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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. Discipline is the one thing all serious athletes require in order to reach their goals. It is the common element that can be found resident within all those that we look up to in the sporting arena and aspire to be like. For me the simple action of getting out of that warm bed early in the morning is the hardest step of all! Discipline demands that you make decisions ahead of time. There will be no saying no if it is too cold or too hot. There will be no question as you lay your head on the pillow of whether you will be rising the next day with the sun or not. Discipline is often the difference between the great and the good. Everyone benefits from a little extra motivation to train. This includes cyclists, even serious cyclists who seem totally committed to training regularly. The best way that I have found to combat lapses in commitment is to train as part of a group. I recommend a group of no less than four and no more than six cyclists of a similar fitness level to yourself. If you miss a day, you want to be missed and chased up: this is accountability. We all need to be kept accountable and this will cause you to keep up your regular training regime. 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. If you are training in a group, catering for the variance in abilities in the group can be managed so that every cyclist feels he/she is getting maximum benefit. Use the younger and fitter guys as lead wheel according to the difficulty of the route you have selected and train in a time trial formation - and go hard! Allow those who need recovery to stay at the back for longer stints. Steep climb sections may require a few really top members of the team to reach the top, turn round and head down to rejoin the group and head to the summit again, thus all working to their potential. Discuss these little things before heading out. Assess the group's weaknesses and strengths. Some are sprinters, some climbers and some real all rounders. The group factor can really come into play to help each other overcome individual areas of cycling weakness. Help those that hate the hills, and steadily speed up the non sprinters. Changing your route will assist this. Also having a short loop circuit when hill training can be fun so the better riders can surge ahead and catch the group. In essence you are still training together. Finishing off the session with a group handicapped sprint can be great enjoyment and leave you feeling like you have really pushed yourself. 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. Cycle training is not something you should do solo. It is most effective in a group situation and it is most fun when you share it with others. Never set off on a training regime without considering all the factors involved with training and determine to implement them consistently. Your degree of success will be directly linked to your organisation, and your level of determination. I say good on you for gathering tips and gleaning advice! It's the perfect way to start on the road to achieving your personal best.
Article Source: http://www.bodyformind.com/db
Colin Johnson has been a creative fitness expert and elite sports coach in a variety of fields. He highly recommends whey protein shakes for muscle recovery and growth and Amino Sports Fuel for lasting energy. This and other unique content cycle training articles are available with free reprint rights.
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