How to Train for Your First Bike Road Race

Fix Your Diet

Before you even think of getting on the bike, you need to perfect your diet. It is important to consume foods that are abundant in healthy fats and protein. This would obviously include plain chicken and vegetables like spinach. The one food that every cyclist swears by though is nuts. You name it peanuts, almonds or hazelnuts. They are filled with so much protein that will give you the energy for any cycle. The perfect little snack.

Condition your body

A second important factor pre-race is conditioning your body. It is important you realise just how grueling a sport road cycling is. So, before you get on the bike some high altitude training would be a really good idea. As it will help you improve your VO2 max. Which is the amount of oxygen you can intake in one breath. Your body needs to be ready to go through complete hell so before any race you need the right conditioning.

Buy the right bike

For a first bike it is probably a good idea to try buy under $1000, I would highly recommend the Giant Contend SL1 which comes in at $999. The bike has a fully carbon fiber frame and gears, meaning the bike comes in at only 10 kilograms. The bike is known for its superb handling, and is extremely reliable. The bike is also perfect for any new riders as it is known for its comfort. This will make your grueling first rides so much easier.

Make the bike right for you

This is absolutely key to your performance and will set you apart from the competition. You need to buy the right racing bike parts for your performance. This will come as you get to know your bike and its limitations. Especially when it comes to your first race you will most likely come against other new riders. In these early races every second counts, and the tiniest of modifications can make the biggest of differences.

Practice makes perfect

Once you have got your bike right you simply need to get on it. Replace your bus journey or your car ride with your bike, you need to become one with your bike. Try find challenging routes or find notable practice areas. It is important to keep variation in your routine. As this will maintain a freshness in your bike riding and help widen your skill set, you want to be a true utility kit of a rider.

Race yourself

It is important to keep yourself driven and no one is a better motivator than yourself. Try keep your own time and your own splits. In early riding it will be extremely difficult to find a pre-established rider to race against. Seeing your own improvements will drive you and keep you focused. This will again keep the sport of bike riding interesting. It is said the road bike riding is the loneliest sport in the wold, so it is important to keep this individual energy from day one.

Choose the right race

Now your body is ready, your bike is ready and your mind is ready; it is finally the big choice you need to pick the right race. Examine your own performance and decide what your biggest strengths and weaknesses are, and which race course will give you the greatest chances of using your strengths. You may take this next point as a joke, but in your decision it may be a good idea to pick a race with a good amount of prize money. This will not only give you a nice reward, but keep you motivated in those cold winter months.