For cyclists, this has been the strangest of all springs. Instead of races and group rides, events are cancelled and most are forced to stay indoors to train. A new survey wants to learn how COVID-19 has affected your training, and we'd like your input.

Solitary cycling on trainers in the garage, basement, or back-of-the-dining room may be a far cry from a morning ride with your cycling friends through your favorite route.  How do we mentally cope with this drastic change in our lifestyle?

TOOLBOX: Yes, training does make you fitter, but how does it actually improve your fitness? How much comes down to increasing haemoglobin and blood volume to improve oxygen delivery? How might we test this?

Toolbox: The occasional or seasonal use of virtual cycling training such as Zwift is now our normal routine and as such, nutrition and hydration may need to be adapted accordingly. Should we be drinking and eating as we would outdoors?

Toolbox: No bike racing and indoor training are not the end of the world - and neither is this break in your cycling fitness. Here's what to expect and how to make the most of the recent change in plans.

Toolbox: Since the invention of the power meter, and the advancement of technologies to help us "dial in" our performance, we've seen a steady sharp rise in professional and amateur rider performances. But low-tech tools can also be an important part of your training toolbox.

TOOLBOX: Cycling is lauded as a sport of suffering and who can put up with the most pain. Is this pain tolerance trainable? And if so, are some types of training better than others at increasing pain tolerance?

TOOLBOX: Cycling is built on the lore of climbing big mountains, that epic battle of humans versus the environment. But surprisingly, not that much research has explored the biomechanics of climbing, notably the differences in biomechanics and physiology of seated versus standing climbing.

You lean forward, driving down on to the pedals, legs exploding, chest burning, mouth wide open, sucking as much air as possible into your hungry lungs. That process of laboured breathing and ventilation is a primal force. Can we train our respiratory muscles to decrease the stress of breathing or even ride faster?