10 WAYS TO GET.. BATTLE READY!

THE PANDEMIC-ENFORCED DISRUPTION TO GROUP RIDES AND SPORTIVES HAS STRIPPED MANY CYCLISTS OF THEIR BIKE-HANDLING SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE ON THE ROADS. FROM GROUP-RIDING REFRESHERS TO URGENT TECHNICAL TWEAKS, HERE ARE ESSENTIAL WAYS TO GET ROAD-READY AGAIN.…..

- MARK BAILEY

Modern life has robbed you of some key cycling skills. The pandemic-era boom in indoor training has produced many cyclists who are aerobically fit but may lack confidence and control out on the roads, or struggle with the unpredictable gradients of 'real' climbs.

Working from home has also left many cyclists with back pain, which is hampering their comfort on the bike.

Then there are those who have spent months training alone and now feel nervous following a wheel. And the cancellation of sportives has left many riders unsure about pacing themselves on big rides.

As the world opens up, an exciting array of sportives, cycling holidays, social spins and adventures await. But first you need to get road-ready. Whether you are an experienced rider whose skills have been blunted, a seasonal cyclist emerging from a winter of indoor training, or a pandemic-era novice who has never raced in a group, we reveal 10 key ways that'll help you repair the damage of the last few years and embrace the gloriously unpredictable world beyond your front door.

01 Rebuild road- ready power

THE PROBLEM

If you've been training hard indoors, your power output may be good, but it won't be refined for the subtle side-to-side movement experienced when riding outside. "On the trainer, your bike is locked into a fixed position," explains coach Richard Rollinson of CPT Cycling (cptcycling.co.uk). "This helps your power development as your pedalling action is isolated to a circular pedal stroke. But it does not develop power outside of that motion." In the real world, your bike shifts from sideto-side whenever you accelerate, stand up on a climb, or blast around a corner. "This 'sidemotion power' will take many weeks to develop on the road," he adds.