Cycling Training Isn’t Just About the Miles

Week 3 of our 12-week cycling challenge was really about getting a little smarter with our training.

We already do at least one early ride most weeks, but with the heat still hanging around, two of our rides this week happened before daylight. That gave us a good opportunity to talk more about the lights, radar, and cycling computers we use regularly.

We also planned our long ride much better than we did the week before, and I finally did something I had been putting off: I went back to the gym.

That last one may not sound like a big deal, but for me, it definitely was.

Early Rides and Being Seen

Riding before daylight is already part of our normal routine.

Sometimes it works better with our schedules, and during hot weather it can also make the ride a lot more comfortable. This week, we just happened to do two of our rides before sunrise instead of one.

Because we ride in the dark fairly regularly, visibility is something we take seriously.

A good front light helps us see the road or trail ahead, but just as importantly, lights help other people see us.

That matters whether we are riding in complete darkness, low light, or even during the day.

Those early rides made this a perfect week to spend a little more time talking about the electronics and safety gear we use every time we ride.

The Gear We Use on Our Rides

In this week’s video, we’re showing some of the equipment we regularly use on our bikes, including our front and rear lights, rear radar, and cycling computers.

Our lights are probably the most obvious safety equipment, especially when we ride before sunrise.

We use them so we can see what is ahead of us and so drivers, cyclists, and other trail users have a better chance of seeing us.

Our rear radar is another piece of equipment we have really come to appreciate.

It alerts us when vehicles are approaching from behind, which gives us another layer of awareness while we are riding.

It obviously does not replace looking, listening, or paying attention to traffic, but it is one more tool that helps us know what is happening around us.

We also use cycling computers on our rides.

They allow us to track distance, speed, routes, and other ride information without needing to pull out a phone.

As our rides get longer and our routes get more complicated, those tools become even more useful.

None of this equipment replaces good judgment or awareness, but it can make riding easier, safer, and more convenient.

For a detailed list of what we use click here:https://amzn.to/4cQPzKx.

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We Planned the Long Ride Better This Time

One of the biggest lessons from Week 2 was that a long ride can go downhill quickly if you do not plan for the conditions.

Last week, we underestimated how much the heat would affect us, and we could have done a better job thinking through hydration, fueling, and the overall ride plan.

So this week, we made some changes.

We paid more attention to the weather.

We thought more carefully about the route.

We made sure we had enough water and fuel before we left.

And the ride went much better.

That does not mean every future long ride will be perfect, but this one felt like progress.

One of the things we are learning during this challenge is that cycling fitness is only part of being able to ride longer distances.

Planning matters too.

You can be physically capable of riding the miles and still have a miserable day if you do not prepare for the heat, hydration needs, route, or conditions.

The good news is that those are things you can learn.

And apparently, sometimes you learn them the hard way.

Going Back to the Gym

This week also included something that was much more intimidating for me than getting up before sunrise to ride.

I went back to the gym.

I had been nervous about it.

Not because I did not want to exercise, but because I felt out of place.

Gyms can be intimidating when you are not completely comfortable with the equipment, you are not sure what everyone else is doing, and it feels like everyone around you knows exactly where they are going and what they are supposed to be doing.

Meanwhile, you are trying to remember which machine does what.

It would have been very easy to keep putting it off.

But I went.

And once I actually got started, it was fine.

That may be one of the bigger lessons for me this week.

Sometimes the hardest part is walking through the door.

You do not have to be the strongest person in the gym.

You do not have to know how to use every piece of equipment.

And you do not have to look like someone who belongs in a fitness commercial.

You just have to start somewhere.

For me, the gym is not really the goal anyway.

The goal is to become stronger for the things I actually want to do.

I want to ride farther.

I want to handle longer cycling adventures.

I want to be strong enough to keep doing the things Art and I enjoy.

Strength training is simply one more tool that can help me get there.

Training Is More Than Just Riding

Week 3 reminded us that getting bike fit is not just about adding more miles every week.

It is also about learning how to manage the things around the ride.

That means planning for the weather.

It means making sure we have enough water and fuel.

It means using the right equipment.

It means being visible when we ride early.

And sometimes it means doing something uncomfortable, like walking back into a gym when you feel completely out of place.

Those things may not look as impressive as a big mileage number, but they all matter.

Every week we are learning a little more about what works, what does not, and what we need to change.

And that is really the point of this challenge.

We are not trying to prove that we already have everything figured out.

We are trying to get stronger, ride farther, learn along the way, and become more prepared for the adventures we want to have.

Three weeks down.

Nine to go.

Because adventure is worth training for.

Ride. Explore. Grow.

If you would like to try our 12-week cycling training plan you can get your free download here:https://two-wheel-wild.kit.com/8b6131806a.

If you would like to follow our journey on YouTube click here:https://youtu.be/KMTtYjsbwEk?is=DsOrQ6mBUxdzYWSt