Cyclo-cross
Cyclo-cross
Another increasingly popular means of mixing it up over winter is cyclo-cross, with the sport enjoying a resurgence in popularity in Britain.
British champion Ian Field is the country’s lone male representative at World Cup level, while Helen Wyman and Nikki Harris regularly compete at the sharp end of women’s races.
And Field believes the nature of ‘cross makes it an ideal way for road cyclists to keep everything ticking over.
“The obvious thing, that everyone says, is that it’s good for bike handling,” he says. “And it is good for bike handling but the biggest thing for me is that it really, really helps with explosive efforts.
“It’s almost re-teaching you how to pedal properly because if you have a bad pedaling technique off-road then you will end up not going anywhere. You have to be smooth and get the power out in a more efficient way.
“The biggest advantage, for me, in roadies doing cross would be to improve pedaling effiency and keeping the top-end going over winter. I know a lot of traditional roadies will just get the miles in but times are changing.
“A lot of people are moving to specifics all year round. Even the Team Sky boys and the top pros – yeah, they are doing long rides but they are doing their intervals right through the winter as well.
“Cyclo-cross just keeps you sharp through the winter and it keeps you focused as well. Even if you are a road cyclist, you don’t want to turn up to a ‘cross race and disgrace yourself.”