Off-roading, once the preserve of gnarly mountain bikers, is now embraced by many, if not most, road riders - and not just during the cyclo-cross season. "The likes of Matthieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert have drawn road riders to mud and gravel tracks," says Luc Soenen, directeur sportif with the Luxembourg-based Hess road cycling team. While a period of lower-intensity riding remains essential after the arduous road racing season, coaches like Soenen advocate cross-country riding as a way to freshen up and acquire diverse skills. "It motivates road cyclists to explore new horizons and become more versatile athletes." But that's not all you'll glean from gravel and cyclo-cross racing, or just heading out on your local trails....
Improved resilience, whole-body strength, and improved bike-handling are just some of the benefits road riders can gain from a winter on the soft stuff. So here are 12 nailed-on reasons to make regular excursions off-road from now until the spring.
1. TAKE THE PROVEN PATH TO PROGRESS
"The sooner you start combining your road riding with off-road, the faster you'll reap the all-round rewards," insists Matt Ellis, Great Britain Cycling Team cyclo-cross coordinator. Ellis is tasked with getting GB cyclo-cross teams to the World Championships while also developing young GB riders across road, track and off-road disciplines.
"On their Olympic pathways, young GB riders will transition from road to cyclo-cross in the off-season as part of their race development and to nurture some physical characteristics they want from it. They're getting high-level racing with top-end intensity over the autumn and winter, which you just can't simulate in training."
2. FAST-TRACK YOUR TECHNICAL SKILLS
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 02, 2023-Ausgabe von Cycling Weekly.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 02, 2023-Ausgabe von Cycling Weekly.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
"We tore around the Sydney suburbs at 60kph in a terrifying, feral pack"
Fast, furious and furry tales from Australia
RIDDEN AND REVIEWED BROMPTON G LINE £2,499
A Brompton for running riot in both town and country
How do different gravel conditions impact your tyre choice?
There are a myriad of tyres on the market but selecting the right one is easier than you think
FEAST OF SWEDEN
Soon after landing in Gothenburg, I began to realise how little I knew about Sweden.
THE WORLD'S GREATEST GRAVEL EVENTS
Globe-trotting gravel racer Joe Laverick chooses his eight favourite events, from coastal Wales to the wilds of Kenya
THE CALL OF THE WILD
Tempted to embark on a long-distance bike adventure? Let former round-the-world record holder and author Julian Sayarer inspire you to strike out and hit the road
Saint Piran accused of using non-UCI legal bikes
Cornish team also alleged to owe former staff tens of thousands of pounds
JOE LAVERICK GETTING INTO THE FEED ZONE
I've ridden through hundreds of feed zones in my time racing a bike.
Lowden not ready to stop after retirement
Former Hour record holder eyes UK time trial scene
Pogačar makes history (again) at Lombardia
Slovenian makes it four in a row at the late-season Italian Monument