) skiing? Savate? Swimming? Shaolin kung-fu? Soccer? All right in your reach. And I’m pretty sure we get members’ prices for services and classes at the Athletic Center.
@ Mike
I think most people tend to specailize in a sport, though you’re right there are a lot of other sports available though how many can you really do without needing to get out of your house (I guess that applies more for people that work or that are restricted on time).
If you have a bicycle and a trainer you can hop on at pretty much any time and ride till your feel like stoping and then can get right back into what you where doing (saving transporation time). Again it also depends what the season is as some sports are pretty much crossed off the list.
I guess it also depends on your location, how much time it takes to get to where you want to be and what time the place’s are open.
I do cycling and swimming, contemplating: Ice sailing / Bmx
I’ll be doing xc skiing as soon as there’s enough snow. It’s pretty good training and much more entertaining then counting the sweat drops falling on your trainer.
I personally do a lot of downhill skiing, which I think is very similar to downhill mountain biking in muscles used, body position, line choice, duration of a run, and of course the benefit of reassuring myself that I haven’t forgotten how to ride swiftly in between trees come spring.
I also spend a fair amount of time in indoor skateparks (with my bike) working on bike handling and jumping. I would recommend riding in skateparks for any kind of rider, just by virtue of the increased bike handling confidence it gives you. For the downhillers, it also helps you pick out more creative lines that other riders might not notice/attempt to try. (The Highland Mountain course this year especially had some lines that I would never have tried if I hadn’t practiced some vert in halfpipes before)
Beyond that, I also do yoga once or twice a month in the winter. Hot yoga feels especially wonderful when its -20 out. It really helps with your flexibility and balance, as well as core strength, not to mention the inner peace that it bestows.
So I wouldn’t say I’m a one-trick dog, but most of the time when I am doing something active in the winter, it is geared towards how it will make me faster in the spring. [/i]
Nah. I’ll specialize if I’m paid to.
@ Ben Adler
What indoor skate park do you go to? It’s officail I am clearing out my 2008 Specailized Rockhopper Pro Disc and going BMX / Dirt Jumping and want some places to practice. So far all I have is flatland tricks in some of the underground garages in the down town area.
I went to the Taz a while back but I can’t or don’t remeber if its still open.
@ Mike Perbil
I love that comment. I try and limit things a little as I don’t have enough place to store it all. If I had a garage or a secure storage area and a means of bringing things around you bet your bottoms I would be doing partically everything out there