On and Off the Bike: How to Train for Distance Biking

Being a good biker is the only thing required for long distance biking but you should be physically prepared as well. Your legs aren’t the only part of you that will get a workout. Your whole body will go through a through workout as well. Your limbs, your muscles, your organs and your hydration levels all play a major role in the success of long distance biking. Usually, athletes think that long distance biking is not a tough job for them but they are wrong! As I said earlier long distance biking not only requires you to be physically fit in the usual sense but you need to be internally fit as well.

Here are some suggestions on how to train for long distance biking.

Get a proper bike:

Of course your bike should be your first priority with long distance biking. You should either buy the best bike out there or upgrade your bike to be the best by buying the right components. The most important consideration should be the comfort level of your bike because you will be sitting on the seat for a long time and if your bike seat is not comfortable then you might feel lower back aches and aches in the hip bones.

Build the stamina:

If you are not a professional biker you can at least do some training, not for your speed but for your stamina. The best way is to start off by cycling as much as you can. A rule of thumb here is to at least ride the bike for an hour and if you feel tired during this time to slow down. As soon as you feel you can paddle faster start doing so. This is the best way of building stamina for biking. Also, get a good grip on shifting the gears and implementing the brakes because you will need it in the long distance biking. Once you are able to ride in one place for one hour extend your time limit. Keep on doing so until you feel you can ride for at least four hours.

Start riding a loaded bike:

Once you have practiced riding for four hours the next step is to add some load to your bike because in long distance biking you will have accessories with you which will make the bike heavy. Balance is the key here. Become a master at if you really want to go for long distance biking.

Gear up yourself:

Find out what are the necessary equipment you will need for riding in the area you wish to go biking. Knee pads, elbow pads, helmets, etc. are some basic accessories that always come handy and should be thought of as a priority. Water bottles, edibles, drinking stuff, etc. are to be considered as well. Get some juices too as you will be riding for a long time and juices help your body regain the lost energy. Not sugar filled juices, but real juice. Another important thing are the shoes you will be wearing. Make sure you have right shoes that do not slip while paddling.

Photo Credits: richardmasoner

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Originally posted 2010-03-23 03:59:59.

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Biking, Training and Tips

Posted by Bike Swim Run on October 28, 2011 in Biking, Training and Tips. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.