Indoor Cycling

You might have noticed that the weather is generally deteriorating into the grey gunge of an English winter. This makes riding a bike less attractive for everyone, as demonstrated by the increasing amount of space in all bike racks. For many of us it’s time to wrap up, brave the wind and fog and plough on with riding to work, while snatching moments of fun where an unexpected sunny day arrives, or when you’re just in the mood to be muddy and wet. For others it means the storing of the expensive bike (usually of the road variety) and a retreat from the outdoors.

For people who feel like this there is still a range of things to keep your legs turning the pedals. All of them are inside, out of the real world and with no danger of getting cold or wet, or of slipping on a wet corner and gaining bruises in exchange for skin.

In Canada, for example, you can join the school kids who are cycling around Quebec on stationary bikes. This is part of a scheme to encourage everyone to do more daily exercise and will mean each student cycling 33km during the challenge.

If this is a bit too sedate for you then why not challenge the stars of the Sky Pro Cycling Team in a mile-long virtual race in Broadgate Circle, London, EC2 on Friday. If you have the legs to be the first to beat the pros you can win an official Team Sky Pinarello Dogma bike. The fastest male and female riders on the day will win a Team Sky Replica Pinarello FP1.

Whether either of these take your fancy, or if you can come up with your own plan for riding without the inconvenience of the weather, you can still keep riding even if you’re too soft to face the drizzle.

Alternatively, just keep riding outside, you’ll feel better for it.

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