In this issue of Ask a Pro, Diane answers the question:
I'm a little bored with all my riding routines. Could you give me some ideas of how to mix things up?

A: Riding, as fun and invigorating as it is, can sometimes be monotonous. We’re creatures of habit and tend to do the same workouts and training rides week in and week out. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. You’ll still get benefits from your rides, but changing the structure of your workout creates a different training effect on your body, and does wonders for your mind.

When you weigh more than you should, it’s easy to get down on yourself and feel like you eat too much. But often what you’re eating can be more of a problem than how much. If you cycle a lot but still have trouble maintaining a healthy weight, you could be eating foods that aren’t working well for your body type. By experimenting with your diet, rather than dieting, you can discover what you need to eat to be healthy, vibrant and full of energy.

There is nothing worse than smiling and nodding along while fellow cyclists talk about power to weight ratios, Di2, or how they were 53/11 in a break while you have no idea what they are talking about. It takes a while to learn the lingo of cycling. Here is a list to get you started.

Like most women, when I exercise I like to look good. When I cycle I don’t want to go out in an old T-shirt and boxing shorts. These days looking good on my bike is a lot easier because the most stylish clothes also tend to be the ones using the latest wicking and anti-bacterial technology as well as sustainable materials.

Traditional recipes for chocolate mousse include heavy whipping cream, eggs and white sugar. This healthy alternative uses whole foods and is sweetened with maple syrup.

But beware, Decadent Chocolate Mousse is not only delicious, it’s filling – a little goes a long way. During the summer try it with local fresh berries on top.

When I first started road cycling I quickly found out how easy it is to drop the chain and end up at the side of the road with grease-covered hands. Unless you have a Grease Monkey wipe with you, it’s hard to get the grease off. The grease travels from your hands onto your handlebar tape, your water bottle, and, if you’re not careful, your face and jersey. What a mess! What I didn’t know is that there are ways to fix a dropped chain without manhandling it and getting covered in grease.

With books like Susan Cain’s Quiet hitting the New York Times bestseller list, it seems easier now for introverts to come right out and admit their more introspective, quiet ways. According to Cain, “. . . introverts prefer listening to speaking, reading to partying; they are innovative and creative but dislike self-promotion; they favour working on their own over brainstorming in teams.” And it seems that there are more of us around than previously thought. That started me thinking about cycling, and whether it’s a sport better suited to introverts.

Have you ever ruined your cycling gear because you didn’t know how to clean it properly? Everything from your bicycle to your cycling shoes needs to be properly cleaned in order to maintain it and extend its use. Cycling gear is becoming increasingly high-tech, including the fabric that shorts and jerseys are made of. Throw them in the wrong kind of wash with the wrong kind of detergent and you could soon be shelling out $100 to $150 for another pair.