Christmas is not just about festival carols, mince pies, mulled wine and Father C himself – it’s also a fantastic time to be a cyclist…
While it’s great to spend time slumped in front of seasonal films or dancing around the house listening to your favourite Christmas tunes, there’s no reason why cycling shouldn’t be incorporated into the festive period.
1. Quiet roads
It’s a known fact that roads are generally quieter in the autumn and winter with less cyclists on the roads – and that plays to your favour!
The road and trails are yours and yours alone. No more slowing down to get past the cyclist in front of you on the climb, or grinding to a standstill to overtake the slower mountain bike on the downhill.
If you like riding at pace, and you prefer your training to be uninterrupted, then the Christmas period is the ideal time to get out there.
2. Get sociable
That last café ride or social ride before or just after Christmas is a joyous occasion: everyone’s excited and in good spirits, and someone may even be feeling generous enough to pay for your cake! If you only attend one social ride of the year, make sure it’s around the Christmas period.
3. Earn that mince pie!
We think one of the best aspects of Christmas is devouring a warm mince pie – but we’ve all felt the guilt which immediately follows its deliciousness. By continuing your training or just recreational cycling throughout the festive break, you’re left with a real sense of satisfaction and pride – minus any guilt. So enjoy that mince pie: you’ve earned it!
4. Something to ask for
Why is that only children get to ask Santa for the presents they want? Go on: write Father Christmas a cycling-related wish-list and leave it around for prospective gift-givers to see.
5. New bike time!
Maybe your wish might come true? It’s not just kids who get a new bike at Christmas; us adults can too. Especially if you’ve dropped enough hints!
There’s nothing better than trying out a new piece of magic – and that feeling’s multipled by ten if you’re lucky enough to walk downstairs on the morning of December 25 to be greeted by a shiny new frame and wheels.
If you’ve selflessly treated your kids to new steeds, you can still enjoy the fun. Take them out on their first ride on their new bike and share in their happiness.
6. New clothes to test out
Maybe you aren’t expecting a new bike – but could Santa’s sack contain new cycling attire? As soon as we get our hands on new garments, we can’t wait to test them out. Should you get a new addition to the wardrobe, we advise you get changed immediately and head out!
The same applies for new equipment or gadgets: if you’ve been gifted a new Garmin or new bike bump – what are you waiting for? Christmas morning is for playing, after all…
7. Which means… fill your plate up!
If you’ve snuck out for an early ride on Christmas morning, all the more reason to load up your plate at the festive feast later that day! Of course if you’ve not managed to hit the road that morning, you can simply view the afternoon’s feast as carb-loading, ahead of your next big ride.
8. Dodging the washing up
When the time comes to don the Marigolds and hit the sink, you’ve got the perfect excuse: “I’m just going outside to catch some air – it’s quite stuffy in here…”
And by ‘catching air’, of course, you really mean that you’re just nipping out for a quick spin. It may only be 15 minutes, but by the time you’re back, the washing up will be done – and if you’re cunning enough, no one need even know that you’ve had a cheeky break on your wheels!
Whatever you do, have a very merry cycling Christmas!
