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OPINION

The off season rest.

An end of season tradition see cleats dumped for trainers, but is it good for the mind and soul?

For twenty years now I have been really disciplined and taken two weeks at the end of every cycling season to do a bit of running and generally take a rest from the bike

This year we are almost half way through that break in training and riding and I am already climbing the walls

Don’t get me wrong. I fully understand that it’s important for both my mind and my body to do short 40 minute runs for a few weekends instead of longer bike rides. My family have already enjoyed a zoo trip with me instead of a zoo trip without me, so there are real benefits in a wider context.
It’s just that, even on a nice evening , running isn’t cycling, and it’s just  that running on a treadmill is even more dull and mind churningly tedious than riding a turbo. And that’s a fact. Having a bad cycling crash in the middle of the summer leading to a month in bandages and away from the bike could have given me the excuse to press on into the winter and ditch the gears for the single speed now...But its tradition and a break now usually means I am motivated to get through until the weather improves.

What makes this whole annual nonsense even more of a pickle is that for a few weeks leading up to it I am always desperate to put the Bianchi away and lace up my Decathlon own brand sneakers (as I believe the kids on the streets call them). Within one lap of the village I want back in the saddle.

I am going to stick with this plan though as I don’t think it can hurt to get a bit more all round fitness as opposed to rapidly moving legs and the makings of a darts players torso.  I will continue to tell myself that any last bits of daylight and fresh air before the weather properly fails us should be taken regardless of whether the exercise is on wheel or on foot.

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7 comments

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Colin Peyresourde | 10 years ago
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I want to do the Rapha Winter 500km. My GF put the Kibosh on that last year, but this year I'll give her full warning.

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arfa | 10 years ago
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Why pack up for the winter ? There are only a few days when the weather is that bad in this country, you just have to change your wardrobe....
Why not get out on a mountain bike instead (when it's really bad) ? You can pick up a half decent MTB for 300 notes.
I just checked my strava records and it was only February when I was out on a bike for less than 40 hours a month due to the ice.

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James Warrener replied to arfa | 10 years ago
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arfa wrote:

Why pack up for the winter ?

I haven't. Its only for a couple of weeks to avoid going stale, to give my mind a rest and to work some different parts of my body.

But I am already back on the bike anyway  1

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James Warrener | 10 years ago
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Well after a week and a half my Strava gave me away (turbo last night) ...  1

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dave atkinson | 10 years ago
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the rules wrote:

One should only run if being chased. And even then, one should only run fast enough to prevent capture

always makes me laugh, that bit

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jollygoodvelo | 10 years ago
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Running? The only excuse for running is to get up steps in a 'cross course.  3

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banzicyclist2 | 10 years ago
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I'm thinking about running...... then I come to my senses and go out on my bike  4

I also find running to be tedious exspecially when someone goes past you on their bike! I'm sure it does you good, but it's not my cup of tea. I thought about entering a triathalon to build some enthusiasum, have you tried that? There is the Ulverston Tri every year which I might have a go at, but then I'd have spend even more bike time going for a swim as well as more bloody running. Bit of a dilemar  105

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