Master Six Key Abilities to Be Successful in Cycling
The old adage that knowledge is power is especially true for the serious cyclist. One of the most important pieces of information you can acquire is the different abilities that encompass the entire realm of cycling. In total there are 6 key abilities in cycling that should be understood and worked on if you want to be a successful cyclist. In this article we will discuss what each of those abilities are and where each is applied, that way you can determine which abilities need to be focused on most in order to achieve your goals.
1. Endurance
The most obvious ability is endurance. For most people new to the sport much of the riding they do is in the 1-3 hour range, so they are very familiar with endurance. This particular ability is used in century rides but it is tapped into during longer time trials.
2. Strength
The second ability is strength. This ability can not be overlooked because it is often dependant on the terrain and weather conditions. If you are riding uphill or into a strong headwind then you will need to have a great deal of strength if you want to be successful.
3. Speed
The third ability is speed and its accompanying skill set. Speed in its most basic sense is the ability to spin the pedals at a very quick rate, but with speed also comes the added necessity to handle and maneuver well. This ability is crucial in short time trials and short bike races like those found in a sprint triathlon.
4. Muscular Endurance
Next is muscular endurance, which is basically a combination of endurance and strength. This is the ability to go long but into a strong head wind or uphill.
5. Anaerobic Endurance
Fifth is anaerobic endurance. This ability is crucial for people competing in time trials and races of an hour or less. Anaerobic endurance is basically the ability to sustain a very fast speed for an extended amount of time.
6. Power
The final ability in cycling is Power. Someone who possesses a lot of power is able to accelerate to a fast pace in a very short amount of time. This particular skill is very useful in short races where pace changes are frequent.
Knowing the basic elements of cycling will allow you to isolate each aspect of your training and work to improve each element individually. A good cyclist will incorporate specific workouts for each ability into their weekly schedule so that in a race they never encounter anything they are unfamiliar with.
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DS Carroll is a consultant for Biomedical Research Laboratories. Biomedical Research Labortories market scientifically based nutritional supplements for endurance athletes including supplements for cyclists, runners, triathletes, and mixed martial arts. Visit http://www.epoboost.com to learn more about how EPO-Boost can increase VO2 max, running economy and endurance. Patent pending EPO-BOOST ingredients have been shown to increase VO2 max and running economy in college athletes. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=DS_Carroll |
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Agree with these tips, would also add hydration and nutrition to the list.