If it’s so cold in your area that riding borders on dangerous, you can still get out on the road for safe workouts.
Simply adopt a skier’s trick and stop in “warming huts” to combat the chill.
The warming hut can be your house. Use a route that begins at your doorstep and takes 30-45 minutes to ride. If temperatures are low, you’ll be chilled by then no matter what you’re wearing.
Back at the house, jump on your indoor trainer for 15 minutes. That’ll heat you up in a hurry, but stop before you start sweating. Wet base layers will increase the chill factor when you’re outside again. Lifting weights is a good warming activity, too.
When you’re toasty, head back out for another loop. Repeat until you’ve had a great workout.
You can also do longer rides with this strategy. Plan routes that allow stops at convenience stores or coffee shops that are 30-45 minutes apart. Go inside these “warming huts,” purchase a hot drink and let your fingers and toes thaw.
You can even do winter centuries in this way — although it can get expensive!
Several years ago, a friend designed a winter century route comprised of four different 25 mile loops, forming roughly a cloverleaf, all from his “warming hut” heated garage where he had a collection of foods and hot drinks. A slight variation from the above only in that each of his loops was a different route. Friends were invited, and the start of each loop was scheduled, so other riders could join him on any or all of the loops. Pretty clever idea, I thought.