Cycling has always been more than a sport for me – it’s been a full-time pursuit, passion, and, occasionally, a bit of a battle, especially in winter. Though my full-time riding days have been and gone, I have put in countless hours and miles through bitingly cold months, and trust me, I’m no natural winter warrior.
Feeling the cold keenly, coupled with a tendency toward the winter blues, means that I’ve had my fair share of tough rides in cold, dark weather. Winter for me often became a balancing act: training hard enough without risking illness, navigating short days for the few hours of daylight, and making sure my sleep wasn’t upended by overtraining.