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The health crisis has disrupted our habits regarding the cyclosportive calendar. Thanks to postponements, we have some great events very late in the season… To our greatest delight. How to get back into the adventure?
By Bruno Cavelier – Article published in Cyclo Coach n°69 – Photo: pxhere.com
Every cyclist has experienced the troubled period we have just gone through for well over a year in their own way. There are those who gave up, those who persevered, others who found fulfillment for their passion elsewhere, on Zwift, by racing with friends or other activities. What has changed is the lack of fixed-date goals, thus maintaining a reason to train, to organize oneself to be free on weekends. In a context of event cancellations, we realized that riding during the week to be free on the weekend with family isn’t so bad after all… How to get back into the swing of things depending on your profile?
The “Always Riding”
Race or no race, he continued as if nothing had happened. He did the work and didn’t gain an ounce of fat. Sharp as a blade, he is ready. So, now that things are back to how they were two years ago, with the return of summer events, especially in August, he can sign up with his eyes closed and aim for immediate results at his usual level. The problem for him will be to stay at the top until October when, unlike usual, events will be piling up in the new calendar. Beware of a drop in form…
The Depressed
He gave up. Due to a lack of goals and biting his nails, he discovered that, ultimately, staying warm on Sunday when the weather was a little capricious – even slightly – wasn’t so unpleasant. But by replacing cycling with aperitifs with friends, his form is naturally suffering today… And what about his physique? The prominent muscle has disappeared under a thin layer of fat, so out of spite, the scale is no longer part of his world. He needs to take advantage of the good weather to ride some km and the sun to favor grilling and raw vegetables. With a little willpower, he will be ready to have a magnificent end to the season!
The New Connected Rider
With the crisis, its constraints, and the various prohibitions on going outside, he, who didn’t particularly like spinning his legs on his indoor trainer like a hamster in its cage, discovered Zwift. And worse, he got hooked: connected competitions, various challenges, Alpe d’Huez or Mont Ventoux at home… What more could he ask for? But here’s the thing, pedaling in place without real confrontation, without wind or potholes, isn’t really cycling. So, while he has certainly maintained his fitness, he will have to get back to good habits: riding in a peloton, managing relays against the wind, avoiding crashes… Once this is revisited, he should do justice to a real race number within a few weeks.
The Neophyte
This is the one who has just discovered cycling, benefiting from the big boom in the cycling world, the main winner of the health crisis. He took out his bike to ride within an authorized perimeter, and he liked it. Then he bought himself a beautiful machine – and many have done so since brands are now out of stock – and he discovered a spectacular progression. For him, it’s perfect: he can take advantage of this summer to organize a methodical training period – by following our advice – he will have a blast on the beautiful events postponed to October, at a time when the calendar tends to thin out during a normal season.
=> SEE ALSO : All our CQFD articles
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