Extending the cycling season during the Midwest winter

Extending the cycling season in the Midwest has always been a challenge. The last thing I want to do is hop on a trainer for 90 minutes. I'd rather gouge my eyes out with a sharp stick. So I look for alternatives to get outside during the cold winter months. There's snowshoeing, xcountry skiing, and a plethora of gym workouts like functional training, yoga and group exercise classes.

But I've been enjoying getting out on my fat tire bike when the conditions allow. We've had a few good snowfalls to provide opportunities to trail ride. But lately we've been plagued with not enough snow and a lot of ice or mud. So what's a cyclist to do? Head to the beach of course!

To avoid damaging the area trails or risk going down on a patch of ice, we headed to the shores of Lake Michigan to ride on the beach. Fat tire bikes work on the sand just as they do on snow. And you don't have to worry about damaging the trails.

#EndureAndEnjoy

After a ride on the beach you'll want to be sure to clean the chain and gears as the sand can cause added wear. I discovered a great tip a few years ago. Buy a 5 gallon garden sprayer at your local hardware store. Fill it with water at home and pack it in your car to spray down your bike after a sandy or muddy ride. It works great. You won't track the mess into your car, the mud wont harden on the bike, plus it keeps your bike clean. But be sure to scrub your chain when you get home and lube it up for the next ride.

Garden pump sprayers are great for hosing down your bike. Anywhere. Anytime.

So set out on your own adventure this winter. According to the Groundhog, spring is just around the corner.

Enjoy the ride,
Sheri