Cycling events are one of the best ways to improve your fitness and test your limits. But you shouldn’t go in unprepared! Cycling events – especially long distance ones – are gruelling physical tests. So you need to prepare your body. But how can you do that? For most people, practice makes perfect. And that’s a great place to start. However, training smart is just as important as training hard. That’s why our experts have put together this list of five essential training tips. Incorporating these into your routine is a great place to start if you’re looking to take your cycling to the next level.

Does your cycling event include hill climbs? If so, your training will need to include them too

First of all, let’s take a look at the course. Normally, your cycling event will circulate a map of the cycling course. We recommend studying the map in detail to get a look at the terrain. If you can, we even recommend driving over the course at some point to really get a feel for what it’s like. In particular, pay attention to the slopes throughout the course. Are there a lot of hills? If there are, you’ll need to keep that in mind when you train. Hills are not fun, and if you’re not expecting them they can really test your energy reserves. So don’t let them catch you out! Do some hill training when you’re preparing for the cycling event – it’ll make all the difference.

You’ll need to set your bike up correctly for your cycling event, and you should for training too

Preparation isn’t all about training. It’s really about taking whatever steps you can to improve your chances and ability. One great and simple step you can take is setting up your bike properly. By that we mean adjusting your seat height, making sure your breaks are in order, checking pedals, gears, wheels and any other component that can affect your performance. This will really help you at the margins – the differences may not seem like much, but as your energy drains during the cycling even, you’ll be grateful!

Keep appropriate snacks on hand for endurance cycling events

Endurance cycling events are the toughest ones of them all. You have to prepare your body for hour after hour of physical exertion, and that takes its toll regardless of your experience and fitness. The constant strain of cycling in endurance events depletes your body’s energy supply rapidly. So you’re going to need to replenish that frequently. We recommend coming prepared with suitable snacks. You can buy energy bars and even gels for that exact purpose – so why not look into it?

Training for a cycling event is all about preparing your body – so treat it well and stay hydrated

Training is about striking a balance between physically testing your body, and taking good care of it. Sure, you might go out and push yourself to the limit in a hard cycling session. But it won’t be helpful if you aren’t taking the right steps to keep yourself hydrated. Water is the most important fuel for your body during a cycling event. It helps you before, during, and after – and the same goes for training. While you’re training, you should always have water on standby, and you should consume a lot of it.

Prepare for your cycling even off the bike as well – hit the gym and work on your strength

The best way to prepare for a cycling event is by cycling. But that’s not the only way. You should also think about strength and condition. Hitting the gym to build muscles in your arms, legs, and core will help your cycling immeasurably. So if you don’t have time for a cycle before work – why not hit the gym instead?

For more great tips on preparing for your next cycling event, contact our experts today!