“I'd rather be consistently slightly less fit and totally healthy and enjoying the bike than marginally fitter but teetering on the edge of self-destruction" (Photo: Toby Watson)
By Brian Canty
Sunday saw Beth McCluskey win the ninth round of the Ulster Cyclocross Series in Donard Park, Newcastle; a race promoted by Shimna Wheelers.
The reigning national cyclocross champion was over two minutes clear of her nearest challenger and at the rate she’s going will be very hard to stop when she goes to defend her Irish title next month.
Her success is no accident, though she takes a very simple and straight-forward approach to her training, one very much based on common sense.
And it's an approach many riders should consider implementing for themselves.
“I don't really adopt a marginal gains approach,” she says. “I did previously when I was racing mountain bike seriously a few years ago.
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"But when you're working full-time and trying to live a normal life I think it takes a lot of personal sacrifice for very minimal gains.
“I prefer the minimal losses approach. This is uniquely invented by me for me so I try to not miss a training session.
"I try to always do my physio exercises. I try not to get sick or injured. I'll take a rest day when needs be.
"I try not to get stressed about silly stuff. I try to get to bed at a reasonable time. I try not to drink too much if I'm out.
£But I mostly try to enjoy the bike and keep my work-life-bike balance as good as it can be.”
It may sound difficult but McCluskey, a senior member of the staff at Dublin Institute of Technology, says she’d “rather be consistently slightly less fit and totally healthy and enjoying the bike than marginally fitter but teetering on the edge of self-destruction.”
“It's all about getting the balance right and knowing what works for you," she said.
“Correct strength training really is the one area that I feel has improved me more than anything else.
"So I think it's a really good place to start if anyone is looking for guaranteed marginal gains with minimal stress.”
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