Training for Biking

mrsbastone
mrsbastone Posts: 83 Member
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I am wondering if anybody has any tips on training for a bike ride. I signed up for a 75 miles City to Shore bike ride to support MS. I've been taking spin class 1 once a week for a long time now.. So other than just going outside and biking is there anything else? Plus is there any resources online that you might know of that might help.. Like how to properly use the gears on your bike or anything.. I am not much of a biker, need all the advice I can get.
Thanks!

Replies

  • flhedinger
    flhedinger Posts: 35
    I'm not a major biker, but I have done a number of organized 50 mile rides. My biggest piece of advice is to start doing medium and longer rides (15-30 miles) at least two or three times a week to get your body (especially your bottom!) used to riding that much. Otherwise you will be really saddle sore the day of your ride and it will be harder to enjoy the ride. Also, make sure that at least some of those rides mimic the type of terrain you will be riding (hilly? flat?). Have fun!!!
  • love2cycle
    love2cycle Posts: 448 Member
    I'm not a major biker, but I have done a number of organized 50 mile rides. My biggest piece of advice is to start doing medium and longer rides (15-30 miles) at least two or three times a week to get your body (especially your bottom!) used to riding that much. Otherwise you will be really saddle sore the day of your ride and it will be harder to enjoy the ride. Also, make sure that at least some of those rides mimic the type of terrain you will be riding (hilly? flat?). Have fun!!!

    I think this is good advice also. My husband and I have done 2 bike tours for MS, both of which were 150 miles, done over a 2 day period. We did as the above poster, and as the event grew closer we went for longer rides, about 40 miles. We did fine, but I still had some blisters!
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    Get out and ride, like any other activity build up your distances gradually and get really comfortable / familiar with your bike. Your gear shifting will become more intuitive the more you ride but the basics are (like a car) start in a low gear and shift to a higher gear as you find you're pedaling too easy

    If you're going be riding 75 miles invest in a pair of biking shorts. The padding (referred to as the chamois - even though they haven't been made of chamois for a long time) will feel like you're wearing a diaper at first but your derriere will thank you.

    If you haven't done so already make sure your bike fits you properly. Poorly fitted bike will lead to poor mechanics (you end up expending far more energy than you need to) and may result in knee pain, IT band issues etc. Assuming you bought the bike at a bike shop they'll usually be happy to do a basic fitting at a very nominal costs (or sometimes free) if you bought it at a big box store be prepared to pay a bit for the fitting (at a real bike shop) but it's worth it.

    Keep your tires inflated to the recommended pressure (if you have a mountain bike with knobbly tires switch them for a smoother commuter type of tire, much lower rolling resistance, unless you plan on riding off road)


    Have fun!
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