CHILLING FOR THE WIN

WORRIED ABOUT LOSING FITNESS OVER THE HOLIDAYS? RELAX - TAKING IT EASY DOESN'T MEAN TRASHING YOUR HARD-EARNED GAINS.

YOU KNOW THE SENSATION. The first day you have off, you feel good; positive about the rest you're getting. Second day, you reinforce that feeling, knowing that your body is benefiting from a short break.

But by day three - maybe day four, if you're really patient - you feel as though you haven't trained for weeks, that your fitness has probably deserted you, and you will never make it onto a bike again. The confidence of recovery has morphed into the panic of slothfulness.

On top of that: if your festive season is typical, you're probably eating more than usual, and drinking considerably more than you normally do, and so you start to perceive weight gain that's in proportion to fitness loss, which compounds your anxiety.

And it's not even New Year's Eve yet! Such is the challenge of the December holidays, a time when travel, tourism and family obligations can throw a spanner in the spokes of your hard-earned fitness.

Of course, for some of you reading this, it might be your best two weeks of the year - school holidays, time off work, 13 hours of daylight and a Festive 500 might be the catalysts for record-breaking time in the saddle. Which is great, and this message is thus not so much for you.

But for many, the mental and physical exertions of the year have demanded a break; plus, the absence of routine undercuts your cycling training in a big way.

DON'T PANIC