As the temperature drops, many riders hang up their bicycles for the season and lament the lost days of warm weather riding. Fortunately for those wanting to avoid having to get back into shape come spring, there are options to help stay in top riding condition during the cold winter months thanks to trainers and fat bikes.
“Winter absolutely doesn’t mean the end of your riding season and in some cases living in the frozen tundra opens up areas for you to ride that you wouldn’t get the opportunity to in the warmer months of the year,” said Breanna VanDeHey, manager at The Sports Den in Marshfield.
For those willing to brave the cold, fat bikes are a growing trend.
“These bikes have super wide tires often 4” or more, allowing you to ride in the snow and ice throughout the winter,” said VanDeHey. “There are more and more trails opening in our area that allow fat biking, including Marshfield School Forest on County Rd N, Rivers Edge, the Eau Pleine Flowage, Levis Mound in Neillsville, and rumor has it that Powers Bluff will even have some trails groomed for fat biking this year, too.”
With expert knowledge and many years in the industry, The Sports Den is equipped to help riders find the right bike for their body and goals – as well as providing them quality gear to stay warm while outside.
“We are all about giving people the tools they need to stay happy and healthy,” said VanDeHey. “Some of these tools could be great quality winter apparel from brands like Smartwool or The North Face, allowing you to stay warm and safe while enjoying the outdoors. We also carry snowshoes, cross country and downhill skis, and snowboards. Between those and fat bikes and the warm winter gear to make those activities even more enjoyable we should have something here to help anyone that wants to stay active this winter.”
For those who’d rather bike indoors, but miss their road bike during the cold months, new options are making training indoors more fun than ever before.
“A stationary trainer is a small piece of equipment that hooks to your bicycle, often by lifting up the back wheel. With the back wheel off the ground you can now ‘ride’ your bike indoors, pedaling and shifting gears like you would outdoors,” explained VanDeHey.
Riders can choose from two classes of trainers: traditional and smart.
“The new smart trainers take the fun of cycling and blend it with a modern interactive gaming experience,” said VanDeHey. “The trainers connect to your laptop, iPad, cell phone, or smart tv through Bluetooth or ANT+ signals and calculate information such as speed, distance, revolutions per minute and power within various apps such as Zwift.”
(Traditional trainers can be used in virtual platforms with help from a special sensor.)
Though smart trainers are not new, the popularity of the trainers and of platforms such as Zwift have expanded significantly in the past year. Like any technology, the features and graphics continue to improve.
“You can ride through a wide variety of courses from the seaside up to (and through) volcanos, all while riding with other cyclists from around the world,” she said. “Like other social media platforms you can find friends, follow other people, and even join up and create group rides within the virtual setting.”
Not just for winter riding, trainers can be useful at any time of the year and by connecting to a virtual platform, they are a great way to maintain the social element of riding that cyclists enjoy.
“I am a busy mom and have a very hard time getting in a good ride even during the summer. So, I have my stationary trainer hooked up to my bike and then ride after getting the kids to bed,” said VanDeHey. “I get a good workout in using a piece of equipment I already own (my bike) without having to go to the gym, or ride in the dark, on dangerous roads, or in inclement weather.”
The Sports Den helps coordinate weekly fat bike rides at Marshfield School Forest every Wednesday evening. Riders meet at the forest parking lot and take off around 6:30 PM. Helmets and headlights are required in order to to join this group. Riders of all abilities are welcome to join the fun. Those interested are invited to join Facebook group “Wood Spokes Bicycle Club” to communicate with other area riders and join other group ride adventures.
A small rental fleet is available at The Sports Den, but inventory of rentals is limited so they do request giving 24-hour notice. Rental fees can be applied to the purchase of a bike (contact The Sports Den for details).
