When the weather gets grim its easy to go into hibernation mode and this is especially true when you’re surrounded by mince pies, selection boxes and leftover cheese, but “the inbetween” (the bit after Xmas but before New years) is the perfect time to get out on your bike, and we have some ideas…
First of all you need to dress the part, warm layers, gloves and a spare waterproof jacket are a must for December riding, check out our what to wear blog here if you need some more advice. As far as mid ride fuelling goes, a mince pie or some pigs in blankets make an excellent pick me up! All you have to decide now is where to ride:
The Festive 500
Rapha’s Festive 500 continues for its 13th year, and while riding 500km in 8 days might not be for everyone, if you’re like us and enjoy a challenge then its great way to stay motivated to put the miles in. Rapha are offering a 20% discount voucher and a chance to win £1000 worth of kit for everyone who completes it. You can sign up on Strava here.
ACTIV’s Route of the Week
We recently stole all of the Activ team’s Garmins and compiled a long list of routes from all over Kent, across all disciplines, and have been sharing them in our weekly newsletter and blog. If you’re looking to ride somewhere new, or just try out the new MTB or Road bike you got for Christmas this is the perfect place to start. It might even give you some inspiration for the festive 500.
Zwift Racing
The rain is hammering on the window or the snow is piled at your door, what then? Zwift is a firm favourite with a few members of the Activ team and lets you get your racing or social fix even in the bleakest of weather. Ideally you’ll need a smart trainer to start with Zwift but if you have a classic resistance trainer you may be able to get going with just a power meter or speed sensor and your laptop/tablet (more info here).
Zwift allows cyclists to race against each other in real-time. The platform uses algorithms to simulate drafting, climbing, and other cycling dynamics, making the racing experience more realistic. Zwift hosts a variety of events, including organized races, these races can vary in distance, terrain, and difficulty level. Participants can join scheduled races or participate in impromptu events. Races have different categories based on the participants’ skill levels or power-to-weight ratios. This helps ensure fair competition by grouping riders with similar abilities.
Solstice Century
If you’re not off over Xmas don’t worry, Restrap have got you covered. To mark the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, Restrap are offering a free patch to anyone who can ride at least 100 miles this weekend (15th-17th) and submit a GPX file. Register below to take part
As ever if you have any questions or need any advice on what we’ve covered here get in touch or pop into our Ashford or Folkestone stores.
