Cycling tips

If you've ever reached the bottom of a climb and wondered how you're going to get to the top, you're not alone. Every cyclist has ridden a hill that felt harder than expected, whether it was a local climb or a famous mountain pass.

“You just didn’t drink enough,” he said, as he handed me a bottle of Gatorade and an ice pack for my throbbing head. And he was right. I was so taken by the thrill of the ride and the glorious country views that I forgot to sip regularly. Dehydration got the best of me.

Tight hips in cycling happen when the muscles around the front, side and back of the hip lose useful range of motion, usually because riders spend long periods in a flexed riding position. For cyclists, this can show up as hip-flexor tightness, lower-back discomfort, knee irritation, poor glute engagement, poor posture on the bike or a loss of comfort later in longer rides.

The old adage, "Hope for the best, and be prepared for the worst," is a wise approach to packing for rides. Just as you would pack a raincoat if there's a chance of rain, you should carry a cycling first aid kit just in case you or someone in your group has an accident.

The guilt and FOMO used to hit me like a brick every time I would turn down an outdoor ride in favour of my smart trainer. But sometimes, climbing aboard my trainer makes a lot more sense than meandering the rolling hills in my rural hometown.

A power meter measures how much power you produce while riding, shown in watts. Unlike speed, which changes with wind, gradient and road surface, power tells you how much work your body is doing at that moment.

Riding through winter is entirely achievable with the right approach. A few practical changes to your preparation, gear and mindset can make cold weather riding safer, more enjoyable, and far more consistent.

You can tell a lot about a cyclist by how they talk about being tired. Some say it with a shrug. Some say it with a quiet sense of pride. And some say it with that hollow-eyed determination of a rider who has been pretending their legs will magically bounce back tomorrow.

Holidays can disrupt even the best training plans, but they also offer fresh ways to ride, explore and stay active. These 23 practical, feel-good holiday cycling tips will help you balance celebration and fitness, enjoy meaningful family moments and return to your routine energized – not exhausted.