Jeff Dayss
October is a great time to ride a bike, but many of you have been off your bike for almost a month
already. It seems like Labor Day weekend is a cut-off point for a lot of cyclists.
The most important thing to do is find another sport to occupy your now free times. Many call this
active rest. It gives the mind time to recharge and get ready for a new season. Another benefit is it
gives the body time to heal, no matter how small an injury it is. If done correctly, Active Rest does
not result in a lot of loss fitness.
Years back I had a coach tell me you should only be at 80% fitness when you start the season and he is
probably correct, but even 70% I feel is acceptable compared to the 40% - 50% I see of many riders that
don't do anything in the winter.
The key to remember is to find something you enjoy. Granted, you may not enjoy it as much as cycling,
but find something such as running, rollerblanding, hockey, skiing. Don't forget your bike altogether.
Ride once or twice a week.
Vary these activities so you don't get bored. Don't start your weight training now. Wait for January
and then you can hit the weight room hard. The most important thing to do is cut back on your food
intake. Many of us gain weight during our off-months. This makes our spring training even more
difficult. So start eating a balanced diet!
See ya on the road.
Jeff Dayss is a founding member of the Cascades Cycling Club and a long-time serious cyclist.
Jeff is currently serving as club President. His column appears monthly in our newsletter.
For past articles from Jeff, Click [Here]
