Now that your Bike MS preparation is in full swing, it is time to take it to the next level. Thus far, you have been in tune with several cycling literature, cycling during the week as well as participate in the weekly practice rides – we have completed two thus far.  If you have been an obedient cyclist and you have been following this training guide, then you deserve a “Well Done” sticker for your effort.

As you may note, the Bike MS event will be following a road-way and there will be hundreds of other cyclists around you as well as motorists and automobiles. As a result, you will have to keep your wit about you as far as safety is concerned. On the day of the ride, you may be riding with a team or just cruise along with friends you make on that day. Nevertheless, there are some fundamentals that must be practiced before that day comes. “Develop & Improve As A Cyclist,” is a source of great information. Some of the topics include: Mental Toughness, Being Realistic, Aching Muscles, Cycling Maneuvers, Drafting, Pulling, Hydration, and Using Your Peripherals.

The road course for the Bike MS does include a fair degree of hills. Depending on the route you choose, the challenge varies. Nevertheless, your practice rides thus far and to come, will help you with this effort. In addition, “Formula For Riding The Dreaded Hills” is an informational source that will further help you with this effort.

At this point, your practice ride should be following the same frequency as outlined in the previous article, “So You’re Excited About Riding In This Year’s Bike MS.” However, if you find that your comfort level is improving, challenge yourself by adding a few more miles to your route or try to increase your speed by at least an additional mile or two per hour.

In all you do in preparation for the Bike MS, please remember that your safety is the number one concern. Alert and inform someone of your cycling route, give them some idea of when you should return in the event you don’t, they have a time-line to follow. Take along some sort of communication device and money. Also, have some sort of identification on your person in case of emergency and obey all Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations.

As a cyclist, your bike may not be equipped with turning and stopping indicators, please practice and use proper hand-signals to communicate your intentions to motorists you're share the road with. Even if you're not on a road way and you're riding on a trail, if there are other cyclists around, please get in the habit of using hand-signals to communcate your maneuver intentions.