Seven ways to beat the winter blues this January

January can be a hard month to be a mountain biker in Canada.

Freezing cold weather, or constant heavy rain for the west coast, and short daylight hours conspire to drag down the spirits of the most chipper of cyclists. You don’t have to give in to the “winter blues” when the holiday season comes crashing to a halt, though. Here’s seven tips to keep your spirits high this January.

Try out fatbiking

Just because the trails are frozen doesn’t mean you can’t still ride them. Getting your singletrack fix just requires a little adaptation. High volume tires float on snow and studded tires keep you planted on ice. Nothing beats getting out for a rip in the woods, so give fatbiking a try this winter. There’s even fatbike race series in Ontario, and across the country so you don’t have to ride alone.

Group night rides

Short daylight hours make post-work rides a little trickier, but you don’t have to stop riding when the sun goes down. Night riding is surprisingly fun, and can improve your riding. Getting out after dark is definitely more fun with friends, though. Organizing a weekly group ride will make rolling in the dark more fun, and help make sure you leave the house instead of hitting the couch for more Netflix.

Virtual riding and racing

Putting in hours on the rollers is getting easier to do, now that there’s a whole menu of online training and virtual racing platforms to choose from. Virtual riding lets you set up a group ride, choose a scenic virtual route, or race fellow winter-bound riders from around the world. It may not be the same as riding outdoors, but virtual platforms are great for training and now offer real online community.

Get into cross training

Winter offers all kinds of very Canadian ways to enjoy the frigid weather. Cross country and downhill skiing, skating and snowshoeing are great ways to get outside in January. They don’t just stave off cabin fever, either. They all build skills and fitness that will help your riding come spring. There’s a host of reasons why cross training will help your riding, so get out there and try new things.

Group lunch runs / rides

Getting a regular weekly group run or ride is the best way to make sure you keep getting outside regularly. A quick run or office bike loop is a great way to get outside and get a little boost of fitness in winter. Knowing you’ll have company makes the lunch run more social, and keeps you honest on days when you feel like staying indoors.

Plan a warm weather trip

Winter can feel long. It’s something Canadians like to talk up, joke about and exaggerate. If you’re looking forward to Spring, that unending feeling can add weight to the winter blues. Planning a warm weather riding escape, training camp can give you the mental boost of having an end in sight. If leaving winter behind isn’t in the cards, planning a Spring ride with friends can give you the same boost without the cost of flying south.

Spin Class

Spin classes are occasionally derided by “real” cyclists, but they’re harder than they look. Plus, the loud music and group environment is a great way to get the adrenaline going in the middle of winter. There’s classes at all times of day, too, so a spin class can work around any schedule. Don’t knock it until you try it – joining a spin gym could be your ticket to Spring fitness.