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Importance of your Training Equipment

Whether you’re riding your bicycle for fun or for competition, the type of equipment you use will play a large part in how well you do. Serious cyclists will spend a lot of time on their bicycle during the base training period, the season and even occasionally in the off season; therefore, it’s important they have good equipment to work with. Although they won’t be using their equipment a lot during the off-season, it will be used a lot during the base training and the actual cycling season.

Making Changes To Your Equipment

As I said, you’ll be using your equipment the most during the base training period and the actual cycling season. The cycling season, however, is not the time to be buying or trying new equipment. Cyclists attempting to use new equipment during the racing season often find themselves getting injured or very sore, not to mention get poor performance dues to unfamiliarity with their new equipment.

Your body has a way of adapting to the equipment you are currently using. It’s similar to the old couch in your living room or the old pair of gym shoes. They may be old and beat up, but your body and feet have adapted to the feel of them. We’ve all heard the saying about “comfortable as an old pair of shoes”. The same goes for your bicycle equipment.

The Right Time For The Right Change

The best time to try out new equipment is during the off-season and the base training period. In fact, during the off-season, you’re probably going to find some excellent prices on new and used cycling equipment. You’ll have plenty of time to try the new equipment out and see how it feels. Our muscles are trained to perform well with certain equipment in certain positions. When we make changes to these positions, whether it’s a different bicycle frame, seat post, pedal or handlebars, our bodies need time to adapt to the change.

You may even have a setback in your training while your body and muscle groups attempt to adjust to the new changes. This is why it’s important to get the new equipment in the off-season so you have time to adjust before the training season. This way, when the training season arrives, you’ll be ready to start training without having to worry about adjustments.

Changing Your Wheels

Don’t underestimate the importance of wheels to your bicycle as they are the most important piece of equipment for your bike. Replacing your wheels will always give you better performance so if you feel you want some changes, make new wheels your first new change.

You’ll have your choice of the standard wheels, composite tri-spoke wheels, aerodynamic rim or aerodynamic spoke wheels or the disk wheel. While standard rims are best for training, you’ll do much better with aerodynamics for the actual racing. Composite tri-spoke and disk wheels are best used for time trials. If you can afford them, you may want to try each of them for your own personal preference.

Written by Sam · Filed Under Training