In reply to coinneach:
I have a turbo set up and have got stuck in to rebuilding the engine over the winter but there's no way you would regard it as fun in any normal sense of the word. It's much, much harder work (perceived for the same power output) and much less interesting than just going out and riding your bike, even in bad weather. Given that it's going to be painful, I have been trying to maximise the benefit I get from a minimum amount of time on it, and have been doing Sufferfest videos (
http://www.thesufferfest.com/training-videos/cycling-training-videos/ ), which are generally an approx hour-long structured interval workout with cycling footage, music, storyline etc so they are a bit more engaging and motivating than just staring at a number on a screen. While intervals are a bit grim they are at least more interesting and over sooner than doing long hours of steady state on the turbo (just kill me now...). The great thing about using Sufferfest vids for intervals is you don't need to think about what you are doing next while the oxygen is slowly draining from your brain, you just do what you are told/what the riders in the video are doing. You will NEED a big fan, the bigger the better - I just got one of these:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Quality-Prem-I-Air-Velocity-Circulator-Chrome/dp/B0... and a big computer/TV screen is also a pretty high priority if not essential. A load of people in my club have got into Zwift which does look great. I am planning on trying out some rollers for a bit of variety.
Also you can just brave the bad weather. Rule #5, rule #9 and all that. I also got a dedicated winter bike, with disc brakes/fat tyres, mudguards, etc., and some decent kit (Castelli Gabba, also the Sportful Fiandre kit is designed for long rides in grim weather) so I have no excuse not to get out. Also I joined a local club - the club social/training rides are good motivation to keep on getting out, and you always have a guaranteed group of people to go riding with - my club is pretty active and there are people doing before and after work rides pretty much every day of the week, plus a selection of club runs at the weekend. Rides in the wet/cold are a bit easier if you have others to do it with. Went on a brilliant long hilly ride with some friends in the pissing rain last weekend - got thoroughly soaked in about 20 minutes and then soaked to the skin for the whole ride - the old adage about there being no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate equipment - the Gabba is, in fact, made of magic - riding with other people is definitely the key for rides like this, otherwise I would have been miserable and probably got the train home.
That said, longer rides in the winter are definitely harder work so a mix of those with some sessions on the turbo has meant that I am probably putting in just as many miles as I did over the summer.
Post edited at 09:54