What to do during that long and boring winter…

It’s been silent on BAB. In case you are wondering if there’s nothing to write about, we will answer that with a ‘No’. There are still stories coming up, but our writers are busy! And well, it’s true, we may forgot about BAB a few times. We miss our days full of cycling. We miss checking for livestream, reading blogs, or go out to see our beloved cyclists live. A riders life, however, must be respected, so let’s give them a break. Maybe the winter season ain’t that bad. We need a little break too. The first weeks were tough. Now we probably are in a fase of acceptance. We know there will not be cycling on the tellie and we can live with that. However, soon it’ll be 2012 and for me that says: time for cycling again! But no. The first race of the year is not held on January 1st. We need to pass some time. For most of the BAB girls, that means: time to study. In case you don’t study or do have some spare time left, here’s a guide through the wintermonths. What can you do?

1. Cyclocross! We still got the bikes and even some names are the same. For my European friends, it’s perfect to curl up on the couch, get some hot chocolate and watch the poor men get dirty and cold.

2. Wintersports! Anyone who follows my twitter or tumblr knows I love speedskating. I know it’s impossible to follow speedskating outside the Netherlands, but other wintersports might be an option for you. If you’re in desperate need to watch sports, just turn on the tv and see what’s on it. There are some really interesting sports out there…

3. Get your own ass moving! Go cycling yourself. Especially after Christmas and New Years Eve, you might want to get off that couch and on your bike. I know, it’s terribly cold right now, but you can try the gym too. It’s not that bad and you get quick results. For our Aussie readers, come on! It’s summer, get out! Ok, you might be burning off the saddle… Try the airconditioned gym instead.

4. Be creative! We all love watching talented young men suffering on bikes. For some of us, cycling is a talent of ourselves too. For others, it’s not. Then it’s time to spend that lazy Sunday afternoon exploring your own talents. Think of something you’d like to try. Painting? Baking? Or look for some DIY (do it yourself) on google. You can always try and who knows….

5. Know your classics! The winter days are perfect for getting your cycling history right. I recently had to name three cyclist who won the Tour de France at least five times. Lance Armstrong was already given. I failed to name three (out of five others) within the time limit. Can you name them? If you struggle, it might be time to explore the past. You may find some epic inspiring stories…

6. Write! BAB is always looking for more interesting stories. It doesn’t have to be recent! If you once met Andy Schleck in a pub in Luxembourg city before he got famous, we’d like to hear/read. If you are the owner of the dog that ran on to the street during that one stage… Or if you just have a nice tale about a race, behind the scenes information.. Share!

7. Sleep! In case all other options failed, just act like a hamster and sleep through the off-season.