Beginner's Guide - Competitive Cycling

What You Must Know Before Getting Started!

Have you been thinking of getting into competitive cycling but haven't got an idea of where to start or what it's going to take to prepare yourself both mentally and physically? Before you begin there are some important questions that you have to ask yourself.

    What type of competitive cycling do you want to participate in?
    Do you have training program in place that will support that type of racing?
    Do you have a nutrition regiment that will support your training?

These are important questions that you have to sort out before getting involved in cycling for something other than just the pure enjoyment. Riding competitively compared to riding in a club, or just everyday exercise are two entirely different approaches. Knowing the important factors mentioned above will guide you in your goal to becoming a competitive cyclist. As you read below these criteria are explained in more detail.

Who's Your Competition?

Right up front you need to decide what type of cycling you would like to compete in. You can either choose road cycling or mountain. Both are fun and exciting, but obviously the environment in which you compete will be completely different. Road racing will involve more speed and strategy, where as mountain cycling will be more about power and strength. Choosing which style fits you best will help you decide on what type of approach to take when it comes to setting up a training program.

How Far Can You Go?

Riding for pleasure or in a cycling club is a completely different world than riding to win. As a competitive cyclist you will have to get into a regiment of training that is beyond just being in shape. People race to win, and being at the pinnacle of fitness is crucial if you are going to be involved with racing with goal of winning or placing at the top.

You may want to consider obtaining the services of a professional trainer, and preferably one that has experience at cycling experience at a high level. Training can and should include exercise that increases endurance, aerobics, leg strengthening, speed, power, as well as sprinting. Weight training should also be incorporated as part of a training routine. This needs to be combined with great nutrition to get to a peak level of performance.

Is Your Nutrition Giving You Top Performance?

As part of any effort to prepare for competitive cycling, the importance of eating an enhanced diet should not be overlooked. You need to know what types of food you should eat prior to racing. What kinds of foods will help you recover after racing, as well as help you cope with the demands during the competition. Proper hydration techniques are one of the key factors that will determine your level of performance.

Getting involved with competitive cycling takes planning and commitment. Knowing what you're going to need to get started is just the beginning. Getting into the race is the next step.