Summer Training for Cyclocross

Summer is almost here, and as the weather improves the number of riding options is growing. There's road riding, fondos, gravel grinders, XC races, criteriums, mountains roads to climb, trails to descend, the list goes on and on. I'm psyched.

But if your big annual training focus is on the cyclocross racing season, what's the best way to spend these sunny days to get ready for next fall? This article in CX Magazine gets some advice from the pros:

CX Magazine: Should Cyclocrossers Spend Their Summer On Or Off The Road?

The upshot? Mountain biking is great for honing your bike handling skills, but lacks the top-end training benefits you get on the road, so a mix of road racing crits and XC MTB gets you to the CX season in the best shape. Depending, of course, on the kind of terrain and events in your area and what gets you motivated.