Category Archives: Road Bike

Road Bike Training – How A Cycle Training Programme Will Put You On The Road To Success

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To become a qualified airline pilot, many hours must be spent in simulators and on training flights before you get to the required level – the same applies to your road bike training. You need to find a good cycle training programme, and put in the hours on your bike to get to the level of fitness you require. A diverse analogy I know, but true. The message is;- get on your bike and ride it!

Initially, you don`t want to do anything too strenuous. Your road bike training should increase gradually, yet consistently. It is impossible for me to suggest how long your first outings should be, for there are too many variables – your age, weight, location (flat or hilly), and the time you have available. Find a good cycle training programme and these variables will be factored in by your coach.

Once you have found a cycle training programme that suits your needs, implement it and stick to it, rigidly. Any diversion or break from your training regime will have an adverse effect, which will set you back. If you suffer set-backs like this, it will take you twice as long to recoup the losses and move forward to where you would have been before the training break.

If you are serious about cycling, whether you`re a novice or a professional, you need a good cycle training programme to stay fit and improve your performance. To maximise performance potential, there are a few things you need to keep in mind -

your availability to train – outside of work/family commitments, your personal goals how to exploit your strengths how to build upon your weaknesses your flexibility to manage home-life around training and vice versa.

Nutrition is an important factor that you need to think about. As you become more proficient, your road bike training sessions will take you longer to complete. Longer training times equal longer distances. It follows that the more you push those pedals, the more energy you burn – which needs to be replaced. 

For shorter training sessions you would only need something light – sports bar, small sandwich or a piece of fruit. It gets a bit more in-depth for longer distances, (this will be covered in detail in your cycle training programme), and you have to strike a balance of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

Just as important as food intake, is liquid nutrition. Never let your body get dehydrated. Drink before every road bike training session, even if you are not thirsty. Always carry enough liquid – sports energy drink or plain old water – to last you through your session. Your liquid intake should be at least a mouthful every ten minutes.

With a good cycle training programme that is tailored to your personal requirements, you can plan your road to success. People now realise that cycling benefits them in so many ways. The health benefits are obvious, it`s also great fun for all the family, and it is eco-friendly. Use your bike, rather than your car, to commute and you cut down on fuel emissions, save money, and help to reduce noise pollution – that`s win-win for everybody.

To your cycling success.

Helpful Road Bike Reviews to Consider When Purchasing A Road Bike

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Road bike reviews can be extremely helpful, especially if you do not have a lot of experience with purchasing a bicycle. Since many road bikes are quite expensive, then you will want to make sure that the model of bike you purchase is suitable to your needs and good quality. Following is an overview of several well-known road bikes:

Bianchi Infinito Ultegra:

The Bianchi Infinito Ultegra gets very high rating overall as a high quality road bike that is sold at an affordable price. While many road bikes cost up to $6,000, the Biachi Infinito Ultegra can be purchased for $3,200 at online retailer Adrenaline Bikes. This particular type of bike can be used for fast riding or long distance riding. It is comfortable for both male and female riders and is made with a lightweight carbon frame that comes with a life warranty. One point to consider is that you may want to replace the wheels if you need the bike to be more lightweight, as the original wheels are a bit heavy.

Scott CR1 Comp:

The Scott CR1 Comp is a good option if you have a limited budget but want to purchase a high-end road bike. This particular bike can be purchased for around $1,400 at either Bikesale.com or Coloradoskishop.com. It is ideal for fast riding and one can ride uphill with it easily; at the same time, it is also reasonably comfortable for long distance riding. The Scott CR1 Comp has a carbon frame and many of the components are made by Shimono, a high-end brand name that is well known by professional cyclists.

Giant Defy 2:

The Giant Defy 2 gets good ratings. It is made from aluminum, so it will not be as lightweight as the above-mentioned models. However, aluminum is also much sturdier in some ways than carbon, so the frame is likely to be stronger than a carbon frame road bike; aluminum road bikes are also cheaper. The Giant Defy 2 is a stable bicycle that is lightweight, smooth to ride and has easy gear shifting. You will find it suitable for both fast riding and long distance riding, although some reviewers recommend replacing the original bike seat if you intend to do mostly long distance riding. Online retailer Bikesale.com sells these bikes for around $1,000, although you can purchase one for less if you buy it second hand.

Allez Elite Compact:

The Allez Elite Compact bicycle is lightweight, easy to ride and suitable both for fast and long distance cycling. You can purchase it online at University Bicycle Center for a bit over $800. The bicycle frame is made from a combination of aluminum and carbon, the bike shifts well, is comfortable to ride on and is very responsive. However, a number of reviewers have commented that the braking system on the bike is substandard and should be replaced.

Consider the above road bike reviews when purchasing a bike. As you can see, which exact bike would be the best option for you depends on what type of riding you do and your budget. Choose a bike that is affordable and at the same time good quality and suitable for your needs.

Road Bike Cycling – Choosing a Suitable Bike

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There are many reasons for cycling on the road and there are several different types of road bikes. The four main types of bikes for road bike cycling are road bikes, mountain bikes, hybrid bikes and folding bikes. All of these types of bikes also have many variations and different designs so choosing the right bike for your needs can be a big decision.

What type of bike you choose to ride on the road depends on how often you will use it, the purpose and distance of the journeys you make, as well as which type of bike you feel most comfortable riding, as they all have different riding positions.

Generally road bikes have drop handlebars and thin tires, and they are relatively lightweight. They are mostly designed for speed so that the riding position is low down rather than upright, as this is the most aerodynamic position. This type of bike is certainly the quickest choice for road bike cycling and is the bike of choice for racing and most experienced road bike cycling fans.

Road bikes can essentially be divided into two sub-categories – touring bikes and racing bikes. Touring bikes are excellent for long distance rides and cycling holidays, while race bikes are designed for acceleration and speed.

Touring bikes have lower gear ratios so they are appropriate for carrying gear with you on a long ride or tour. Race bikes are extremely light and have very rigid frames to maximize the transfer of power from the rider to the wheels, in order to offer a smooth ride.

A good choice of road bike for commuters, keeping fit and cycling for leisure are hybrid bikes. These are essentially a mixture of a mountain bike and a road bike, and they are growing in popularity all the time. They have fast spinning wheels like a road bike, but the riding position is more upright and similar to a mountain bike position, because they have flat handlebars.

Hybrid bikes are easy to maneuver, with a range of gears that make it easy to cope with changes in speed or gradient. They have wide tires similar to a mountain bike so they can used off-road. They are definitely a convenient choice for general road bike cycling and leisure rides.

Mountain bikes have tires with substantial tread as they are designed for off-road riding, but they can also be changed to road cycling if you already have one and want to cycle on the road without another huge cost. To adapt a mountain bike you can just swap the tires for narrower, smoother tires. This will decrease resistance and make cycling on the road easier and faster.

If you cycle on the road as part of your journey to work a convenient sort of bike to use is a folding bike. These are ideal if you use public transport as part of your journey, or if storage is an issue at work or at home. Instead of having to worry about where to leave your bike safely you can just fold it up and carry it with you.

Whichever style you choose, when road bike cycling always think about making yourself obvious to other road users by wearing reflective items and using lights. This is imperative for your safety on the road, regardless of the type of bike you choose.