Cycling
Which sport that has seen a huge increase in participation since the first lockdown? Cycling.
So, we're all back in lockdown again...plus it's winter which makes everything feel more difficult... but that doesn't mean that our love of cycling needs to stop.
Thanks to British Cycling we have some great tips and links to help keep us active, safe and pedalling.
BMX Freestyle Park National Championships
Keep local: Under the new guidance it’s important to stay local, but that doesn’t mean that rides need to be boring. See it as a time to explore new roads, parks and trails right on your doorstep, and if you’re riding as a family you can take the opportunity to discover more about your community along the way. Head to our HSBC UK Let’s Ride Local site for more games and activities, and read our full guidance on where to ride here.
Keep riding: It may be cold, wet and windy, but whatever the weather you’ll always return from your ride with a clearer head, a smile and a renewed motivation to keep going. Getting out of the door is always the hardest part, so take a look at our guides for riding in the dark, keeping warm and being seen. If you’re new to cycling, that’s great! Our cycling basics will get you on your way.
Come back smiling: During the first lockdown last spring it was amazing to see the cycling community come together to support each other in an hour of need. After almost a year of restrictions that spirit is going to be even more important this time around. That means checking in with your friends, getting together virtually or buddying up with a less experienced rider to help them to keep the wheels turning. They’ll appreciate the support!
We spoke to Josie Knight WHO IS A MEMBER OF Team GB Women's Track Squad ABOUT HOW HER CAREER BEGAN AND HER ADVICE TO BSPORTY READERS….
Hi Josie, when did you first learn to ride a bike?
I first learnt to ride a bike when I was about 6/7 I think! I didn’t start super young anyway I just remember my little brother and I got two bikes for Christmas and we learnt at the same time.
When did you realise that you had a real talent for cycling?
I don’t think I ever thought ‘oh I’m talented at this’ I just really enjoyed it and wanted to be good at it so I worked hard. I don’t think you have to be talented at something to be good. You just have to love it!
How did you choose the type of cycling you wanted to specialise in?
When I was about 15 years old I rode on the velodrome for the first time and I just loved it! I also watched the 2012 Olympics and thought that it was such a cool type of cycling and I just wanted to race in front of a big stands of crowds cheering me on.
You're a member of the British Track Squad - what is Track Cycling?
Track cycling is a very specific form of cycling, we race around a wooden track called a velodrome which is usually 250m long on special bikes. There's lots of different events in track cycling. There’s the sprint events which the sprinters do. They tend to be short and very fast races. Then there's the endurance races which are a bit longer and more like road races. In some ways it is similar to Athletics, they race around a track too and some athletes do the short races and some do the longer ones!
How do the track bikes differ from the road bikes some of our readers may ride?
Track bikes look much the same as road bikes only they don’t have brakes or gears! So you just put one gear on, which you can change depending on how fast you plan on going, and then you just keep pedaling! It’s got something called a fixed wheel so the pedals stay turning unlike on your road bike where you can freewheel, you can’t on a track bike. To slow down you have to slow down the speed you are pedaling gradually until you can stop.
What other special equipment do you wear?
We wear funny aerodynamic helmets that are a bit like motorbike helmets but they are designed in a special shape to go through the air faster. We also have special ‘skinsuits’ which are a tight all in one suit, again designed to be fast when pedalling.
How often and how do you train?
I train almost everyday, usually we do 3 days of training and then have a rest day and the 3 days of training, But sometimes we do 6 days in a row before having a rest day. Being a track cyclist means that I train on the road and on the track and in the gym! It’s important to to be strong in the gym as a track cyclist as we push quite big gears! So sometimes I have 4hrs riding on the road or sometimes I have 2hrs in the track doing different short efforts on the velodrome and then 1.5hr gym afterwards.
Was the delay in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics a positive for you?
Yes I think the delay was good for me as I wasn’t even on the Olympic program year ago! I was still on the “academy’ program which is for u23 younger developing riders. So if the Olympics hadn’t been cancelled I wouldn’t be where I am now!
Is your ambition to compete at the Olympics this year?
Yes, definitely all I want to do this year is go the the Olympics.
What are your top tips for our readers who might want to take cycling more seriously and compete?
I think my top tips would be, make sure you enjoy it. Have a look on the British Cycling website and join a local club, there is loads of them and they are really great at helping you get started. Find some small local races you could try, And finally, don’t worry about getting all the kit and the best stuff just have fun first!
