Organized Cycle Events- are you ready?

To get the most out of an organized ride, be ready for anything.

WHEN YOU SIGN UP FOR AN EVENT, certain questions may run through your mind: Will I be able to handle the challenge? How should I prepare? Even the pros go through this kind of stress.

By following a plan (suggested below), you should be ready to enjoy whatever cycling challenge you've chosen.

First Step As soon as route information is available, make sure you're aware of the course length, any big climbs or descents, and rest-stop locations.

Two Months To Go Plan your training around the length of time you'll be riding, not the distance. Over a period of at least two months, gradually increase your riding time. Make sure you do all your Gear purchases that you need to get used to- saddle, shoes etc

One Month To Go While you're training, visualize good pedaling and breathing techniques so that when you get tired, you'll be able to ride as efficiently as possible. Remember a steady pace is better than going all out fast at the beginning and running out of energy later on.

Two Weeks To Go Make a list of items to bring: a pump, a tool kit, water bottles, nutrition, sunscreen and extra clothing. Plan for a ride this week that will take the same amount of time as the event. Book your bike in for a service, keeping in mind all bike workshops will be very busy with pre-event servicing, so earlier the better.

One Week To Go It's taper time: Do two or three shorter, easier rides. Clean your bike and lube the chain. Pack your seat bag with two tubes, tyre levers, a minitool, CO 2 cartridges, cash and an ID. Bike n Bean have all these accessories, bike wash and lube instore now for your event day.

One Day To Go Inspect tyre treads, looking for cuts and debris. Pack your clothes bag with all possible options. Long-finger gloves (worn over your cycling gloves), arm warmers, and knee or leg warmers can be stashed in jersey pockets during the ride.

Event Day Bring a vest or rain jacket that can be stored in a jersey pocket, along with food bars/gels and drink bottle and drink tablets/powder. Apply sunscreen, pump tires to the proper pressure and give each wheel a spin to make sure the brakes aren't rubbing. You're good to go!

Shotz Products-Gels, Bars, Tablets

At Bike n Bean, we suggest using Shotz products for your Nutrition needs. Shotz Energy Bars, Gels & Electrolyte Tablets are absorbed quickly into the bloodstream, and are preferred by athletes as they are not heavy on the stomach or sickly sweet.  They are low in sugar, and the gels are gluten free. 

The most important goal for longer rides is to build up carbohydrate stores. Carbohydrates are the most important fuel source for prolonged exercise and make a difference between doing your best and hitting the wall early.

Carbohydrates are absorbed into the bloodstream from the gut. When there is plenty of carbohydrate available, such as after a meal of pasta, the extra that is not used is stored in the liver and muscles. These stores of carbohydrate are called glycogen.

Eating plenty of carbohydrates in the 48 hours before the big ride will help fill your glycogen stores. The night before your event, it is a good idea to include more carbohydrate in your evening meal than you usually have.