Signing up for a long distance race sounds like a great idea in the summer, but once the colder months come around, you might be left questioning your choices. Training will always be easier in summer when the weather is mild and the days are longer, but that doesn’t mean that the winter needs to be miserable or unbearable.
If you’re looking for ways to stay motivated for your long distance cycle training through the winter months, look no further. We’re sharing some of our favourite tips to help you stay on track with your training without it becoming a drag.
Hate winter training? You’re not alone
There are lots of reasons to hate training in the winter. First, there’s the weather. Cold weather makes it more difficult to even want to jump on your bike. Add any kind of wind or rain into the mix, and it can start to feel like an uphill struggle just to get on your bike.
The days are also shorter in the winter, which can make it more difficult to train outdoors. Perhaps you don’t feel confident riding in the dark, which means you have limited hours for when you can complete your training plan.
And finally, winter also brings indulgent holidays like Christmas and New Year. This can present additional challenges, as you might not want to miss out on festival occasions, but you might be aware just how much this can derail your training.
How to overcome the challenges of winter training
As you can see, your concerns are completely legitimate. There are plenty of reasons to dislike training in winter, from safety concerns to matters of simple comfort. While it might be more pleasant to train in spring, summer and autumn, there are ways to make your winter training less painful.
Get the right gear
Some people say there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. If you’re in the wrong gear, you’re going to feel every rain drop and every gust of wind. By investing in quality wet weather gear, you can cycle in any weather without worrying about being cold or uncomfortable.
The right gear also extends to the right safety gear. Riding in wet conditions or in the dark presents some unique challenges. You want to make sure you’re going to stay on the road and that other road users can easily see you. Don’t be afraid to go over the top on high visibility gear, and make sure you’re riding more cautiously, as other road users could also be distracted by the conditions.
Move your training indoors
If you really hate the wet weather and the wind, you could move your training indoors for the winter months. Join your local gym and hop on an exercise bike, or join a spin class to help boost your endurance and make the whole thing a little more sociable.
It’s true that indoor training doesn’t give you that real world experience, but it can be better than skipping training altogether for the winter months. If you aren’t yet confident riding on the roads, don’t start in winter when everything will be a little more hazardous and you’ll need to worry about slippy roads, rain in your eyes and other drivers.
Train on your lunch break
A common reason that people want to skip training in the winter is simply that they don’t like to ride in the dark, so that takes mornings and evenings out of the equation. You can work around this by turning your lunch hour into a power training session.
Hopping on your bike during your lunch break will help you to keep your training on track, while also helping to boost your mood and ensure that you’re maximising your exposure to daylight. This can help you to avoid seasonal dips in your mood that can make training even more difficult.
Focus on the positives
Another great method for making the most of winter training is to focus on the positives. Not every training ride will be your most enjoyable, but there will be moments of clear skies when the conditions are absolutely perfect for a winter ride.
There’s nothing better than a crisp winter morning when the skies are bright and you can see your breath, and the cold weather creates the perfect conditions so that you don’t overheat when your heart rate increases.
Winter training might not be perfect, and you might be dreaming of sunny days, but try to appreciate the seasons for what they are. Provided you are safe on the road and protected from any adverse weather, you should be able to continue your training without any drama. Don’t worry, the winter will come to a close and before you know it, you’ll be enjoying warmer weather and longer days.
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