Training Tips for Every Kind of Cycling

Whether you crave the feeling of getting to the summit of the highest cols, riding faster on the flat, cyclosportives, or simply enjoy cycling for the beauty of it, we have a training tip for you. In most cases, we have more than one.

With this in mind, let’s take a deep dive into the cycling tips that will help you improve and get more enjoyment from road cycling.

Through implementing these cycling tips you will become a better rider.

General Road Cycling Techniques

Road cycling is about perfecting your technique, improving your fitness, strength and power. Even if you are a leisure cyclist riding to and from work, brushing up on your techniques is not a bad idea and you’ll feel better once you’ve reached your destination.

Start here:

• Essential cycling skills – Learn the basics.
• Master your gears – They help you tackle difficult terrain and maximise efficiency.
• Find good cycling routes – Keeps training interesting.
• Road safety tips – Keep safe, keep cycling.
• Keep motivated – Need no explanation!

Road Cycling Tips to go Faster and Further

To go faster on a bike you have to have good strength and power. This is the backbone for reducing times and achieving personal bests. If you want to take this to the nth degree, you may want to make your bike and you a little lighter.

So with this in mind, you may want to consider:

• Precise gear use – This can shave seconds off your time and so increases your speed.
• Upgrading the bike – The lighter the bike the better.
• Make your gear lighter – It’s not just the bike that needs to be lighter, it’s what you wear and how you wear it!
• Pro techniques for riding faster on the flat – Build up that speed and maintain it when on flat roads.
• Precise pedalling – Makes a big difference so use the right technique.
• Sprinting – Always fun and important when competing.
• Increase distance – And fitness, strength, power, all the good stuff.

Training to Ride Faster

So once you have the techniques down consider implementing the following training drills and advice to improve your speed and distance further.

• Training zones – If you can use training zones you should. Discover why.
• Training when short on time – Time is precious let’s face it. These training techniques will help you improve when time is pressing.
• Peloton riding – Riding in a peloton increases your speed. Discover why.
• As part of your training, food and drink are essential to get right.
• High intensity interval training (HIIT) – Has a range of benefits including boosts to your VO2 Max, mitochondria function, and burns fat.

Road Cycling Tips for Better Climbing

There is an art to being a good climber!

We cyclists want to be able to climb well. It is fair to say that you love it when you get to the summit of Mont Ventoux and this is why riding Geneva to Nice or Granfondo Marmotte Alps sportive is so appealing! Climbing suits the smaller man or woman as there is less weight to propel up the side of a big col. Don’t worry if you’re on the bigger side as you’ll enjoy passing the smaller guy on the flat! 

Many of the tips for riding faster and further apply to climbing.

If you want to improve your climbing try:

• Tips to climb stronger – Start here for better climbing.
• Climbing Alpe d’Huez – You may or may not want to ride the famous col but this post is worth reading to understand the importance of discipline when climbing a great mountain.
• Sa Calobra – Again knowing the disciplines involved will help you climb.

If you’re thinking about taking on a substantial sportive, read:

• Tips for riding your first sportive
  
• Am I good enough to ride Marmotte Alps?

Well Being and Core

The simple fact is that there is no strong cycling without a strong core. Pro cyclists do not lean on the handlebars but support their weight through their core. This technique helps them ride faster and further and avoid injury.

So:

• Improve your core – You know the reasons why.
• Fat burning – Whether to ride faster or for a happier life, fat burning on a bike is easy!
• Want to lose weight? – This will help.
• Cycling when you’re older? – Cycling has a range of benefits for the older lady or gentleman!
• Coming back to cycling after a long break – If you’re thinking about getting on the saddle again.

Cycling is one of the healthiest things you can do

Winter Training and Strength and Core Tips

When the nights get longer and days shorter, it is tempting to stay off the bike. The good news is that training in the winter is not impossible.

• Winter training tips – Get ready for the new season.
• Home trainer program – Turbo training that maintains fitness, strength, power, and core.
• Home trainer program with a power meter – A more advanced version of the basic trainer program. Both programs run for 5 weeks and are highly beneficial to your cycling.

No matter your cycling style, you’ll find a training tip to keep you on the road and improve your health and wellbeing at the very least.

Keep cycling.

Submitted: 5/4/22