2018 is chasing us down with alarming haste. Before we know it, we’ll be blinking awake on 1 January, anxious to start the year right. The end of the pro cycling season is considered to fall around the time of the World Championships, after which the peloton hang up their wheels for a bit of a break – and masses of cake – before setting out on the road to 2018. A brand new year is a great marker for change and because of the way the calendar falls, we cyclists get a much-needed run-up. That’s why now is the perfect time to start for planning next season.
This list of ways to make sure you meet your goals is not just for cyclists planning to race, it’s for everyone looking to improve on 2017 – whether you’ve just started riding, or dream of pulling on a yellow jersey one day.
Bike fit
If we could give you just one piece of advice, we would try to persuade you to get a professional bike fit. Are you ready for the good news? You can book a bike fit through Bicycle Chain with a Precision Fit technician. They will take you through an extensive physical assessment and evaluate your goals in order to ensure your bike is perfectly set up for what you want to achieve. Not only might the marginal gains improve your efficiency out on the road, but it may also help you to avoid injury to the knees, back and neck. It’s a no-brainer, really.
Kit to make you faster
Alright, maybe this is a bit of a cheat, but there’s no denying that kit choice can go some way to improving your efficiency, acceleration and even motivation. Aerodynamic design is a huge area of development in the cycling industry and you’ll have seen some of the space age bikes now available. Wheels, helmets and clothing have also had the aero treatment so there will certainly be something to fit your budget. There are dozens of incredibly spec’d out road bikes in our sale, and we can guarantee you’d be able to find something whether you want to go faster up climbs or on the flat. If a new bike is off the table, you could easily shave off a few seconds with a carefully-selected new pair of tyres.
Find a training partner
One of the best and most fun ways of making improvements is to find a training partner. You may already have a good setup on your regular group rides, but riding regularly with a friend who is dedicated to similar goals and shares much the same routine, can have a beneficial impact on your winter achievements. They should be someone who stretches your abilities, but who won’t make life too difficult – and for whom you can play the same role. You must of course make sure they are also keen to indulge in plenty of café stops before summer returns!
Plan your season
Now is the time to pick out some events that you can start working towards, just as the pros do at this time of year. One event you might consider is Bike Bath, one of the largest single day cycling events in the South West, each year attracting over 1000 riders. Taking place on Sunday 1st July 2018, there are routes for all abilities, including families. You can choose from 25, 50 and 80 mile routes which have in the past taken in the Cotswolds, Mendips, the infamous Cheddar Gorge climb and the record-breaking Two Tunnels. But make sure you book soon. Entries opened last week and early bird savings are only available until the new year.
Training camp
When the mercury drops, two things happen: live road racing ceases to exist, and the pros flee to warmer climes. If you follow any of your cycling heroes on social media, you’ll see them riding around in shorts in southern Spain, or worse (for us) Australia, boasting of temperatures nudging 30°C. What’s stopping you from doing the same? Consider interrupting the hibernation of your summer bike and escape the chilly UK winter in favour of somewhere dry and preferably with a few hills. Your ability will come on leaps and bounds with the varied riding offered by a training camp abroad and it’ll also do wonders for your motivation.
These are just a few things that can help you on your way to an epic 2018 season. If you have any further questions or need advice on how to pursue your goals for next year, just come in and ask. Happy riding!
