How To Train For Your First Cycling Event

Picture this scenario. You had a brainwave with your friends and excitedly you entered yourself into a charity bike ride for next summer. But then it dawns on you… you’ve never ridden farther than 10km on your bike before.

But don’t panic, because we have compiled the top tips for training for your first cycling event:

1. Hire a turbo trainer. It’s getting darker and colder, and the winter isn’t the most inspiring time of year to rack up the miles outside on your bike. So why not hire with us, and you can start improving your form and fitness from the comfort of your living room?
   
   
2. Train with the right gear equipment. Make sure you train with everything you’d be riding with next summer - from the bike to the saddle, shoes and clothing - to ensure it’s comfortable and works for you. There’s nothing worse than realising that your brand-new bib shorts chafe 5km into your ride.
   
   
3. Set realistic goals, and make sure they’re related to your event. If your cycling event has lots of hills with varying gradients, build this into your training so you are prepared. A turbo trainer can help you train on different gradients.
   
   
4. Join an online community. Does your charity event have a Facebook Group you can join? Get to know other riders, and join them on virtual or real-list training rides.
   
   
5. Learn basic mechanics. Don’t let a puncture ruin your ride. If you learn the basics of bike mechanics, you’ll be back in the saddle in no time.
   
   
6. Get to grips with nutrition. As you train, learn what best fuels your body before, during and after the ride. Try a few different things. Porridge beforehand? And what about when you’re on the bike? Some people can’t stomach energy gels, so experiment and find the best options for you. The right nutrition could make a world of difference. 
   
   
7. And if you’re really keen, do a recce of the route beforehand. It’s also good to know if your event is on open or closed roads. If on open roads, make sure you’re wearing lots of reflective gear and you have your bike lights on.

If you’d like to enter a cycling event next summer but aren’t sure where to start, why not take a look at Castle Race Series. They host events for all ages and abilities across the UK, Ireland & France.