During the summer months there are lots of charity bike rides happening across the UK, including our very own Great Notts Bike Ride. If you’ve taken the plunge and signed up for one, what do you do next? Your intrepid Big Wheel team has been scouting out some of the best advice to get you ready for anything.
1. Take a good look in the mirror
No, we’re not suggesting you need to look good to get out on your bike, just that you should ask yourself some questions. Honestly, how fit are you? Do you already take regular exercise? Is signing up for a big bike ride a way to get back on your bike or stretch yourself further? At this point it may be wise to go to the doctor for some specific advice on your health and fitness levels.
2. Set yourself goals
You’ve been given the all clear by your doctor and decided you want to go from the occasional ride to cycling a 75-mile stretch, what now? Set yourself goals – yes, the marathon bike ride is your overall target but try breaking that down into weekly or monthly targets too. That way you can really see your progress and it’ll help you stay motivated.
Remember not to push yourself too hard initially as this can be really discouraging. Start off small and work your way up to the harder stuff as you get closer to the event. In week one you may try to cycle to work one day a week and by the final week you could try cycling to work every day and doing a longer bike ride at the weekend too!
The challenges you set yourself will depend on how much you already do and what you want to do. A seasoned cyclist who rides every day may be able to go straight into cycling the long way to work and doing longer rides on more challenging terrain at weekends.
3. …but don’t beat yourself up if you miss them.
As we said you should try to set manageable goals for yourself so you’ll be more inclined to keep at it. But if for any reason – work pressures, illness, etc – you don’t meet your target one week, don’t give up! It’s easy enough to get back on track if you stick at it. And if you find you’re consistently missing your targets try rethinking them – cycling to work might be easier to fit in than an hour at the gym for example. And if you find you constantly feel unmotivated why not try the tip below?
4. Get a little help from your friends
We talked about goals can be good motivation, but as we’ve said sometimes they can be hard to stick to. So why not make it that bit easier to stay focussed by doing it with a friend? You can cheer each other on when the going gets tough and have fun while getting fit. Choose someone with similar fitness levels with similar goals so that you aren’t always stopping for someone or struggling to catch up.
5. Just do it!
You don’t have to focus exclusively on cycling to train for an event – walking, swimming and going to the gym will all build your general fitness levels. But the best thing to do is just get on your bike. A long ride may feel uncomfortable if you haven’t sat in the saddle for a long stretch before. And, if you use your bike to get around, you won’t have to find extra time to train – you can do it on your way to work, the shops or wherever!
We hope that helps! Click here for another page with some great advice if you need any more ideas.
- Want to know some great places to cycle?
- Click here for two picturesque 20 mile routes in the Sherwood Forest area.
- Click here for cycle routes in the City.
- Or here if you’re in the County.
- Or visit the fantastic Big Track – 10 miles of pure pleasure and best of all it’s car-free!
