Winter is a tough time for many cyclists. The days get cold, the nights get longer, and motivation is often low.
In my racing career as an ultra-endurance cyclist and from my experience working as a personal trainer to cyclists, I’ve seen firsthand the benefits of a well-thought-out winter training regime.
I was a relative latecomer to cycling, only getting into the sport around a decade ago when I was in my twenties, but I was an immediate convert to the physical and mental health benefits of cycling.
Don’t just take my word for it though – there are a ton of benefits of cycling backed up by expert advice, and the experience of thousands of other cyclists like me. From cardiovascular fitness to mental clarity, cycling has been proven to be a huge bonus for overall well-being.
For a beginner road cyclist, road cycling can sometimes seem like an intimidating hobby to get started in.
In reality, beginner road biking is one of the most accessible, independent, and worthwhile sports around – and has the huge added benefit of combining exercise and transport into one neat package.
There are numerous approaches to cardio training for cyclists. Some cyclists focus on doing a lot of high-intensity interval training (HIIT), others tend to stick with moderate-intensity steady-state cardio workouts, and others use heart rate zones to guide heart rate training. Another worthwhile approach is polarized cardio. Polarized cardio splits the focus to the two … Read more
Starting any type of exercise or fitness program can be really challenging, especially if you’ve been inactive for a while. The first few cycling workouts for beginners can feel like an utter slog, with each minute feeling like an hour. A Couch to 20k Cycling training plan is an ambitious – but achievable – goal … Read more
Cycling is well-known for its aerobic benefits, but it also works out a variety of muscles. Professional cyclists have very toned legs, which is hardly surprising, as your legs are the primary muscle group associated with riding bikes. But is it cycling that gives these elite athletes toned legs? And how does having bigger calves … Read more
As you get more engrossed in the ins and outs of cycling, you will start to look into all the data relating to your prowess on the bike. One of the critical parts of improving your performance is to use the cycling training zones. Cycling training zones are also called cycling power zones and enable … Read more
High-Intensity Interval Training workouts – or HIIT workouts as they are usually abbreviated to – can offer huge fitness and speed benefits for cyclists of all abilities. Whilst you might be experienced at long-distance rides, a HIIT cycling workout can really test your ability to push yourself, and in doing so, can offer massive health … Read more
Tempo training cycling is a great alternative to Zone 2 training and an excellent way to improve your aerobic performance. Zone 2 rides are long rides at low intensity, which are pretty easy going on your body while going a long way to improving your fitness. These endurance rides have their place, but you can … Read more