You're excitement to raise funds and ride for a worthy cause is once again call to duty. The day of the bike ride is fast approaching and at some point your fund raising efforts must be aligned with your biking effort. With that mind-set, we will definitely be victorious in our collective efforts against Multiple Sclerosis. However, even though our heart, mind, and souls are in the right place, there is the stubborn body that is not so easily convinced. To get your body to follow through with what the mind wants to do, it takes consistent training.

 

Cycling is notably one of the most popular endurance activities in the fitness world. As a result, the approach to such an activity must follow the same endurance measures. "Efficiency" is the name of the game if one desires to do well in cycling. "How is this achieved?" It comes through consistency and some determination. First and foremost, the individual cyclist must perform a self-evaluation of what distance they believe is within their cycling abilities in respects to the amount of time designated to training and getting the body back in cycling shape.

 

Bike MS events are either a one or two day events. Both events accomodate all levels of cyclists riding at various distances that range from 30, 60, 75, and 100 miles. Two day events usually host a 50, 75, and 100 mile route on the first day and a 50 and a 75 mile route the second day. Once you have determined the physical challenge you will accomplish in this year's bike ride, then we can charter a course of preparedness.

 

The last thing you should never do in participating in any Bike MS, is ignore training and preparation. Getting on your bike "Cold Turkey" should be ruled out at all cost. Not only do you risk serious injury to self and others, you will be putting your body through a major work-load shock. For example, if you're only accustomed to getting on your bike once or twice a month for about 10 miles at a time, it would be extremely risky to show up on the day of your Bike MS to complete 50 miles and up. As it is, completing 30 miles would be a stretch seeing that the body is only accustomed to riding 10 miles at a time.

 

To communicate endurance and efficiency to the body, one is encouraged to apply a building block process as if your body is a pyramid. The base of your pyramid must consist of three primary elements: mental, nutrition, and physical training. Mentally, staying motivated towards raising your charitable funds and maintaining training is significant. The body is like a stubborn child that needs multiple points of positive re-assuring. There are going to be days that mentally you know you should stick to your training rides, but physically your body is telling you "No." This is where your mental toughness and fortitude should stand tall.

 

Nutritionally, you need to start consuming certain foods that serves the purpose as fuel to energize the body to get the work done that you desire. As a result, certain fast foods, sodas, and process foods should be ruled out. Foods can either work for you or against you base on the nutritional contents. In addition, hydration, sugar, and sodium intakes at the correct levels are vital to all cyclists.

 

Physically, your exercise habits must change or adhere to the goal you are trying to obtain. GP Sports Cycling & Fitness will be producing work-out/cycling guidelines to follow. For example, if you desire to step up to a century for the first time, look to average 4 bike rides a week at 25 miles each. Speed is not important at this point, getting the body to perform continuously is the objective at this point. In addition, your comfort level on a bike seat over a long period of time may take a little time to get use to, but with some consistency, it will be achieved.

 

On the other hand, if you desire to ride a shorter distance such as 50 miles, 3-4 bike rides per week is encouraged at a distance of 15-20 miles each ride. In general, your riding habits should be centered around completing 75% to 100% the total distance in a week you would like to accomplish the day of the bike ride.

 

On the other hand, if you plan to do a two day event, your weekends will come in handy and must be used wisely. The weekends give you a chance to cover significant mileage as well as having back to back quality riding days. This way, you get to start working on your recovery efforts from early. If you can comfortably complete more distance on each bike ride, that will be considered a fitness bonus; which signals you're getting in shape and you're more physically capable than you think. Lets get those bikes down from hanging in the garage, blow the dust off, get some grease on all chains, joints, and connections, and lets go riding.

 

GP Sports and the MS Society emphasize saftey at all times. Don't forget your helmet, a sports drink, proper cycling attire, and a communication device on your next ride. Stay tune for more preparational guides to riding in this year's Bike MS from Team GP Sports Cycling & Fitness.