Like a marriage or a business partnership, finding like-minded cyclists is key to a happy riding relationship

Picking a bike is easy. You’ve got a budget and a rough idea of what you want to do with it, and these days, it’s almost impossible to find a really bad one. Same goes for clothing. Spend as much as you can afford, choose a color that suits, and you’ll be happy. Even selecting a route is easy, what with Strava and the plethora of websites dedicated to cataloging and chronicling the choicest roads in every part of the world. You could drop into somewhere completely new, with no one to guide you, and after 20 minutes of Googling you’d be an expert on the local terrain. Sure, some bikes and bibs and roads are better than others, but it’s really easy to settle on a perfectly enjoyable combination of the three in no time. No, there’s only one really tough choice facing modern cyclists, and it is one that has vexed since people started turning pedals for fun back in the 19th century: Who do you want to ride with?

Indoor training has come a long way in the last few years. Back in the day, using home trainers just felt wrong, because the equipment was clunky, loud, and worst of all, monotonous. And the ride itself was static and uninteresting – the exact opposite of what getting on your bike should be. Putting in the hours over winter would certainly yield results come spring, but unless you were racing it never really felt worth it. But no more. 

We always have the makings of a few signature cocktails close to hand. There’s nothing wrong with reaching for an ice-cold beer or a glass of wine at the end of the day, but sometimes you just need something a little more special.

Food and drink can be a great way to relive memories, especially in times like these. And while there’s no substitute for enjoying one of these with friends after a long bike ride in Italy or Portugal, we’re tipping our hat to all the places we can’t wait to go with these signature cocktails. So bottoms up, and here’s to raising a glass together real soon.

Anyone who has ever spent time with us in Tuscany will have fond memories of the tiramisu at Borgolecchi. In fact, anyone who has spent any time at all in Italy had at least one tiramisu after dinner that left a lasting impression. The name means “pick me up” in Italian, and that’s exactly what it is, a sweet, creamy, slightly caffeinated treat that puts a spring in your step after a good, long meal.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock the past few years, or at least somewhere where there’s year-round riding weather, you will have definitely heard people talking about Zwift. It’s the best way to get your cycling fix when you can’t go outside.