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How do you cope with winter?

K

kail

Monkey
Mar 14, 2002
134
0
Montana
I say "cope" because I find myself increasingly agitated and depressed as I've watched my local trails get buried in snow over the past few weeks.

Before you say "Ski/Snowboard" I'll tell you that I live within 20 minutes of some of the best skiing in N. America -- it doesn't do it for me. Part of that is the cost; my ski gear is ancient and worn-out, yet I can't afford to replace it. FFS, a new telemark setup costs about as much as a new bike these days. That's before shelling out $500+ for a season pass. Anyway, even finances aside, the best powder-day in history doesn't even compare with an average day on my bike.

So, what else do you guys do to get through the 7-8 months of drudgery otherwise known as "winter?" I've been thinking about joining a climbing gym, but even then I'm shelling out quite a bit of coin. Plus, I'm concerned that I won't get the workouts I need. That's another aspect of winter I hate -- I can't even approach the workouts I get on my bike in a gym. I should also mention that I've had considerable meniscus loss in both knees (plus surgery to correct it) and have been told by my doctor that I shouldn't run at all anymore. Obviously, that's the best way to duplicate a mountain bike workout in terms of cardio, but I really don't want to ruin what's left of my knees.

Before you tell me to "man up" or whatever you're going to say, I've got to say this is a very real concern I have. Usually, I'm ready for winter or at least can accept it. But this year I feel like I got short-changed on my riding season. I am legitimately depressed. Thanks for any help you can offer.
 
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demo 9

demo 9

Turbo Monkey
Jan 31, 2007
5,910
46
north jersey
Pornhub

But in all seriousness-why not try to take up some form of winter riding. Roadbikes, fatbikes, ect

Any resprts allow those skibikes by you?

Winter sucks in jersey but i just try to ride no matter what. Usually its a crappy ride but its still a ride
 
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ocelot

ocelot

Monkey
Mar 8, 2009
395
10
Canadastan
Watch bike videos more often, it'll keep your stoke levels high over the winter

You should maybe do some bike specific training in the gym. Check out some of the workout videos that you can find on Pinkbike
 
Jm_

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
18,980
9,638
AK
Damn, I live in Alaska and we've just had some on and off rain/showers, no snow. It was 60°F two nights ago! (55 today). I'm just waiting for the ground to freeze so I can ride without so much mud, on my Enduro at first, and then later on my snow-bike as it falls and gets packed down. The snow-biking is amazing here, but I haven't gotten to actually get out and do it, just watch others on the trails (and build the trails this summer). Gunna be fun, but I also ski, snowboard, rock-climb (indoors) and hike/run.

My climbing gym has a so-so training/strength building area, but outstanding bouldering. It's well worth it, even if it's a little pricey. To be able to go there and do a bunch of climbing and then training is priceless. I got on the bike this summer after having done only that for about 8-10 months (due to a move and having to sell bikes) and I was absolutely killing it on the bike when I was able to get a new one.

The thing that really confuses me is telemark/nordic/XC skiing. I don't get what's so great about it, but people seem addicted to it like crack here. So much so that ALL they do ALL summer is roll around on the ones about 2 feet long with rollers/wheels. It just doesn't seem fun to me and they try so hard to make those little wheels roll in the summer. I guess it pays off in the winter, but then you're working so hard all the time with no/little payoff. With riding you get to enjoy downhills, with climbing you get to the top, with XC skiing you kinda go fast at times, but the tuck and have to follow the tracks. It just doesn't appeal to me, but it's absolutely HUGE and if you get on their trail by mistake (on your bike) they literally go bat-****-crazy on you.
 
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K

kail

Monkey
Mar 14, 2002
134
0
Montana
Jm_ said:
The thing that really confuses me is telemark/nordic/XC skiing. I don't get what's so great about it, but people seem addicted to it like crack here. So much so that ALL they do ALL summer is roll around on the ones about 2 feet long with rollers/wheels. It just doesn't seem fun to me and they try so hard to make those little wheels roll in the summer. I guess it pays off in the winter, but then you're working so hard all the time with no/little payoff. With riding you get to enjoy downhills, with climbing you get to the top, with XC skiing you kinda go fast at times, but the tuck and have to follow the tracks. It just doesn't appeal to me, but it's absolutely HUGE and if you get on their trail by mistake (on your bike) they literally go bat-****-crazy on you.
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To clarify, what I do on telemark skis is nothing like XC skiing or skate skiing. I do not enjoy XC skiing at all, unless it's true backcountry skiing where I am skinning straight up a mountain to get some nice powder runs. XC and skate skiing are completely different sports that I don't understand (much like I don't understand road biking).

My telemark skis are fat powder skis (for their time -- modern ones are quite a bit wider) with heavy-duty bindings and stiff boots. I typically ski "out-of-bounds" ungroomed terrain on very steep pitches. I've been telemarking for over 15 years and just prefer it to alpine style or snowboarding. If someone can ski it on alpine gear or a snowboard -- I can do it on my tele skis. That said, skiing just doesn't hold a candle to a good DH run on a bike, at least to me it doesn't.

Thanks for the comments on climbing gyms -- I'll definitely check out the local one.
 
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F

FarkinRyan

Monkey
Dec 15, 2003
611
192
Pemberton, BC
kail said:
I live within 20 minutes of some of the best skiing in N. America -- it doesn't do it for me.
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I'm confused, have you moved since you first filled in the 'Location' field on your profile?

Seriously though if you can afford a bike, you can afford a second hand set of reasonable condition 'modern' powder skis. Being that telemark technology hasn't progressed in the last 100 years your current binders and boots ARE modern, so bolt-em up and get on it. If you're feeling flush with cash you can also get bindings now that will even allow you to lock the heel down for descending. Madness, I know.

I think having something different to do and enjoy in every season is something that makes living in North America so great. I grew up in the far north of Australia with no real distinct seasons other than Hot, Wet and Not as Hot. Sure you could bike year round but you definitely took that for granted. Now I'm living in Canada and 'only' being able to bike 6 months of the year makes me appreciate biking season and the summer all the more. Riding up the Garbo chair, looking across to Blackcomb and getting stoked out on skiing in September is such an awesome feeling. As is riding the same chair in April, looking down at metres of snow and freaking out about Garbo park laps being just around the corner.
 
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gemini2k

gemini2k

Turbo Monkey
Jul 31, 2005
3,526
117
San Francisco
kail said:
Before you say "Ski/Snowboard" I'll tell you that I live within 20 minutes of some of the best skiing in N. America -- it doesn't do it for me. Part of that is the cost; my ski gear is ancient and worn-out, yet I can't afford to replace it. FFS, a new telemark setup costs about as much as a new bike these days. That's before shelling out $500+ for a season pass.
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Last time i checked you can get a season pass at Heavenly for like ~$500 if you buy early, with minimal blackouts, plus a brand new good ski setup is ~$1000 tops if you hate looking for deals, probably can be had for half that. So...yeah. I spend WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY more than $1500/year on biking. If you can't enjoy resort DH skiing, than you are either a terrible person, or you have done way to much resort skiing.

It always cracks me up when my skiier/boarder friends complain about how expensive skiing is.
 
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Philliam

Chimp
Jan 16, 2012
46
0
I find it therapeutic to completely disassemble all of my bikes and meticulously clean them. Replace bearings and other small parts where needed. Tune, make minor upgrades, etc. While this could be done in a day or two, I try to make it an extended project. Lots of wrenching just for the sake of doing something with a bike. And since I do a lot of it with high-test beer in hand, I'll do it again in the spring without the buzz.

It helps to have OCD, a basement with a widescreen and a lifetime of accumulated bikes to work with. May not be as fun with one bike in an apartment...
 
K

kail

Monkey
Mar 14, 2002
134
0
Montana
FarkinRyan said:
I'm confused, have you moved since you first filled in the 'Location' field on your profile?

Seriously though if you can afford a bike, you can afford a second hand set of reasonable condition 'modern' powder skis. Being that telemark technology hasn't progressed in the last 100 years your current binders and boots ARE modern, so bolt-em up and get on it. If you're feeling flush with cash you can also get bindings now that will even allow you to lock the heel down for descending. Madness, I know.

I think having something different to do and enjoy in every season is something that makes living in North America so great. I grew up in the far north of Australia with no real distinct seasons other than Hot, Wet and Not as Hot. Sure you could bike year round but you definitely took that for granted. Now I'm living in Canada and 'only' being able to bike 6 months of the year makes me appreciate biking season and the summer all the more. Riding up the Garbo chair, looking across to Blackcomb and getting stoked out on skiing in September is such an awesome feeling. As is riding the same chair in April, looking down at metres of snow and freaking out about Garbo park laps being just around the corner.
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This is getting off topic, but are you joking? Telemark technology has improved GREATLY in the past 10 years (my gear is about 12-15 years old). To say what you said, I'm not sure you even know what modern 'telemarking' is. Modern gear takes a lot of the work out of it (though it's still more physically demanding than alpine or snowboarding). Modern bindings and stiff boots help to spring you back up between each turn. And the skis are a lot better too, though not really any different from current alpine skis.

The 'best skiing in N. America' comment was an opinion, obviously. I have three resorts close by; Big Sky, Moonlight Basin, and Bridger Bowl (my favorite). All three resorts, especially BB get frequent 30"+ dumps of the lightest, dryest powder you've ever seen. There are literally hundreds of chutes, cliff hucks, etc. everywhere you look, if that's your thing. I know I should technically be happy about what I have, but skiing is just not as accessible as biking, and that's a big part of it.

For instance, I can't go skiing every day of the week. I have this thing called "work" that gets in the way. By the time I'm home from work, it's dark out. Matter of fact, it's dark when I go to work too. In the summer, I can ride my bike on a different trail every day of the week in the 4+ hours of daylight remaining.

It still goes back to the money thing as well. Yeah, if I were to buy a new bike every season, I'd spend more. However, I don't need a new bike every year. I rode a SC Bullit for 10 years. I finally bought a new bike last spring and it cleaned me out. I CAN'T afford even used skis, boots, and bindings, let alone a season pass. If you average it out, I think I'd spend a lot more skiing per year than biking if I were to ski as much as I ride. Riding is practically free, because I don't need to buy lift tickets. I just drive between 10-40 minutes to one of the many trails I have. Every day if I want to.

TL/DR: I need an alternative other than skiing to occupy my winter months; as skiing is not affordable nor do I get the same "bang for my buck." I'm not a weekend warrior type. I'm more of a "stay active every day" type.
 
K

kail

Monkey
Mar 14, 2002
134
0
Montana
gemini2k said:
If you can't enjoy resort DH skiing, than you are either a terrible person, or you have done way to much resort skiing.

It always cracks me up when my skiier/boarder friends complain about how expensive skiing is.
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Maybe I'm a "terrible" person for not liking resort skiing then. I've been skiing at resorts since I was 10 (a long, long time ago). I just don't get excited about it anymore.
 
E

ebarker9

Monkey
Oct 2, 2007
850
243
kail said:
For instance, I can't go skiing every day of the week. I have this thing called "work" that gets in the way. By the time I'm home from work, it's dark out. Matter of fact, it's dark when I go to work too. In the summer, I can ride my bike on a different trail every day of the week in the 4+ hours of daylight remaining.
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Agreed. Far more than the cold/snow/miserable weather, it's the darkness that gets to me in the winter. The climbing gym is about the closest thing to a "real" activity that I've find for the winter months.
 
Chumble spuzz

Chumble spuzz

Chimp
Apr 22, 2003
60
0
Lower VT
I live in Vermont and have similar tastes when it comes to my sports. I used to be into skiing, but now I mostly just ride. Money is tight and the winter is long. Two things that have helped me are headlamps and anti-depressants. No joke - go talk to your doctor about some meds. I have two young kids and I'm pretty sure that without the meds I would have left my family by now. You mentioned that you are legit depressed - get a professional opinion about that. Both of these options are pretty cheap.
 
kidwoo

kidwoo

Artisanal Tweet Curator
Aug 25, 2003
42,146
13,340
Squirtin ketchup n' mustard on charred flesh
kail said:
Maybe I'm a "terrible" person for not liking resort skiing then. I've been skiing at resorts since I was 10 (a long, long time ago). I just don't get excited about it anymore.
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Unless it snowed multiple feet the day/night before I friggin hate resort skiing too. No shame there. I can't stand the shltshow.

My solution beyond skins and switching back and forth between a split board and AT gear was to get a sled. That single act completely revitalized my skiing in the winter. But yeah.....if you don't want to spend money on a pass and new gear, the sled thing is way out of line.

Seriously though if you can't have fun at Bridger on a good snow day anymore, without picking up something else like some dh bindings or a board, or just making yourself ski like you ride a bike.........I'll grant you that you have a serious problem at hand. ;)

Montana is friggin miserable in the winter if you don't like playing in the snow. If you really are 100% bike minded, I'd find a way to move. Cuz where you live obviously isn't too conducive to 12 months of riding.
 
W

wiscodh

Monkey
Jun 21, 2007
833
121
303
kidwoo said:
Montana is friggin miserable in the winter if you don't like playing in the snow. If you really are 100% bike minded, I'd find a way to move. Cuz where you live obviously isn't too conducive to 12 months of riding.
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Agree with the woo. If you hate winter so much you gotta get out of there
 
slyfink

slyfink

Turbo Monkey
Sep 16, 2008
9,323
5,074
Ottawa, Canada
If one of your main concerns is you can't ski after work, then ski after work. Get skins (sounds like you might have them already) and get a high-powered night riding setup (something like the Gemini Duo), then go explore. Use the gear you have already and get out there. I xc ski on the same trails I ride on. If the public land managers here didn't have their heads so far up their asses I might be able to fat bike on them, but biking is still the devil to them (even in the summer, but that's a rant for another day). Snowshoeing is (I'm sorry to say it) gay, I can't bring myself to do it. We have a giant canal to ice skate on for 2 or 3 months, but it's more of a family sort of activity. Have you tried kite-skiing?

That's all I got for ya.
 
gemini2k

gemini2k

Turbo Monkey
Jul 31, 2005
3,526
117
San Francisco
kail said:
For instance, I can't go skiing every day of the week. I have this thing called "work" that gets in the way.


I'm not a weekend warrior type. I'm more of a "stay active every day" type.
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So uh...you want to reconcile those 2 statements? I'm still not sure what kind of activity you're trying to find here.
 
Jm_

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
18,980
9,638
AK
Like today, I went mountain biking, then rock climbing, then to a mountain-biking party.

Totally stoked on today's mountain bike ride, great traction, mud has dried up, super fast and the birch trees have lost their leaves and I can see around the corner.

Moved up a level in rock climbing, now able to boulder V6s, hella stoked on this...
 
E

EVIL JN

Monkey
Jul 24, 2009
491
24
I dont cope with winter. I make it my b*tch, it just takes some hard work to keep on riding. For me it is almost more fun in the winter, I can ride so much faster it is scary but I can crash hard and just land in snow. Buy a pair of headlamps and a shovel and you're set (maybe a nice pair of spike mud tires too). And when there is some thaw you get the most fun conditions ever, ice ruts. They really theach you how to ride unpredictable conditions.

 
4130biker

4130biker

PM me about Tantrum Cycles!
May 24, 2007
3,884
449
Any indoor skateparks close by? A dirt jumper and a park pass would be fairly cheap and keep the skillz sharp, not to mention fun. I find trail building to be the ultimate winter outlet for myself, but sounds like it may not be an option around where you live. Is moving an option? Washington state still has seasons, but you can ride year-round in most places. Wishing you the best of luck figuring this out.
 
Mo(n)arch

Mo(n)arch

Turbo Monkey
Dec 27, 2010
4,441
1,422
Italy/south Tyrol
Anyway, even finances aside, the best powder-day in history doesn't even compare with an average day on my bike.
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:think: :disgust1:
It's not that I am not loving riding my bike, but have you ever had a really good day in pow while it's still snowing with your friends?
It's pure magic on the mountain during that days... :drool:

Get a split board or touring skis. Good training, no costs for tickets and complete freedom where to go.
 
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demonprec

demonprec

Monkey
Nov 12, 2004
237
15
Whonnock BC Canada
i do trail work and hike , i also lock myself in my shop and work on my car projects and other projects when it,s too awkward to ride due to the weather and such . i live with in a couple hrs drive of some of the best Ski hills around , Whistler , Grouse , Cypress , Seymour , Baker and several others and i do not ski or board in any way toying with trying snow shoeing as the hill close too me would be a great workout
 
Y

yetihenry

Monkey
Aug 9, 2009
241
1
Whistler, BC
I ski, I snowboard, I sled and I still ride my trail bike and DH bike. Snow in Whistler/Glaciers bikes on the North Shore, Squamish, The Coast, the Island and then places like Pemby by March.

I also work 4 10hr days a week, and at winter those are night shifts, so I can ski any pow day.

Winter isn't that hard to enjoy. Not including sleds I'd say its cheaper than summer toy wise.
 
blindboxx2334

blindboxx2334

Turbo Monkey
Mar 19, 2013
1,340
101
Wets Coast
Chumble spuzz said:
I live in Vermont and have similar tastes when it comes to my sports. I used to be into skiing, but now I mostly just ride. Money is tight and the winter is long. Two things that have helped me are headlamps and anti-depressants. No joke - go talk to your doctor about some meds. I have two young kids and I'm pretty sure that without the meds I would have left my family by now. You mentioned that you are legit depressed - get a professional opinion about that. Both of these options are pretty cheap.
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not sure if srs, but this has gotta be one of the worst suggestions/ideas ive ever read on here.
 
K

kail

Monkey
Mar 14, 2002
134
0
Montana
ebarker9 said:
Agreed. Far more than the cold/snow/miserable weather, it's the darkness that gets to me in the winter. The climbing gym is about the closest thing to a "real" activity that I've find for the winter months.
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This is really the key to my problem. It isn't the severity/coldness/amount of snow -- it's the length of time that it's dark outside and/or winter conditions. I wouldn't mind as much if winter only lasted 4-5 months. But around here, you really can't ride a bike in the mountains for 7-8 months in typical years; the snow is too deep and/or the mud makes it miserable at the beginning/end of winter.

I'm really leaning toward the climbing gym thing. That's essentially what I was after -- a 'real' activity that's fun and will help me maintain strength and fitness. Going to a normal gym and sitting on an exercise bike/lifting weights is not fun nor 'real.' I've even devised a plan to where I can shuttle my car to the top of some nearby hills, ride my bike down to the bottom, and run back to my car (since running uphill doesn't hurt my knees). Because another problem for me is weight gain/losing fitness over the winter months.

Thanks to those of you who responded constructively or seriously -- I've got some good ideas now. On the bright side, we've finally had enough nice days in a row to open up a trail close to my house -- I'm going riding after work today and every day this week if possible! I'll be praying for 'no snow' as the ski bums are doing just the opposite, lol.
 
Jim Mac

Jim Mac

MAKE ENDURO GREAT AGAIN
May 21, 2004
6,352
282
the middle east of NY
As I am probably a bit older than the average monkey, I am actually happy to be off the bike a bit - good to work other parts of the body, posture, etc to avoid repetitive motion injuries. I plan on doing a bit of indoor running, Olympic & power lifting, ride the BMX on rollers, chase the kids and hopefully get to Cranx indoor bike park a bit more this year.

EDIT: there's also a covered BMX track about an hour away, hope to bundle up the kid & hit that a bit also.
 
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jonKranked

jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
85,883
24,466
media blackout
kail said:
This is really the key to my problem. It isn't the severity/coldness/amount of snow -- it's the length of time that it's dark outside and/or winter conditions. I wouldn't mind as much if winter only lasted 4-5 months. But around here, you really can't ride a bike in the mountains for 7-8 months in typical years; the snow is too deep and/or the mud makes it miserable at the beginning/end of winter.

I'm really leaning toward the climbing gym thing. That's essentially what I was after -- a 'real' activity that's fun and will help me maintain strength and fitness. Going to a normal gym and sitting on an exercise bike/lifting weights is not fun nor 'real.' I've even devised a plan to where I can shuttle my car to the top of some nearby hills, ride my bike down to the bottom, and run back to my car (since running uphill doesn't hurt my knees). Because another problem for me is weight gain/losing fitness over the winter months.

Thanks to those of you who responded constructively or seriously -- I've got some good ideas now. On the bright side, we've finally had enough nice days in a row to open up a trail close to my house -- I'm going riding after work today and every day this week if possible! I'll be praying for 'no snow' as the ski bums are doing just the opposite, lol.
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if it's the extended darkness (lack of sunlight), get some full spectrum bulbs for your home.
 
Mo(n)arch

Mo(n)arch

Turbo Monkey
Dec 27, 2010
4,441
1,422
Italy/south Tyrol
This winter I will do my best to get as fit as possible to chase my buddies on the bike next year.
So I will train hard.
And I will do a bit of snowboarding. Hopefully there will be tons of pow this season.
 
Kntr

Kntr

Turbo Monkey
Jan 25, 2003
7,526
21
Montana
I live in Montana too and I don't love skiing either, but I go on powder days. I ride my bike year around though. I ride my road bike when the roads are still dry and ride my mountain bike when its snowy. Its still fun, but I almost go crazy every winter. I tried to move a few years ago, but couldn't find a good job in Bellingham. I deal with winter and ride when I can. Last year I only missed 22 days. I bundled up and rode my road bike and pushed up the snowy trails as far as I could. Good Luck.
 
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