Managing Winter in Michigan

Being a cyclist and making it through a Michigan winter can be a challenge. Some ride in their basement on an indoor trainer they got for Christmas, some ride at the gym, some even go out of state to get their ride fix. Some don't ride at all.

There are a few hearty souls that ride outdoors, in the snow and cold. You just need the properly equipped bike, and the right clothes. Yes, I am one of these seemingly crazy people. I find the hardest part not to be the actual riding, but getting up the motivation to gear-up and leave a warm house. Once outside (and after the cold first mile), the tranquility of being out in the woods, on the frozen lake, or a quiet country road takes over and is quite enjoyable.

However, I did try out riding indoors this year. No, not on a trainer, rollers, or an exercise bike. I'm talking about real riding. Mountain biking in fact. My son and I went to Ray's indoor mountain bike park outside of Cleveland and spent the weekend. Rays is a unique 90,000 square foot facility that puts your bike handling skills to the test. We road almost 40 miles, and while that doesn't sound like much, remember it was all indoors.

Now that PALM is full and spring is fast approaching, I being asked for training tips and how to prepared for PALM. Here is what I tell people:

PALM is geared toward families and beginners and the daily mileages reflect that. However, how easy the ride will be for you, and especially how much you enjoy yourself, is directly proportional to how well you prepare.

The first thing you should do is to be sure your bike is in good working order. If you don’t know much about how to work on your bike, take it to your local bike shop. While there, ask them to see if the bike is properly setup for you. Have them look at the seat height, tilt, and fore-aft position, as well as the handlebar position to be sure everything is set up properly for you when you sit on the bike. Remember that these are starting positions and as you ride you may want to make additional adjustments. Ask the shop what adjustments affect what so you might be able to do them yourself.

Now that your bike is ready for you, you need to get ready for your bike. There is no rocket science involved here. It basically comes down to spending as much time in the saddle as possible. Start riding in the spring as soon as the weather permits. Try to ride at least 3 times a week. How far for each ride is up to you, but in the beginning, try for at least 10 miles. After 2 weeks, add 5 to 10 miles to each ride. Again, after a few weeks add another 5 to 10 miles per ride. Continue this gradual building up until you get to at least one 50-mile ride each week right up to PALM.

The “secret” is to not only build up your muscles and aerobic capacity, but to become comfortable in the riding position and especially on the saddle. Everyone, even Lance Armstrong, gets a sore posterior. Remember, PALM is not a race. Wear proper bike shorts. Take a “butt break” every 15 minutes or so while riding. Stand on the pedals and stretch. Get off the bike for a few minutes every 10 to 20 miles. Take in the sights along the way. Stop for lunch or do some shopping.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me at sproketsandspokes@tir.com