Training Strategies for Serious Cyclists

By Colin Johnson | August 17, 2007

Training is not just about getting out there on the bike. It’s about organisation and planning so that you receive the maximum reward for your efforts. You need well considered strategies to achieve your goals.

The most important thing you will need is discipline. Discipline is the factor that all great athletes have in common. All those we aspire to be like have tremendous discipline. They, like us, find it difficult to get out of bed on cold mornings but have made the decision to get up well ahead of time. It matters not if it’s freezing or oppressively hot, they’ll get up when the alarm goes because the decision is already made, and there’s no compromise. Ever wondered what the difference is between being good and being great? The answer is discipline.

Serious cyclists always need benchmarks and extra incentive to spur them on to the top of the mountain peak. This is why I advise a training group. This will have significant benefits for all involved. I recommend a group of at least four riders and no more than six. Exceed this number and you won’t be missed if you skip a day, which can eventually lead to you dropping off. This number will allow everyone to feel a part of the group and bring accountability. A feeling that you’re letting the others down is not a bad one and can give you a push just when you may need that little nudge to keep going.

Competition can be used to your advantage. Afterall, if you’re a serious cyclist you know all about competition: it’s what makes you tick. You want to be the best you can be. Enjoy this quality in others who form part of your small training group. Try setting a time limit for a section of your ride, experiment with different destinations and strategies, as suggested by others in your group. Compare notes and offer advice to each other, all in the spirit of encouragement and mutual respect.

When riding in a group, consider carefully the various abilities within the group. Not everybody will be identical in strength, endurance and mental stamina, but everybody can have a useful ride. Make sure the youngest and fittest memebers of the group are lead wheel and that you are training in a time trial formation. Then go for it! Weaker riders should stay at the back for longer stretches. Sometimes you can adapt so that the fittest riders reach the top of steep hills first, then turn back and rejoin the rest of you before heading to the top again. This way everyone gets a work out.

It is only natural that there will be differences in the cyclists you train with. Some will be best at climbing, others will be great sprinters and others may do everything consistently well and show great stamina. It is possible to please everybody when training and learn from each other’s strengths and weaknesses. For example, go out of your way to encourage hill-haters and spur on the non-sprinters. Change your route sometimes. If you’ve never organised a loop circuit you don’t know how much fun it can be when hill training. It works well for cyclists of differing specialties because fast riders can go hard and re-catch the group, resulting in everyone feeling like they’re pushing themselves at their own level. Another way to achieve this is through handicapped sprints, especially useful at the conclusion of your training session.

Keep the session fun and allow the relationships within the group to strengthen by planning some other events apart from cyling training. If you have partners or kids, take them on a cycle track adventure altogether. Find a social event to dine together. These times can also be used to discuss ways in which training can be kept enjoyable and an event to look forward to. Closeness will bring accountability and understanding. It is a well known fact that a strong sense of bond between team athletes significantly enhances performance. Some of the best personal times are ran, swam or cycled in a relay or team event! If you are competing in individual events at a particular competition, having these training buddies around will asist your performance as well. You watch!

Set yourself up to succeed by ensuring that you have all the physical requirements and advantages before, during and after training. Assess individually what your body requirements are by experimenting with differing quantities of food and liquid intake. Amino Sports Fuel drinks will ensure maximum output of energy as well as replacing vital ingredients such as electrolytes that the body has sucked from you under physical exertion. Use these before and definitely during competition and training. I also cannot stress highly enough the need for a protein shake after cycling. Preferably within 30 minutes after exercise. Protein drinks will significantly assist your muscle recovery, growth and repair. Don’t waste your training! Get the most out of your hard work and sacrifice.

Keep safety as a priority. Before a single pedal has turned, quickly discuss the safety issues of the route – transition points, equipment, high traffic areas, weather conditions and clear signals that all the group can understand and react to. Be aware of when others and yourself are becoming fatigued. Let each other know. Accidents invariably occur when riders’ reactions and senses are marred due to physical stress and exhaustion. That’s why it’s good to finish with a predetermined safe stretch home.

Being a serious cyclist is whole lot of fun and it’s also terribly hard. It was never meant to be worked out on your own. Train in a group and enjoy all the benefits that brings. Listen to as much advice as you can find and implement the tips which make the most sense to you. With consistency and determination, you will be on your way to achieving all that you dreamed you could!

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