There’s no doubt mountain biking is a sport that demands a lot of fitness. Whether riding for fun or racing, the fitter you are, the better you’ll ride. One key aspect of mountain biking is how much it requires strength and stability. Luckily, you can do plenty to improve your mountain biking fitness right in your home.
Strength
As a biking enthusiast, it is empirical to undergo MTB skill training to prepare your body for the ride. One of the key aspects of development is strength. Strength is critical for improving your overall trail performance, whether you are a hard-core downhill mountain biker or an ultra-tough cross-country rider. Increasing your strength will give you better body control and help you overcome challenges you’re likely to face on the trail.
Build your strength with various exercises focusing on the upper and lower body. These include push-ups and pull-ups and exercises that work your core and arms.
Mobility
Mountain biking is a great way to connect with nature. It also gives you a kick-ass muscle workout and is an excellent way to improve cardiovascular health. In addition, mountain biking is a low-impact sport that reduces joint stress. This makes it a great exercise for people with arthritis or other mobility issues. Another great benefit of mountain biking is its ability to boost bone health. It strengthens bones, slows bone resorption (breaking down your bones), and increases bone density in the hip and spine. Moreover, mountain biking is an aerobic activity requiring your heart to pump more blood than other types of cardio, so it can help improve heart health. It is good to check different expert websites like Train to Ride for more helpful information about biking preparation.
Endurance
Endurance training is a critical part of your mountain biking program. It is essential to your ability to navigate technical terrain, hills and twisty single track quickly during races. Longer weekend rides at lower intensity are a great way to improve aerobic conditioning and are a fun way to incorporate some endurance training into your schedule. Short, fast intervals to your cycling workout can also add a significant training stimulus.
Flexibility
Mountain biking is a sport that demands a lot from your muscles. Whether it’s the impact of hitting rocks, powering through corners or pedaling hard up and down the hill, your body is constantly challenged to adapt to a changing environment. It’s common for stiff joints and muscles to lead to injuries, so you must ensure you don’t skimp on flexibility. Stretching before, during and after a bike ride can help you prevent stiffness and injury.
One of the best stretches for mountain bikers is quad stretching. This exercise targets the quads, the largest muscle in your body and one that gets used heavily when cycling. Another is hip mobility. This is a crucial part of the cycling routine as it helps to transfer your weight smoothly and efficiently, enabling you to maximize control on the trail.
