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I feel like taking up a new hobby to stop me sitting on the sofa eating junk food and watching rubbish telly as the evenings draw in.
What do you guys do in the winter to keep busy?
I spotted a badminton club on the way home from work the other day, tempted to give that a go.
Before anybody says the cycle, I do a weekly night ride, sometimes 2 depending on who in our group is out but even this starts to lose its appeal when it gets properly muddy.
Rock and roll dance, guitar.
Karate and Airfix kits, but not at the same time.
Karate is a good shout, I'll see if there is a local club. I am too impatient for airfix. I either sit up the entire night to finish it or want to smash it to pieces with a club hammer 😳
Some kind of craft type hobby. When I used to fish a lot used to tie flies in the winter a lot. Very absorbing thing to do and quite theraputic. No I don't have time to fish I miss the tying more thna the fishing itself
Target shooting and hibernation.
I fancied having a go at spoon whittling, if only to see the disappointed look on everyone's faces when they unwrap the fruits of my labour at Christmas time.
Climbing, there's an indoor wall in most areas. Can get very addictive and great for your strength/fitness.
I just keep riding as well though!
I feel like taking up a new hobby to stop me sitting on the sofa eating junk food and watching rubbish telly as the evenings draw in.
Oh. I thought that was a hobby.
indoor climbing, turbo trainer and Netflix, jam making
Running. 30 mins or so outside is a very good workout and running in the cold and rain is much more pleasant then cycling in it.
Turbo training. Not a hobby but, if you follow vids or programmes that work for you, it can be oddly enjoyable.
Yeah, the indoor climbing wall is good for dark evenings when the weather's shit.
hooli - Member
Before anybody says the cycle, I do a weekly night ride, sometimes 2 depending on who in our group is out but even this starts to lose its appeal when it gets properly muddy.
All the same to me. It gets proper muddy in summer too depending on the weather. Mud doesn't stop play. Nor does night.
Resorting to road or turbo is what makes it less appealing to be on a bike in the winter. May as well sit on the sofa if you're just riding as a chore 😛
Best bit is when it gets cold enough for frost. Crisp frosty trails are awesome. Like summer dust. Snow also if fresh.
I like to make things. Depends on the space you have available and interests.
Also BMX but I am lucky in that i have a indoor park 30 min from me and I rode when younger but I know a few people who started in there late and mid 40s.
Also indoor climbing.
Mud doesn't stop play
Depends on the mud in your area. Mud on a Ricky trail in Wales or peak District no bother. Mud on the ridgeway or on some of the chalk downs? Horrible slow slog.
Another one for running. Resisted for as long as I could but eventually succumbed. Started off and 10 mins was an effort. Two and a bit years later I've done 3 half marathons, numerous 5 and 10Ks and an extreme obstacle course.
Parkrun on a Saturday morning would be my advice, caters for all sorts. There should be one near you.
Squash?
any musical instrument
Photography. My typical bag without a long zoom but with a tripod, 2 flashes remotes, 4 lenses and filter sets weights in at 12.9KG.
Which is the same weight as my Jekyll 😯
Imagine carrying your bike for an entire day out walking in the country. Keeps you fit enough.
I do run a bit but it tends to be during the day, Park run and a lunch run with colleagues.
No can do on the music, I believe I have what is known as no rhythm 😉
Climbing is another good one, will look into it.
hooli - MemberWhat do you guys do in the winter to keep busy?
Brazilian jiu jitsu.
badminton is a good shout. i play squash in the winter, couple of friendly games and a team match per week. the team night doubles as a bit of a night out too. biking is reduced to a night ride, plus the steady year round saturday morning spin.
i pretty much hang up my racket in summer and just ride!
I spent the last 3 winters working away from home. Too often the hobby was eating junk food and watching crap on the hotel TV. Or going to the pub.
I've now got this winter at home most nights. Trouble is, by the time I'm in from work, sorted dinner and assisted in getting our duaghter to bed there's no time left for hobbies. Oh, and the house is being turned upside down because of building work.
But when the women of the house like to relax in front of eternal cooking programmes (and yet don't cook), then I might buy an Airfix kit and find a dust free corner....
Archery (indoor)
And working on my winter plumage.
Work you way through the karma sutra, or twister.
Much the same thing excpt with pants.
Running - join a local club its social and will get you way fitter than you were.
Go to the gym, swimming, indoor rowing. Do a bit of DIY, fix all the shit I broke earlier in the year. I get more into cooking over the winter. Make plans for following spring/summer/autumn.
Pub
I spotted a badminton club on the way home from work the other day, tempted to give that a go.
Just started playing again after a 20 year gap. Got all the old enthusiasm back again (though much of the ability has gone). Great sport.
dont go home first, thats the biggest mistake. if im doing anything it has to be straight from work because once ive set eyes on my couch and my fire and my tele and the beer in my fridge i aint going nowhere!!
Has anybody mentioned indoor climbing yet? That's one of my current indoor sporting activities, the other being roller skating. If you get into doing things with a group/club like I have then going home first isn't a problem.
Also went to a board/card games evening in a local pub last night - if you're interested in that sort of thing there's probably something similar in your area (and whilst some there were into D&D and that sort of thing it was all just normal not too involving fun games last night). First time I've ever been to a specific event like that and I'd definitely go again (and not just for reasons mentioned on another thread!)
Definitely dancing.
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In saying that, with my crap health and inflexibility I chose (indoor pool) swimming. Not really very sociable.
But yes, dancing.
Or Karate, Krav Maga, etc?
Also, If I had the readies I'd buy a decent electronic drum kit and headphones.
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Yes, climbing is on the list of things to check out as is squash if the badminton club doesn't work out.
Going to the gym is a last resort as I really don't enjoy it. Could possibly be tempted to swim though.
Dancing and drums fall under the category of no rhythm so sadly not an option for me 😉
Thanks for the suggestions, lots to look at.
Do a course in something to you're interested in.
+1 on Photography. Though at night it's going to be night photography. Astrophotography perhaps? 😀 (I'd love to get into that, except for light pollution so need to drive to somewhere remote that isn't dogging central 😉 ).
Problem with photography is it can get as expensive a hobby as bikes 😀
Squash... It's absolutely knackering!
I found squash was too competitive and people I could play against were just full of themselves.
no rythym so sadly not an option for me
[url= https://hobbylark.com/performing-arts/Learning-to-Dance ]hold those horses...[/url]
some kind of Bootcamp - BMF are the obvious one but there are others in any area, I use https://www.bcuk.uk/
Like you i hate gyms, I zwifted last winter and will do again but that's a mechanism to avoid 'turbo training' and I wanted something that was more whole body to overcome my 'legs like Wiggins / body like Biggins' physique.
And it's chuffing hard, but addictive, and only gets better when the weather turns shittier because you know you're GRRRR!
Bouldering, Cheaper and better for technique than 'indoor climbing' which usually means ropes, harnesses, heights and a buddy who you trust.
Skiing
hooli - Member
I feel like taking up a new hobby to stop me sitting on the sofa eating junk food and watching rubbish telly as the evenings draw in.What do you guys do in the winter to keep busy?
Trail Running, though you have to be flexible as to time and weather.. Muds fine, Rains fine too... but you'll end up running places where the Dog Walking fraternity gather in bushes. So, watch out for dog poo and grumpy dog walkers.. they only tend to walk 20mins which isn't far so once you break out of "their" Zone you'll be into the wooded trails no bother.
A decent head torch is useful, gloves and for when you get back to the car (if you drive there) a towel to wipe yourself down and a bin bag for your running shoes..
And some water to sip.
You can do more for fitness and sheer "fun" trail running, it's hilarious. Pound the tarmac paths or roads and well... you need your head examining.
Or I'd suggest, since you seem to want to "do" something.. Badders or Squashers or if so inclined Golf range ball whackers..
[quote=giantalkali ]Bouldering, Cheaper and better for technique than 'indoor climbing' which usually means ropes, harnesses, heights and a buddy who you trust.
Which are the reasons - particularly the latter - I prefer proper climbing than being Billy no mates bouldering. Because one of the main things I like about climbing is that it's sociable. Clearly you do have to find such buddies, but I found the group I now climb with on Meetup, which is also a good place to look for any social activities. The other disadvantage you don't mention is that you also have to learn how to belay properly if you want to be a buddy for the person who is looking after you - but if there isn't a group like mine who will teach you that, then all climbing walls offer courses.
Not that I've got anything against bouldering, I do plenty of it and it's cool when there's a good group and some banter - I was even extolling the virtues the other day to somebody who has similar preferences for roped climbing. You're probably right about developing technique, but then if you're not doing roped climbing, then all you're developing technique for is bouldering!
masturbation
Hi-fi, red wine.
Winter evenings sorted
Aracer -
Which are the reasons - particularly the latter - I prefer proper climbing than being Billy no mates bouldering. Because one of the main things I like about climbing is that it's sociable.
Roped climbing isn't social though. One of you is at the top of a bloody great big wall while the other is at the bottom getting a crick in their neck and watching your arse so you don't die. Bouldering on the other hand is a load of sweaty people in a sweaty room, sweating. Social...
Filter has ruined my fun.
October to May is running season, I also now do Zwift.
My non aerobic hobby is painting, (pictures not walls) but it requires a certain mental calm I seldom achieve.
Archery, loads of toys/modifications to fiddle with if you are that way inclined once you get a bug for it and the meditative aspect to planting arrows into a tiny disc is not to be underestimated.
[quote=giantalkali ]One of you is at the top of a bloody great big wall while the other is at the bottom getting a crick in their neck and watching your arse so you don't die.
Not all the time. Not even most of the time if you don't take it too seriously. Actually not even most of the time even if you do take it too seriously.
I suppose it helps that most of the time I'm climbing with a group bigger than 2, but even with only 2 on a rope it's still a social experience.
Learn the guitar or any other instrument that takes your fancy. Nothing more rewarding and frustrating in equal measure!
+2 photography. Once you realise how to take a photograph, or create an image (rather than a snapshot), it can become addictive (and expensive). And you are ALWAYS learning. There's always another technique, piece of kit, scenario, edit, or a multitude of other things that you can progress with
The wife has always wanted to learn to dance, so a few years ago I finally gave in and went along to a Ceroc lesson (modern jive/salsa type thing) with her.
I have [u]NO[/u] rhythm, however, you don't need it, that's what the music is there for, to keep time for you.
All you need to do is listen/feel the beat of the music, and move.
That type of dancing is purely partner dancing though, so when I've tried to dance on my own I still feel/look like a spaz.
Yet another for indoor climbing but I will add yoga into the mix
Mountainbiking.
Yes the ridgeway is under ankle deep mud, but the peak will kill a set of brake pads before you stop for a sausage roll at fairholmes, swinley turns to grit an to off piste gets destroyed, Scotland is covered in snow, the Lake district is just wet, as is wales. Everywhere can claim that they're the worst.
Singlespeed, small rotor and sintered pads (runs hot, minimises pad wear), decent lights and get out and ride.
I actually enjoy the winter riding as much as the summer, it's so completely different it my as well be a different sport, but the fitness transfers perfectly. Just needs a bike and kit that suits it.
I only road ride in winter when we get a big blocking high pressure and there's no chance of sailing (another sport where the winter series is a different challenge).
Other than that, I always plan to get a head start on the DIY when the weather's crap so I can get out more in the summer. Ditto the garden, get all the pruning done and the borders dug over and weed membrane over the top until the frosts are finished so that doesn't need touching. That way when the weather is actually nice I can get out!
My regular winter activities...
- Turbo trainer, dull, but having daughter who watches Disney/CBBC all day. I buy the odd DVD of films i've been wanting to see during summer as they come up on offer and save them up for turbo in winter, so catching up on films too.
- Concept 2 rower, hard at first, but big fitness gains quite quickly and great for flexibility and core strength
- New one for me, and great the moment, mushroom picking, learning all about the edible ones and takes you out into the woods and fresh air.
- Cider / beer / wine/ gin production, great time of the year if you live in rural area like me, so many people have apples/ damsons/ plums etc that they don't use...so i turn them into booze!!
I picked up a massive gym grade cross trainer from the freeads a few years back so that's exercise sorted for when I'm feeling soluble.
For something to do I like to mess about repairing and modifying electronics stuff. Hi-fi, laptops, games consoles etc. You can pick up faulty stuff for sod all and even turn a profit on some of it. If you've never done anything like it here are loads of books and videos on Youtube covering the basics which to be honest will do for the majority of repairs. £25 worth of tools and you're good to go. It's very satisfying to repair and use things which most people would just chuck out by default.
I don't watch TV, haven't done for years, can't stand the bs.
I don't watch TV, haven't done for years, can't stand the bs.
Hurrah, well done.
I'm always impressed when non-tv watchers feel the need to announce it.
There's some good stuff out there amongst the crap - don't cut your nose off to spite your face pal 😉
Line Dancing ... obviously
scalextric
[quote=cheese@4p ]Yet another for indoor climbing but I will add yoga into the mix
That's a good point - I'm wanting to improve my climbing and could do with more flexibility. Have never done yoga or anything similar though... (and TBH I'm short of time rather than things to fill it with!)
Lift weights and diy
This year MTB is likely to be my main winter hobby. It's one thing I can tolerate doing outdoors in just about any weather and state of trails.Agree with tinas on this except the singlespeed suggestion.
Spent more time sailing this summer than riding....next year will hopefully do more of both.
I also do trainsets with the kids (it's not grown up enough to call a "layout"), a bit of airfix, a little bit of gym time and maybe some swimming too.
It's happening! I'm actually doing stuff to the motorbike! Now the garage stinks of petrol and I have rust in my eyes, this thing is an absolute disaster.
Should have probably decided to do something more sociable mind but still
Badminton & Squash are both excellent ..but for me they were a one way ticket to knee trouble ( especially squash which I gave up age 39 and used to play most evenings )..I went back to badminton and played for 3 years before finally giving up about 2 years ago with a recurrence of knee problems ..but give it a go ..they are both hard physical games which once you understand how to play I'm sure you would enjoy .
Art. I find it really relaxing to get my drawing pens out and do some sketching. If the weather is really awful or I’ve got a cold, drawing keeps me from getting grumpy about not being on the bike!
Astrophotography perhaps? (I'd love to get into that, except for light pollution so need to drive to somewhere remote that isn't dogging central ).
Hey that's still a hobby 😉
Indoor skydiving, for when you can't do real skydiving.
Or, carpet bowls.
I bought a PS3 for the kids, and I'm slowly getting sucked into the shallow end of Sim Racing. Just AI for now, but I'm eying up a PS4 or PC and a better wheel, and I've not had mine a week yet 😆
Spoon carving.
[s]Crack[/s] pipe on the go, rocking chair on the verandah, whittling away, jobs a goodun.
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Everybody loves spoons!