Racing for IG-Sigma Sport in 2012, former Crit series winner Simon Gaywood on his winter training
VeloUK: Have you started your winter training and if so, how long did you spend off the bike post season and how many hours a week would you spend now training?
Simon: I had about three weeks off the bike after the season, and have then just been enjoying riding my bike a few times a week, stopping at cafes and eating an assortment of cakes. I started my winter training properly at the beginning of December and I’m roughly riding around 10-15 hours a week at the moment with 1-2 sessions in the gym, but that will increase as the winter goes on.
VeloUK: What is a typical weekday ride for you (how long and what intensity) and what sort of rides do you do on a weekend (how long and what intensity)?
Simon: My weekday rides are a mix of intervals on the turbo and usually one endurance ride 3 – 4 hours. My weekends I usually have a harder higher intensity ride on Saturday around 3hrs, and a more moderate endurance ride around 4 hours on Sunday.
VeloUK: Do you ride Xmas day or New Years day?
Simon: You’ve got to have a ride on Xmas day and New Years day. It’s probably the only two days where you’ll hardly see a sole on the road. So yes I’ll be out!
VeloUK: Do you intend to go to a training camp abroad and if so, what would be a typical training camp there in terms of the time spent training and the type of training rides they would be?
Simon: I’ve got a couple training camps this year, both with team IG- Sigma Sport. The first being in Wales with the Team. Going by what people say, I’m not sure whether to take a pump or shovel!! I think Specialized have designed us some special cycling shoes that double up as walking boots. The second is in Tuscany in February. I’m sure knowing Matt that we’ll be smashing in the miles. That should be nice, as generally over the past several years I’ve tended to train through the winter in the UK.
VeloUK: Finally, what will be your first races for 2012?
Simon: I’m not quite sure yet. I have been doing the North Road Hardriders time trial at the end of February for the last two years but we come back from Tuscany the day before, so I may leave it until the following week, which will mean the Severn Bridge Road Race.
Other Winter Training Stories
- Features, Reports, Results
- HC Result: The Zig-Zag Hill Climb
- HC Result: VC Walcot Hill Climb
- CX Result: National Trophy Derby (Day 2)
- HC Result: Kibblesworth Bank Hill Climb
- HC Result: Otley CC Two Stage Hill Climb
- HC Result: Sussex CA Bostal Blaster
- HC Result: Belmont Hill Hill Climb
- CX Result: National Trophy Derby Day 1
- Result: Haus GP – Darley Moor
- Result: West Thames Autumn Series Rnd 2
- Startlist: National Trophy Round 1 (Derby)
- HC Result: Scottish Hill Climb Championships
- HC Result: Ravenna Rumble on the Trundle
- HC Result: Mid Devon CC Widecombe Hill Climb
- HC Result: Mid Devon CC Haytor Climb
- Result: Full Gas Summer Circuit Series #29
- CX Result: London and South East CX League 3
- Result: Hitchin Nomad Late Summer Road Race
- CX Result: CCXL Round 3
- RL360 IOM YOUTH CYCLING LEAGUE 2025
- CX Result: Wessex Cyclocross League Rd 4
- News: Indoor Champs Coming to Derby
- CX Result: Lincolnshire CX League Rd 2
- CX Result: Western Cyclo-cross League Rd 3 (Pittville Park)
- Result: Doncaster Dome Crits
- TT Result: Epsom CC 25
- HC Result: Whinlatter Hill Climb
- HC Result: Walbury Hill Climb
- HC Result: Wigmore CC Hill Climb
- Result: Surrey League Handicap RR
- HC Result: Semer Hill Hill Climb
- CX Result: Eastern Cyclo-Cross League 4
- CX Result: CXNE Rd 2 (Middlesbrough)
- CX Result: SWCX Round 1 (Coxleigh Barton)
- HC Result: Peaslows Hill Climb
- HC Result: The Burway Hill Climb
- TT Result: ECCA 25
- TT Result: Chippenham & District Wheelers 10
- TT Result: Kingston Phoenix RC 10
- CX Result: Shimano Lazer WMCCL Round 4
- HC Result: Outlands Hammer Square Bank Hill Climb
- HC Result: Ingleby Bank Hill Climb
- HC Result: Arthurs Seat Hill Climb
- HC Result: Shire Hill Climb
- TT Result: Bramley Wheelers CC 25
- TT Result: Zak Carr Memorial Time Trial
- TT Result: Kettering CC 10
- CX Result: 3 Peaks Cyclocross
- CX Result: Notts & Derby CX League 2
- HC Result: Stocks Lane Hill Climb
- HC Result: Bowden Hill Hill Climb
- Result: EMRRL Riders Collective GP
- Report: Harry Hudson wins World Title!
- Result: Menzies Aviation Royal Air Force Cycling Championships 2025
- CX Result: Scottish Cyclocross Series 1
- HC Result: Bushcombe Lane Hill Climb
- CX Result: London and South East CX League 2
- CX Result: CXNE Series Round 1
- CX Result: NWCCA Round 2
- Result: West Thames Autumn Series Rnd 1
