in

Training Talk: Five Tips For Your Next Major Cycling Event

Whether you are making final preparations for the 2020 Bowral Classic, or working to improve overall fitness in the lead up to another summer of cycling, we present five helpful tips to get more from the sport.

In the lead up to major events or busier times on the cycling calendar, it always seems to go the same way. “There’s plenty of time to train,” we say. But invariably those days become weeks, the weeks months, and before we know it the event or occasion is frighteningly close. 

During a Spring (that feels more like the end of winter) may not be the most appealing time the year to be making final preparations for an event, here are five tips to help boost your mojo and get you out there pushing pedals.

1: A Bike Check & Fit?

A bike fit does not last forever! Periodically it is well worth – and can be extremely beneficial – ensuring you are getting optimum performance form yourself and your steed. For any sort of training you need to be as comfortable and efficient on the bike as possible. It’s critical to get your bike fit sorted before you commence a solid training block.

2: Service And Maintenance

How long since your bike was last properly serviced? Mechanical problems generally creep up slowly … you might not even realise but before you know it there may be ten wasted watts or more through your drivetrain alone! While you’re in there getting a bike fit why not treat your bike to a full service and check up.

Stay In The Zone: Training with like-minded riding buddies, ideally others you’ll be enjoying the third annual Bowral Classic with, will help maintain mojo and focus in the lead up to the event.

3: Make A Plan & Ride With Mates

Put together a training plan to work out the amount of preparation you need to do for your chosen distance. Never ridden a century but using the 90km or 120km events to help achieve the goal?

Work to it gradually – starting with 50km, then 75 km, then the big one, the 100km. Look closely at the elevation you are training on and try to incorporate similar course elevation to that of your chosen course.

4: Stick To Your Goals

Planning is a critical component of success. Set your goals and stick to them using helpful apps such as Strava, Garmin Connect or Map My Ride. Logging your hours or kilometres even via a simple note on the fridge can help you stick to your end goal. Make a pact with riding buddies, stick to not only meet ups but your individual and weekly targets, and steadily build strength and form so you’re best prepared for the event.

5: Ride Inside

We agree winter mornings are not terribly conducive to being outdoors. Fortunately we riders can now enjoy the luxury of having the most technologically advanced training systems easily available indoors.

Platforms such as Zwift make winter training enjoyable, competitive, motivational and productive!

Cold outside? Train faster, harder and better than ever before with technology such as Zwift.

Combine a smart trainer with an online training platform and you can (virtually) ride the world. For more on indoor training see this helpful article.

 

HAVE YOUR SAY

What do you think?

196 Points
Upvote Downvote

Team Sky Dominate To Win 2019 Jayco Herald Sun Tour

Latest Gear: Shoes From Bont, Security From Hiplock & Socks From Supacaz