Winter Basemiles

Words by Phil Deeker

Bike riding to me means well-paced long days (“dawn2dusk” whenever possible) with lots of climbing.

The ride needs to be challenging but at all times enjoyable. Over the years I have learnt how one’s mental attitude is where it all starts.

I live in the heart of the hilly Belgian Ardennes, at 500m altitude. Hardly mountainous, but despite climate change, winters can still regularly get real enough to make Zwift training sessions on a turbo the ‘sensible thing’ to do. In fact, a coach might tell me it’s a more efficient way of training. Unless it’s still -7C outside at 10am, no coach will stop me getting outside. I feel that it’s the best way to prepare for the long summer rides in the mountains. It is also something I genuinely enjoy.

Read the full article over at Albion