Spring 2012 | Cycling Breaks
Fit for the
season..
W
ith spring in the air and sunlight on the roads, no doubt you’ll be feeling sprightly and looking forward to some summer-time challenges over the coming months. The UK has miles of road and trails to keep you smiling, but a change of scene and some challenging new terrain could do wonders for you fitness. To show you how, a few of us headed off with Saddle Skedaddle for a week of Spanish sunshine and the chance to enjoy both road and MTB action in the perfect weather and an idyllic setting. You might believe that these holidays are
We’ve all the kit you need to make that trip away a success...
reserved for the cycling elite or those with cash burning a hole in their lycra, but the truth is that for no more than the cost of a budget holiday you too could be enjoying days in the saddle and a change of scenery. Whether that means a quick trip within the UK, a hop across the channel to Europe or even a far-flung location such as Cuba or Argentina, with a Saddle Skedaddle cycling holiday, there’s something to not only satiate everyone’s two-wheeled desires but also to work in harmony with their budget. The type of holiday you choose can vary, too. You might prefer something laid back and relaxed or you may be focussed on
your race season ahead and looking for the ultimate training camp to really push your fitness forward. The options are laid out for you at skedaddle.co.uk, so check out what is available! Of course, for many of us cyclists, the freedom of two-wheels doesn’t end when we stop pedalling and this independent spirit means many of us want to plan our own cycling breaks. Getting together with a group of your local cycling buddies to plan a trip en-masse will mean you’re likely to set yourself up for some competition, which will help you to push closer to your potential on your rides.
Afternoon
Morning
Five day fitness diary Day One With minds and bodies fresh and ready to ride, we quickly built up the bikes after a decent continental breakfast and set off for a steady base mile ride to stretch the legs and explore.
Day Two We set off at a brisk pace for a flat 30km to warm up before hitting the hills, pushing hard over the tops and freewheeling down the descents for some much needed recovery.
Day Three Making the most of a lie in we kitted up and headed out for a steady to brisk 100km, with a few coffee breaks slotted in to keep us going.
Day Four After an easy afternoon yesterday we woke up feeling fresh and after a good breakfast hopped on the bikes for a 2 hour out tempo ride, alternating at the front to keep the pace high.
Day Five Keen to make the best of our last day, a sunrise recovery ride along the coast was a must do, getting 30km in before a spot of brunch at a sea-front cafe.
Post lunch we felt strong and ready to face the road again, choosing a relatively flat route along the coast line, with the sun beating down on the fresh tarmac.
The afternoon was a more gentle, breezy ride along yesterdays favoured coast which felt great after sweating and suffering in the hills. The idea was to keep our heart rates lower but competitive spirit made this difficult.
A relaxing afternoon on the hotel terrace with our feet up. Keith braved the sea and dived in for a dip, confirming that it wasn’t as warm as it looked!
After a bite to eat we turned back, riding steady and taking in the sunny sights. Back at the hotel we took time out for a group meal to recount the stories of the day.
We finished the day and rounded up the break with a final ride into the hills, our competitive natures showed as we tried to burn each other off! Home to pack up the bikes and reflect on what had been a brilliant five days.
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