If we’re being honest, most of us don’t really fancy a ride when we wake up in the morning, open the curtains and find that it’s hammering down with rain and the temperature’s none too pleasant.

But even though some days are just too grim for even the most dedicated to get out on the road, you shouldn’t just park your bike in the garage or on the turbo from October until March.

For the pros, winter’s the time that next season really starts. The work they do then will have a huge effect on how well they ride months into the new year, and even though the rest of us don’t have a dedicated programme like that, it’s a good idea to keep riding and maintain that fitness through the colder months.

Plus, riding inside is boring. Even if you’re the sort of person that can cope with a three-hour session on the turbo (and I tip my hat to you if you are), you’ll almost certainly agree that riding outdoors is just more fun.

With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of five reasons you should keep riding outside during the colder months – so stick on those mudguards, dig out that winter jacket and get back in the saddle.