What to Know about Base Cycling Training

Training for upcoming biking events may seem like a simple task. You find a bike trail, 
figure out what your goals are, and get started. Though this is a traditional method of 
cyclist training, there is another form of training that may give you better results. This 
type of training is called base training and it is something you can do at home with just a 
few pieces of equipment. Here is what you need to know about this form of training and 
how to work it into your routine.

Equipment

The first thing you will need in order to do proper base training is the right equipment. 
This means you will need to purchase a cycle trainer. What this does is give your bike a 
stationary foundation. It will hold the wheels of your bike in place. It can be adjusted for 
inclines and can be set it up in small spaces. If you have the room for your bike, you 
have the room for the cycle trainer. 

Endurance and Resistance

When you first start out with cycle trainers you will need to start slow. This means you 
will need to likely start with no resistance and work your way up to a resistance level as 
your endurance builds. You will need to make sure that you are truly building your 
endurance and not just your muscle. For example, the faster you build up the resistance 
before you are ready, the stronger your leg muscles may become. However, your 
endurance may stay the same meaning that your muscle system is ready to ride in a 5k 
but your endurance may still be stuck at a 3k level. 

Routine is Key

The key to any base training is not in the equipment or in the endurance and resistance 
balancing out. The trick to base cycling training is routine. You can't do this once a week 
and expect to see results in a decent amount of time. Ideally, you need to be doing this 
on a routine basis so that you are working your body. Look at this type of training like 
any other physical training. If you want to drop weight or build muscle, you don't go to 
the gym only once a week and expect results in a short time span. You need a routine 
with that just as you do with this. 

Base training is not something that fits for everyone, but if you are looking for results 
that you can get with any time schedule and regardless of weather, it may be for you. 
Keep in mind, this will not prepare you for long uphill rides or rocky terrain, but for 
typical road cycling events, it may be just the thing you have been looking for. 

