Puresty

But what if the prospect of freezing fingers and a sideways wind fills you with dread? Turbo trainers hooked up to a computer running one of the different virtual cycling apps – Zwift, Rouvy, FulGaz, Bkool and Sufferfest – offer a range of different experiences for cyclists who don’t want to venture out on wet and cold roads.

In fact, it’s now possible to cycle the steep hills of Yorkshire and cruise through the sun-drenched streets of Cape Town on the same dark winter evening all from the comfort of your own home, thanks to huge advances in technology.

When it comes to virtual training, Beaumont says: ‘I tend to just plan my sessions with my coach using Training Peaks, which automatically syncs with Zwift, which I then complete,’ he says.

‘Indoor training and any form or gamification are not my natural habitat, but it has its place and allows you to get consistency in your training when the weather is very poor, or you are time poor because of work and family.’

All you need is a smart trainer, a laptop or tablet and a decent WiFi connection and away you go. Most of these services offer a free trial period so you can evaluate them to see which is right for you.