Wow, it’s 2010 already. It almost seems like the bicycle racing season is just too short. But, for me at least, it actually runs late March through November. That’s nearly nine months of racing and heavy riding. What happens during the other three months of the year? Well, it’s the off season…or as some might call it, beer season. Not to say that there isn’t ice cold Pale Ale at the trails and at the races from March through November, there is just a little more during the other three months.

My first cross country race isn’t scheduled until late March, but as I look at the calendar, that is less than 12 weeks away. Trying to train in the northeast during the winter does turn that 12 weeks into much less for quality training. Sure there are the miles on the trainer, but it isn’t the same as getting out on the road bike for 2 to 3 hours in the mountains. Or going to your favorite trails for an afternoon of hammering on the singletrack.

So, as we work our way through January, the transition from returnable bottles on the kitchen counter to water bottles and MotorTabs begins. Ride the trainer, ride the cold road or ride whatever trails that are ridable…the first race of the season will be here before you know it.