Check out our new cycling holiday video in Spain, and click here to find out more about cycling in rural Spain

April and cycling sub zero in the Yorkshire Alps!

Heading out towards Emily moor in Arctic conditions.  It one of the highest points in West Yorkshire where the huge telecoms is situated and a land mark and visible from all over the region.

The Snow was still piled high after the huge drifts were cleared over Easter, minus 2 with a 15 below wind chill on the down hill runs to take your breath away. 

Oxford is a relatively cycle friendly city  with many students & commuters choosing to use the bike as a preferred method of transport.  
Cycling is a considered a low impact sport however depending on how the bike set up a badly fitted bike  can lead to knee pain and longer term injuries such as chronic Tendonitis & Osteoarthritis. 

Generally, most people are not frequent riders and given the additional expense don't normally get measured and fitted for a cycle when purchasing a new machine. Realistically given their relatively low mileage per year it is less important to have a professional set up the bike for you however it should be said that some consideration should be given to bike suitability, frame size, seat height & handle bar position etc. There are some great cycle shops in Oxford and who will help with general set up advice but some others are just happy to flog you a bike in a box!

Cycling In the last few years has seen a fantastic and huge increase in interest, from  cyclo cross county/ mountain / family trail riding, to road race and Sportive riding, with many different events across the country. Given this type of rider is generally riding for longer periods with  high levels of endurance intensity and repetitive leg movements it is important to have a good bike set up to try to prevent injuries.

It can also be said that inadequate training is also a common cause for this type of knee injury, endurance event cyclist doing too much, often too hard a ride and much too soon between events. Overuse knee injuries and the motion of pedalling can lead to a variety of knee injuries, cumulative tissue micro trauma and consequent symptoms, acute tissue inflammation, and also long term degeneration.
 

 A common cause of knee pain Iliotibial Band Syndrome  (ITBS).  It is often caused through a cycle being badly adjusted this is often frequent amongst recreational cyclists and runners ( often known as runners knee). Pain is reported on the outside of the knee due to the over tightness of the Iliotibial Band ( a huge knee stabiliser) or over tension of the gluteal and tensor fascia latae muscle. 
If you suffer with knee pain a postural assessment, sports massage and ultrasound would assist in finding and treating the problem.

Mid March & winter in the Cotswolds is back!  

Temperatures below zero in the daytime again & cycle training for the moment suspended outdoors due to the snow and ice. 

New slick tyres just fitted on the road bike in anticipation of spring and the  beginning of British summertime. All ready to go for when the predicted Easter heatwave arrives!

Back to winter training in the swimming pool and gym again using the Interval & Fartlec training methods to mimic the undulations of road cycling ( never a long flat road in the Cotswolds )

Looking forward to getting out on the rolling hills during the Easter holidays with some warmth in the air and sun on my back soaking up the much needed Vitamin D, big mugs of Tea and flapjack in Stow on the Wold to keep me going!