7 cycling things you should do this summer; get out there
We have the whole summer ahead of us, so don't be afraid to live a little and make plans; from the basic to new big departures.
With the whole summer ahead of us, why not pause for thought and mix it up a little bit.
Cycling can be about routine and goals, which sometimes makes it repetitive.
So why not step out of your usual routine and do things differently; from ice cream eating to cycling trips abroad.
Here’s 7 ideas to get you thinking.
1 Ride early and often
The whole summer is now stretched out before us. Make it the season you get out on your bike more often than ever.
If life sometimes intervenes – college, work or family – there’s only one thing for it; get out really early.
Advertisement
There’s nothing like hitting the road for an hour or two at 6am or even earlier.
You feel like you’re one up on everyone and it’s the best way ever to start the day.
Decide right now this is the summer you’re going to cycle more than ever and just do it.
2 Develop an ice cream spin
People give out about the Irish weather but in reality it can be excellent in summer.
And when the sun shines you don’t always need to go out on the bike for hours and hours.
Why not ride out to a nearby local beach, village, beauty spot or climb and simply have an ice cream!
We know plenty of riders who do this and have been known to sneak in a pint sitting outside a pub before riding home.
But if you are doing that, you definitely can only have one drink.
Whether it’s a pint, a non alcoholic drink, gelato or an ice cream, there’s nothing like riding for an hour with a stop in the middle.
It should be 30 minutes out, stop and 30 minutes back; something you can do at short notice any day/evening.
3 Find at least two new coffee stops
This differs to an ice cream spin in that coffee stop rides are longer and can involve some proper training.
The vast majority of clubs or chain gangs have regular coffee shops they stop at.
But this can become very routine with the same pattern again and again.
So why not be a rebel and find a couple of new cafes, even ones on new training routes, to stop at.
It’s a big world out there, live a little!
4 Go and see the National Championships
Related News
The National Road Championships are on in Wexford on the last weekend in June.
The TT titles will be fought out on Thursday evening before the road race weekend.
On the Saturday and Sunday the Masters, women’s and elite and U23 men’s races take place.
If you head for Wexford early on Saturday you’d get a full day of racing.
You could then stay overnight and watch the men’s race, featuring our pro riders, the next day.
We’ll have all the details on the championships shortly.
5 Tackle three iconic Irish climbs
There are some epic ascents in many parts of the country; Kerry, Donegal and Wicklow perhaps the best torture chambers.
No matter what your level, pick out three climbs and go and ride them.
If you’re new to cycling this will be a great way to engage a bit more with the sport.
And for those experienced sportive or racing cyclist, why not hit some hills purely for the enjoyment of it?
For a change, take your time and savour them.
If you’re an older cyclist, why not pick out a climb you conquered in your youth and go back and do it again.
You can read about some of Ireland’s fiercest ascents by following this link; it will provide food for thought if nothing else.
6 Ride a major sportive with your mates
There’s loads of sportives around the country, some of them small charity cycles and other’s major events.
Why not pick out one of the really big ones and get a group to enter and ride it together.
There’s nothing like savouring the buzz whenever thousands of cyclists gather.
And if you pick an event a good distance from where you live it means you will be tackling a new route.
You could make it an overnight stay and get away from it all with your cycling buddies for a few days.
7 Go abroad to cycle or at least plan it now
We’re just into June now so it may be a little too late to start planning foreign trips, especially if your holiday plans are already fixed.
However, you could still plan a short trip away for later in the year or at least book something now for next year.
The possibilities are endless.
Many of the pro cycling classics now have sportives before the big races take place.You could pick one now for next spring.
Or you could go to the UK for one of their bigger sportives.
You could book a training week with many of the cycling companies who specialise in such trips.
Or you could go the independent route and pick a point to point journey you want to make and go and plan it.
These trips are really enjoyable if you have good company.
Topics
