WHO'S WORLD OF FANTASY WILL YOU DIVE INTO NEXT?

I DON’T KNOW about you, but I think that this quarantine period is one hell of a chance for cyclists, especially Kenyan ones.

Well, it depends, really, on how you look at things. Generally, you have two types of cyclists: the speed junkies who train their asses off to perform better the next time; and the pedal-loving ones who just love having the bike underneath them. And as I said, it is a golden time for both.

Let’s start with the pedal-loving type. In this category, you have the trail setters (that is, the mountain bikers) and the tarmac wearers (road cyclists). During this quarantine period, there are hardly any vehicles on the road, and even though there are, they are waaaay fewer than normal. It is therefore that much safer to ride on the roads without fear of traffic.

One of the trending petitions of the majority of Kenya’s cyclists is their inclusion in urban planning; to have parts of the road assigned to them. Well, as we are still waiting for those to be integrated and implemented, why not take this opportunity to grab the bike and finally ride (more) freely on the roads? Who knows, one might get struck by an awesome idea of how the cyclists’ tracks should not only look like but also feel like.

On the other hand you have the adrenaline-driven speed junkies like me who more times than not enjoy racing a truck to the top of the hill. Perchance you have seen the memes where the lady is looking out the window thinking that her husband/boyfriend is out with other girls while in reality, he’s trying to beat the city speed limit. Anyway, I digressed a bit, but it was important to draw that image to mind.

In the Kenyan racing season or calendar, there is no off-season period. You know, like the way the Europeans have the winter break, we do not exactly have such a pattern. Instead, one can find that the entire year is booked with races either road or mountain biking. In January, for example, there were two mtb races and a road time trial; in February there was the H2H road race; and in March, last weekend actually, was meant to have been the Two Rivers Criterium, which was cancelled due to the Corona Virus epidemic.

My point is, these cyclists tend to neglect their resting and recovery breaks as they are training for the next event. And even if they are not training, they are working, which does not necessarily mean that they are recovering. From the reading I have gathered by cycling coaches and professionals, not riding does not mean recovering.

Therefore, during this period when things have been suspended indefinitely, perhaps it is time to start recovering properly; to take the time to allow the training to sink into the muscles, into the system. The alternative is to risk injury, which could keep one off the bike for much longer than they would wish.

It is, thus, my suggestion that if you are a pedal-happy cyclist who has been largely denied the use of the road by motorists, get out there and enjoy yourself while you can. Besides, perhaps cycling in the open might just prove to be the vaccine and cure against the Corona Virus. Also, if you are a competitive cyclist, take this time to relax, read more about cycling, about the Tour de France, about cycling legends, watch more videos and ultimately search for recovery techniques that will help restore your battered-down body and maintain the strength you have gained over your training period.

What do you say?