A bit of advice on how to cope with winter's not-so-bike-friendly ways. Photo courtesy of Art's Cyclery

Best advice on how to cope with winter's not-so-bike-friendly ways: Try riding indoors (click to enlarge). Photo courtesy of Art's Cyclery​

Editor's Note: This article is courtesy of the team at Art's Cyclery. The original post can be found here.

Try as you might, there's really no way of getting around it - sitting on a trainer does indeed suck. But let's take a moment to consider the alternatives.

For starters, there's not riding. And that, my friends, really sucks. Oh wait, there's rollers you say? Sure, they're a solid option, but let's take a look at the rather steep learning curve that accompanies them. Kids, don't try this at home:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7UFwHWSnGM

But don't worry, we're here to help…it doesn't have to be so bad. Here's a bit of advice on how to cope with winter's not-so-bike-friendly ways:

Step 1

Get yourself a decent trainer.

Today's trainers providing an incredibly realistic road feel. Photo courtesy of Art's Cyclery

Today's trainers providing an incredibly realistic road feel (click to enlarge). Photo courtesy of Art's Cyclery​

Trainer technology has advanced by leaps and bounds, with many of today's trainers providing an incredibly realistic road feel. From magnetic-resistance varieties to their fluid-resistance counterparts, both have made huge strides in making the trainer-riding experience much more enjoyable for you - and your downstairs neighbor. They've gotten a lot quieter, too.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hkx0B5M_anM

For a comprehensive rundown on what to consider when buying a trainer check out this helpful resource. For the rest of our (not so) patented 3-step trainer success plan, read on.

Step 2

Set up your trainer. A quick and easy resource lies below…

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KM1xtm2bhlg

Step 3

Cue up some entertainment and ride.

Now, we're quick to admit that tastes can vary drastically when it comes to fending off boredom on the trainer. In fact, our team of experts here at Art's headquarters have held countless focus groups and conducted countless clinical trials in their attempts to create a trainer workout that was appealing to cyclists of all backgrounds.

But, as it turned out, the solution was already in existence:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=na9ZZ4ZjVa8

Yep, that's right. The ubiquitous Richard Simmons beat us to the punch on this one. It just so happens his infectiously vexing voice and make-you-want-to-strangle-him-through-the-screen cheeriness is the perfect accompaniment to an otherwise lonely and depressing basement trainer workout. Not only do you get some great 80s music to pedal to, you can also get a great workout by simply sprinting every time the words "I'm a pony" come out of Simmons' mouth.

Final Step

Drop everyone in the group ride when spring finally rolls around. You're welcome.