There's no Zwift outside: What's different again after winter

Before you even set off, it's worth taking a quick look at your bike. Is the tyre pressure still okay? Are the brakes working? Are the brake pads still there? Does anything squeak, creak or wobble that didn't squeak, creak or wobble last autumn?

Road damage

Frost, snow ploughs, road salt and grit leave their mark. Potholes, broken tarmac, grit in the bends. Many of them appear unexpectedly, and an overlooked pothole on a descent can quickly become a major hazard. The small stones that provided safety on icy roads now become a danger for racing cyclists. Take the first few rides a little slower and with foresight and treat familiar routes as if they were unfamiliar - at least for the first time. Small indications of danger spots, which newer Garmin devices can display, are an indication that caution is required. But by no means all road defects are stored there.

Curves are real

Turns, a descent at speed, giving hand signals while riding in a group - you don't need all that on the roller. You do on the outside. Give yourself time to get used to the feeling and remember that:

There are no avatars outside

On Zwift, you drive through other drivers and others drive through you. In real life, you have to watch out for cars, pedestrians, dogs, potholes and gravel on bends. Especially after a long winter indoors, it takes a few rides before your brain is fully back in road mode. Incidentally, this also applies the other way round: motorists have seen far fewer cyclists in recent months, so they don't expect you to be there. Ride visibly, use your rear lights even during the day, and it's better to brake more and make eye contact than not enough.

Consideration applies in both directions

After months of indoor excesses, the joy of finally riding outside again is great. But remember: the road doesn't just belong to us. Give hand signals - not only to people in your group, but also to cars and pedestrians, so that they know you want to turn or pull out to get past a parked car. Keep your distance, just as you want others to overtake you at a distance.