December Cycling Challenge

Recommendation: For spinning classes, wear bicycle shorts because they have padding in the seat area. After Spin class do not immediately go into a steam bath or hot sauna, you could pass out. I noticed a lot of that when I was going to a gymn for spin classes.
For older people (like me). It's best to wear a heart rate monitor when spinning or cycling.
I heard the new spin bikes are like blu tooth, you wear the HR strap and the bike keeps track of HR. I also heard the spin bikes keep track of mileage.

3/12 - 20 miles, constant 40km/h wind on the way out but fun on the way back
5/12 - 19 miles spinning
6/12 - 22 miles
9/12 - 19 miles spinning
11/12 - 19 miles spinning
12/12 - 19 miles spinning

Spinning is tough for outdoor cyclists but needed. It's tough in that you do not have the scenery to enjoy. I spin to a training video. I do not use a music dvd, or put on a movie. I spin to a training video because it helps by telling me what gear I should be in, when to do HIIT, and also includes where my heart rate should be. The video also recommends what pace to be at.
As for a spin class, a challenging class will have you watching your speed and heart rate and gearing to be in. The only times to socialize in a spin class would be right before the class or at the warm down.
Then again that is the way I do it. As in life, there are many ways to enjoy spinning.

This is more a challenge I like. Count me in! Hopefully it can be done indoors as well, since I live in the north and in the winter there is too much snow and ice and too cold to bike outside...

December 3 : 8.2 mi
December 5 : 8.6 mi
December 7 : 9.1 mi
December 9 : 8.9 mi
December11: 9.1 mi
December14: 9.3 mi

Still in there

3rd Dec - 34.47 miles
4th Dec - 21.15 miles
5th Dec - 6 miles (cycled for 3 miles then headed back - way too windy!)
9th Dec - 21.30 miles
16th Dec - 17.54 miles

Total December: 100.46 miles
Target: 400 miles
Remaining: 299.54 miles

November Miles: 381.63
October Miles: 316.49
September Miles: 273.53
August Miles: 571.26

2nd December 16 Miles (commuting)
3rd December 16 Miles (commuting)
5th December 16 Miles (commuting)
9th December 18 miles (commuting)
10th December 16 Miles (commuting)
12 December 16 miles (commuting)
16th december 16 miles (commuting)
17th December 16 miles (commuting)



Total 130

I'm just hopping in to say Hi. We've reached a toasty 7 degrees this morning. No biking for me right now.

I'm curious. For those of you who are outdoor cyclers during the good months and spinners during the bad months, how does spinning stack up to cycling outside?

It's so hard for me to ride stationary. It's not just a matter of scenery. When I ride outside, I have to pay attention to everything. There is soooooo much to account for. Cars, school buses, the crazy mail lady in her truck (nearly hit me), snakes & turtles (not this time of year), attacking dogs, pedestrians, other cyclists, wind, dust, cows that got out of their pasture, bugs that hit you in the face, rain, more dogs, neighborhood punks (and I mean that in the nicest way), glass in the road, roadkill, etc.

Granted, on any given day, I may only deal with one or two of these, but it's always something. *It's always different. It's always engaging.*

Spinning is just that for me. Spinning and wishing I could just stop. I tried watching television. I tried listening to audio books. I even tried playing a game on my Kindle. I can't use a workout video because I have to keep my workouts on the lower end of intensity. I haven't given up hope that I'll figure it out though.

12/2/2013 5mi stationary bike 20 minutes 272 cals
12/7/2013 12.14 road bike 62 minutes 1152 cals
12/8/2013 8 miles stationary bike 30 minutes 460 cals
12/9/2013 8 miles stationary bike 30 min 461 cals
12/11/2013 7.61 miles stationary bike 30 mins 461cals

3/12 - 20 miles, constant 40km/h wind on the way out but fun on the way back
5/12 - 19 miles spinning
6/12 - 22 miles
9/12 - 19 miles spinning
11/12 - 19 miles spinning
12/12 - 19 miles spinning
16/12 - 17 miles spinning
18/12 - 20 miles spinning

12/1 - 0 miles.
12/2 - 0 miles.
12/3 - 6 miles.
12/4 - 12/8 - 0 miles.
12/9 - 2 miles stationary.
12/10 - 1.1 miles stationary.
12/17 - 3.0 miles outside. Sunny and mild, but the wind was rough.
12/19 - 3.1 miles outside.


MTD - 15.2 miles.
Goal - 50 miles.
Remaining - 34.8 miles.

12/2/2013 5mi stationary bike 20 minutes 272 cals
12/7/2013 12.14 road bike 62 minutes 1152 cals
12/8/2013 8 miles stationary bike 30 minutes 460 cals
12/9/2013 8 miles stationary bike 30 min 461 cals
12/11/2013 7.61 miles stationary bike 30 mins 461cals
12/19/2013 4 miles stationary bike 15 min 420 cals

December 3 : 8.2 mi Spinning
December 5 : 8.6 mi Spinning
December 7 : 9.1 mi Spinning
December 9 : 8.9 mi Spinning
December11: 9.1 mi Spinning
December14: 9.3 mi Spinning
December17: 9.3 mi Spinning
December19: 9.4 mi Spinning
December21: 22 mi Road bike

2nd December 16 Miles (commuting)
3rd December 16 Miles (commuting)
5th December 16 Miles (commuting)
9th December 18 miles (commuting)
10th December 16 Miles (commuting)
12 December 16 miles (commuting)
16th december 16 miles (commuting)
17th December 16 miles (commuting)
18th December 16 miles (commuting)
19th December 16 miles (commuting)
24th December 16 miles 9commuting)

Total 178