Some of us see Christmas Day as a time to switch off from the bike, a day to put the feet up, eat all we can, and forget about training for 24 hours.
More of us see it as a chance to gain a bit of ground on our rivals; a day to make up fitness on those we’ll be competing against next year.
We asked some of the country’s best riders, male and female, about their Christmas Day traditions.
Eoin Morton – A top domestic rider with UCD CC
“Christmas week will be the end of my first big block back training so I'll just do a couple of recovery spins.
"I have pencilled in 2 hours on Christmas Day but after nearly 90 hours training in the last month I think I'll chill out, kick the feet up, watch a couple of films and relax." (Photo: Gary McIlroy)
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Mark Downey - Euro Track Champs medalist in 2014
“Christmas Day to me is all about spending some quality time with my family.
"I usually wake up at 8 o’clock and then my brothers and sisters gather in my parent’s room before we get to check what Santa has left.
“After about half an hour of poking through the presents it’s time for a family breakfast as we sit around the table and bring up some favourite family memories.
"My mum puts on the dinner before we go to my Granny’s house where the whole Downey family meets.
“After an hour of having the craic it is time to head home to check on the dinner and then it’s time to eat.
"I have always been a big fan of overloading my plate but on Christmas Day I take this to a new extreme.
"I normally go for a walk after dinner to get some fresh air before sitting by the fire and watching some TV.”
Eddie Dunbar - The starlet now gone pro with NFTO
“I'll probably have a lie-in on Christmas Day and enjoy a day off the with the family, have a good feed without holding back- just to give me something to burn off out training.
"To finish the day I'll probably have a few chocolates and an Irish Coffee (without the whiskey)."
Dylan Foley – U23 international signed for AC Bisontine, France
“Having a younger sister means an early start for me every Christmas, normally 6:30-7am.
"A few cups of coffee and a few presents later, I head to mass with the family before heading out on the bike for 2-3 hours, just to keep the legs rotating.
"The one day of the year where getting 'the knock' is justified, I come home to a feast of food.”
Paddy Clarke - One of Ireland's best domestic riders
“If I manage to rise early enough after the few socials the night before, I’ll probably do no more than three hours, maybe hit the mountain-bike and take to Beleek woods.
"It's good just to do something different from time to time.
"I'm a serious eater on Christmas Day.
"It usually starts with a good fry up, a bit of training followed up by some Miller to help with the recovery.
"If you're a calorie counter then this is no place for you.” (Photo: James Wright Photography)
Marc Potts – One of Ulster's finest now in Belgium with Tomacc
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“Christmas day will involve at least 1 - 2 hours easy to digest off some of the dinner.
"I actually really enjoy a spin on this day as the roads are normally extremely quiet and peaceful.”
Anthony Walsh – Coach and one of the strongmen of UCD CC
“Christmas day for me starts with a Ferrero Rocher breakfast to cure the hangover.
"The sugar rush gets me out the door to mass.
"Once I get home its more chocolate and into the cycling kit for an easy hour.
"It's a sort of pre-emptive attempt to console myself ahead of the massive calorie gorge to come later in the evening.
“I generally ride into Dublin City Centre wearing a Santa hat and spin around all the streets it's not possible to ride on any other day of the year.
"The solitude of the city centre is amazing on Christmas Day.”
Aideen Keenan – Orwell Wheelers
“I usually manage to squeeze in a wee spin to the Sugarloaf on Christmas morning in Bray before hitting the road for my parents' place in Longford.
"We head off in a car weighed down with presents, children and of course the all-important bikes.”
Ryan Sherlock – One of the strongest home men, now with Tomacc
“After a small (or no) breakfast, my wife Mel and I would head out for a few hours depending on weather.
"If it’s not great I'll do two hours. If it's better I'd do to four hours, all timed so that my ‘recovery’ meal is a large glass of piping hot Christmas punch.
"I don’t worry about what I do or do not eat for the rest of the day (or the next which follows a similar plan).”
Eoin McCarthy – U23 international signed for An Post Chainreaction
“I plan to have a chilled day with my family whilst over-indulging and putting myself into a food-coma.
"I’m already at race weight so I can afford to fully pig-out for just one day.
"Right now I don’t plan to involve my bike.
"I spend most of the year training so I’m working it into my training programme as a rest day so I can fully chill out.”
Mark Dowling – DID Dunboyne ace climber
“I’ll get up early and hammer out a hill session; short and sweet and get home just in time for the house to erupt into chaos.
"I’ll eat anything I get my hands on but won't drink alcohol as nobody in my family drinks.”
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