Darkness by 4pm, perpetual gusts whipping the homestead with the express intention of loosening roof tiles; dark, heavy clouds gathered malevolently as far as the horizon, blocking out any trace of blue sky – winter, it seems, conspires to keep you indoors. But one should not be cowed by clouds, or blown from one’s intended course, if not to Tour de France glory, then at least to a decent time at that early season sportive, by the occasional force nine. Rather, this is a season to take your courage in both hands, encase yourself within myriad layers of Windtex and merino wool, or any other combination of fabrics designed to thwart the elements, climb aboard your steed and hit the road. The rewards are, if not endless, then certainly worth the effort. Here are five.

Winter wardrobe

You’ve amassed a vast collection of garments of various weights and fabrics to cope with every possible meteorological incidence, but until now have lacked the wherewithal to ride in conditions in which they might be some use. Carpe diem, my friend. Now is the time to pull on that Roubaix-lined skull cap and marvel, not only at how much warmer you feel, but how much quieter conditions are now your ears are shielded from the howling gale that surrounds you. It’s as if someone has turned down the world and left you feeling cosy and protected, despite pedaling in conditions that may have convinced Scott to postpone his Antarctic perambulations. Overshoes will leave you gaping in silent wonder at how such thin coverings can have shielded your feet so effectively from the elements. This sense of awe will last throughout the day as you relish the joy of sensation in your toes many hours before a ride in unprotected shoes would have allowed you to do so. The shop assistant’s advice to invest in a new set of gloves a size larger than your last pair and to match them with liners no longer seems like brazen salesmanship, but advice of the most practical and sensible sort. Summer never affords such an opportunity to de-stock your wardrobe. Only winter offers such an excuse. Embrace it.

Secret squirrel

By venturing out in inclement conditions, you gain a psychological advantage over your erstwhile competitors. A ride begun in conditions that saner men and women would baulk at will stoke your reserves of confidence. A lingering sense as you roll down the driveway that no-one but you is quite so stupid will transform throughout the ride to an unshakeable inner belief that only you, and perhaps Cancellara, are possessed of sufficiently iron will even to attempt such a feat. By the time you head for home after thirty or more wind-whipped miles, images of Paris-Roubaix will have flooded your sub-conscious and you’ll wonder why you’ve never given l’enfer du Nord a try. This year, perhaps. Nothing much on in April…

Winter sun

Three types, it seems. Firstly, the pale, anemic glow so perfectly matched to a wearied landscape of threadbare hedgerows and skeletal trees. Cycling is a pleasure in such soft illumination. No sweating or squinting beneath such a benevolent glow: only the deeply reassuring vision of glorious sunlight, the greatest motivator of all, and a stimulus to embrace extra miles of winter training. This soft-hued beam is surpassed only by the shafts of brilliant sunlight occasionally revealed by beneficent breaks in the cloud that light up the road ahead and lend a sense of divine ordination to the ride you had agonized over making. Finally, the none-brighter glare of a winter sun that emerges only in sub-zero temperatures, usually to illuminate a cloudless sky of deepest blue. The biting cold is set at nought beside its dazzling glory which pulls you, magnet like, from the deepest recesses of your duvet to the open road.

A new bike

Sure, you can ride the NASA-beguiling, carbon artwork you treasure so deeply along salt-lined streets and country lanes encrusted with a virulent sheen of slurry, but that’s hardly protecting your investment, is it? Face it, buying, or, better still, building another bike, solely for winter use, is the only sensible solution (sufficiently rehearsed, this argument can win over even the most stubborn spouse). Where to begin? A steel or aluminium frame? Would a compact chainset better serve your plans for high cadence endurance rides? You’ve never dipped below 105, but a Sora or Apex groupset may be just the ticket. Mudguards are a must, but which to choose? Calculating the correct permutation of caliper drop, tyre width, and attachment is almost the work of a winter in itself. Immerse yourself in a new bike project. Who knows? It may keep you occupied ‘til spring.

New season plans

You’re still baffled by Riis’ decision to stick with Contador despite your brilliant performance in the Preston Pootle 100 sportive in June, and fail to understand how news of your new enhanced turbo training programme has failed to reach the ears of Dave Brailsford. No matter. Next season is going to be different. Winter is the time to analyse the lessons learned on rides with the boys, and to draw up a plan of campaign that, despite the absence of a winter in Girona, will leave you hitting peak form  for the Spring Classics. Much as you’d like to embark on a regular programme 100km endurance rides, regardless of climatic conditions, the necessity of a considered programme for the year ahead demands your presence in the local coffee/bike shop until at least February. Any fool knows there’s no point in peaking too soon…

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