Sportive

Six ways to extend your cycling season through autumn

Keep on riding and beat the end-of-season blues

Ride on the track

The end of summer doesn't have to mean the end of the cycling season (Pic: Vulpine)
Autumn and winter is cyclo-cross season (Pic: Balint Hamvas)
Pack your bags and go touring
There's no shortage of climbing in Tenerife (Pic: Polka Dot Cycling)
Put your summer fitness to good use on an end-of-season sportive
Fancy riding on the track? Try a taster session or join a track league if you're more experienced (Pic: Alex Broadway/SWpix.com)
It could be time to recharge your batteries (Pic: Media24)

Ride on the track

Winter also means the track cycling season, which this season – for the best riders in the world, at least – includes the World Championships in London and vital Rio 2016 qualification events.

But riding on the boards isn’t only the preserve of elite riders – with more velodromes being built in the UK, including the latest in Derby, track cycling has never been more accessible.

Elinor Barker’s track cycling tips

For those who have never experienced the track, taster sessions are available to get to grips with riding fixed gear, while more experienced riders might consider doing their track accreditation or joining a track league.

And if you’re worried about how you might fare on the track, Britain’s double team pursuit world champion and Olympic hopeful Elinor Barker told us the best thing to do is to just go for it. What have you got to lose? Catch more of Barker’s top track tips here.