Nothing is quite as motivating as a looming deadline, but with winter a barren patch for events, finding the drive to get on to the bike can often be a challenge. The humble calendar is your friend here. Plotting your from way month to month, or even fortnight to fortnight, from one training goal or event to the next, can breakdown the seemingly interminable months ahead into more manageable sections. Get out your red pen, mark your dates with a big cross, and keep it in focus.

Setting yourself a series of ‘mini goals’, adding in events from other disciplines if your target lies a long way off, can often pay dividends. If your goal is La Marmotte next July, finding the wherewithal to ride on a freezing Wednesday in November can be difficult. If your next public engagement on two wheels is a ‘cross race at the end of the month, however, or a mid-week track session, the necessity to get out and ride will be more apparent.