WE ALL HAVE A NUMBER. SURE, SOME OF US pursue it with greater gusto and discipline than others. But there’s a number nonetheless. For me, that number is a highly unscientific 175km. It’s the minimum distance I try to cover in a normal week, equating to around 9,000km a year.
I’ve ridden considerably more than this on a few occasions over the years. However, right now, for my life this number feels achievable with a bit of effort. It holds my fitness at an acceptable level for social riding and occasional work trips, whilst keeping me (generally) competitive in club races which I aim to do at least once a month. Perhaps most critically, it’s also a number that doesn’t come at the cost of ruining any relationships, at home or work!
Of course, we’re all different. What’s right for one rider can be completely irrelevant for another. Juggling work and family commitments, health and age, geography and, of course, our own personal goals are all huge influencing factors. Here’s what a selection of folks I know recently had to saywhen I asked them about their ‘magic
