We all expect seasonal variations in the weather but what we have been experiencing of late is beyond a joke – it’s bordering on a disaster movie!
Whatever the weather, it seems training must go on. There doesn’t appear to be an off-season anymore, but just because the pros do it do we have to follow? Most of us don't earn a living by riding our bikes. Maybe we should cut ourselves some slack.
Soldiering on through the winter months can actually have a detrimental effect on the coming cycling season. A case in point: a few weeks ago our editor came to grief while out riding, hitting a patch of black ice and briefly knocking himself out (think Thomas Voeckler but without the talent). The accident only kept him off his bike for a week or so but it could have been a lot worse – one of the riders he was with broke his hip and will be off the bike for months.
We believe you should always enjoy your riding and should never feel pressured into going out when the conditions are less than favourable. Whatever the Velominati say, passing on a foul-weather ride doesn't make you a fair weather cyclist. Off-season training is vital but sometimes it’s good to remember that the turbo is your friend.
First, the bad: for us, the 100th edition of the Tour de France was never really going to measure up to the 99th. This year’s race was also staged in the shadow cast by Armstrong’s confession. Although it’s impossible not to admire him as a rider, we were also unimpressed by Peter Sagan’s lack of class on the podium. Finally, the weather we’ve had to endure in Britain for the past couple of months has been beyond a joke.
And so to the good stuff: we absolutely loved this year’s La Vuelta. We knew the Giro was going to be good but the Spanish grand tour really excelled. We were also inspired by Nairo Quintana and his incredible climbing abilities. We were also blown away by the two vintage rides we took part in this year: the Anjou Velo Vintage and L’Eroica. Two really well put together events – definitely not to be missed! It would be unfair to moan about the British winter without singing the praises of this year’s British summer. And finally, a word for Fizik’s kangaroo leather R3 shoes: light, supple and completely gorgeous.
Happy new year to you all – here’s to a happy, healthy and cycling-filled 2014.
