FITNESS
At the time of writing, it’s nearly dark at 3pm and has rained every day for at least a week. We are in the depths of winter and don’t we know it! Only one thing for it: buckle down, zip up, and build the foundations for a great year.
This is the toughest time of year to be a cyclist – at least if you live in the northern hemisphere – with the idea of wearing shorts and jersey cruising along under the sun being a distant memory. This week, the third week of January, is said to be the most depressing on the calendar. Motivation is likely to be low – and there is no point making it harder for yourself by making mistakes in how you approach your training.
My winter training over the past seven years has always centred on building a base ready for the next year. This year, I’m preparing for a season focused on gravel and crit racing – training around 17 hours per week. I don’t mind admitting that, over those seven winters, I’ve made plenty of mistakes. So as someone who’s learnt the hard way, here are my worst winter training mistakes – and how to avoid them.
MISTAKE 1
NOT PACKING FOR WEATHER CHANGES
Even if it’s crisp and sunny first thing,
