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.
Bu hikaye Cycling Plus UK dergisinin Summer 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Cycling Plus UK dergisinin Summer 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Air Apparent - Pollution hasn't gone away. It's still there in every lungful, even if we can't see it in the air or on the news. But there are reasons to breathe easier, thanks to pioneering projects using cycling 'citizen scientists'. Rob Ainsley took part in one...
The toxic effects of pollution have been known about for years. 'Just two things of which you must beware: Don't drink the water and don't breathe the air!' sang 1960s satirist Tom Lehrer.Over recent decades, though, pollution has dropped down our list of things to worry about, thanks to ominously capitalised concerns such as Climate Change, AI, Global Conflict, Species Collapse, etc. That doesn't, unfortunately, mean the problem has expired. Air quality often exceeds safe limits, with far-reaching and crippling effects on our health.
No limits
Not every adventure needs to be that epic, says bikepacking Scotland founder Markus Stitz
UNBOUND UNLEASHED
Josh Patterson was one of 34 starters for the inaugural edition of Unbound in 2006. Now, with more than 5,000 riders taking part in today's event, he charts the rise of the most important race in gravel
FOREST COMMISSION
Looking for a goal race in 2025 that'll stimulate the synapses and live long in the memory? You'd struggle to do better than ENID CRV in Finland
15 OF THE BEST ADVENTURES
Featuring Yorkshire, the USA, Sri Lanka and more, here are our picks of the world's greatest gravel races and routes
The stuff of dreams
Ned sings the praises of the Paris Olympics road-race course
"I rode 3,000 miles around Britain on a bamboo bike to highlight our climate crisis"
Recordbreaking cyclist and triathlete Kate Strong, 45, took to the road to raise awareness of environmental issues
FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE
We venture into the hidden gem of the glorious Creuse, one of France's least populated regions
STAR TREK
New tube shapes and carbon lay-up makes the eighth generation of Trek's legendary Madone an aero and climbing bike all rolled into one
GOLD RUSH
With conflict around the world, Paris 2024 was a ray of light. Here are our highs of a mighty Olympics
