5 Questions cyclists ask

If you don’t ask you won’t learn is a wise piece of advice that I was once given. Very often I am asked many different questions regarding just about every facet imaginable that is cycling related. Here are just a few examples :

Q : What is active recovery ?

A : Active recovery means dong something physical the day after a hard training spin at an intensity that will not stress your system. An easy hour on the bike looking over the ditches whilst ignoring any thoughts of average speed or Strava Koms would be an example. A walk in the woods with your family and the dog would be another option.

Q : Way should I go out in the rain in winter when I really enjoy Zwift and do not mind training indoors on a turbo trainer for hours on end?

A : If you want to be able to ride any targeted event where there is any possibility whatsoever that it could be cold and/or wet, then you must train in the cold and rain. My personal philosophy is to train in very cold and wet conditions so that no matter how bad the weather is at an event you can always tell yourself that you have been out in worse. Training indoors will help you go up a hill fast but what about the bike handling necessary to come down the other side, or to stay with a fast group through a series of corners and roundabouts on a wet day? These are skills that can only be learned out there on the road.

Q : What should you eat or drink on the bike if energy bars and drinks don’t agree with you?

A : Drink plain water 90% of the time. In really hot conditions add a half teaspoon of salt to a 500ml bottle and in very cold conditions make hot tea with a little honey and fresh lemon juice. You can use a thermal bottle to keep it warm. Eat something that you like. Jam sandwiches, almond fingers or a favourite at this time of year Christmas cake.

Q : Where is the safest place to ride your bike?

A : Any road where there is little or no traffic. Stay away from those busy main roads. A big wide hard shoulder offers no defence against a driver checking out facebook on their mobile phone. At least on twisty backroads they will hopefully end up on top of a ditch if they try it before hitting you.

Q : Which is better, Shimano, SRAM or Campagnolo?

A : Mechanically, Shimano every day of the week and all night long. SRAM is soft but I do like the way Etap works and that would be the only SRAM that I would consider using myself. Campagnolo is from Italy. It looks beautiful. When it works it’s smooth and sophisticated but when someone rides their bottom bracket into oblivion on salty winter rides and a poor mechanic is given the task of replacing the bearings then it is the stuff of multiple nightmares.

If you have any questions that you might like to ask just drop me a line at barry@thecyclingblog.com and I’ll be happy to answer.

All the best,

Barry