How to Enjoy the Ride

We've got six more great events on tap this year, starting with the Winter Park doubleheader July 22, two more in August and the final two in September. Whether you are aiming for a PR at Crooked Gravel or looking to enjoy the big climbs at Copper Triangle and not simply endure them, the best way to get the most of your big event is simple: ride more, starting now.

While many people enjoy and benefit from following a training plan, you can also improve by just progressively building up your time in the saddle. Start with your target date, and work your way backwards, weekend by weekend. If you expect to spend five hours in the saddle in late July, then subtract 10% for each weekend working backwards. 

Put a big ride on your calendar each weekend. Commit to it, and enlist some buddies to join you. If you're training for an event with a lot of climbing (hello, Copper!), then go practice climbing! (If you live in a completely flat area, then practice riding harder than the terrain dictates.)

As you are doing these longer rides, you’ll also practice your hydration and nutrition, and get more comfortable with your gear. If you are considering buying something new — wheels, tires, a saddle — then definitely do that well before your event day, so you can get used to the gear.

The main takeaway here should be: commit to riding regularly now, with your weekend rides getting longer and longer. That way your fitness and your confidence will be in great shape, ensuring that you have a great ride the day of the big event!