Bike Training On A Budget: It Can Be Done

CYCLING NEWS & REVIEW: 

By Columnist Genevieve Whitson – Professional Cyclist 

It is true that if you want to add bling to your bike and the latest gadgets, then you may have to fork out a lot of money. But, when it comes to training on the bike you don’t necessarily have to throw away your life savings.

 

Let’s look at ways you can bike train on a budget.

Bike Training on a Budget Done 4 Ways

Food – If you are going to be putting in massive miles, you will probably be eating like a horse. So, maybe it’s time to critically look at where you shop. then ask yourself if there are more affordable options, as in the store itself and its prices, and the type of groceries you are buying.

For those who are in search of affordable options, consider the wonderful world of lentils. Super super cheap, extremely versatile and packed full of PROTEIN. Lentils make great veggie burgers, curries, soups. Another alternative to buying muesli bars for all your rides is to simply take out a honey sandwich. The bread is a great source of carbs, and the honey provides an excellent sugar hit to boost your energy levels.

Clothing – Do you need to have a new riding top every month? Who really notices? You can actually wear the same top over and over and save your hard earned pennies. Better still, check out your local sports shop who often have a range of cycle clothing at about a quarter of the cost of what you will pay in the coolest bike shop. Online shop, and you may save even save. of course, if you live in a cold climate and need to pack on lots of layers, then don’t forget the old newspaper down the front trick. We used to do this at uni all the time. It shields the wind and keeps you that little bit warmer.

Tools – Stop buying new tubes every time you puncture and actually take the time to learn how to fix one. Puncture repair kits cost about half the price of tubes and will generally have enough patches to fix about 5-7 tubes. That’s around 70 dollars saved right there.

Recovery food – Make your own. Recovery shakes are not cheap and they don’t last long at all. If you are going to head down this path at least buy in bulk so you get more for your money, or look at making your own. Tuna on toast, poached or scrambled eggs, a milkshake or even a coffee with lots of milk will also support muscle recovery on a budget.

Clean and maintain your bike regularly – Cleaning your bike on a regular basis will stop general wear and tear. Plus, replacing chains before they completely run out will see you avoid having to also replace the cassette which is never cheap. If you can store your bike inside, then do so, this will stop rusting. It’s also a good idea to not wear your bike shoes everywhere as this wears down the cleats really quickly.

With a little bit of thought and lots of creative thinking you can do A LOT to reduce your bike budget. Paying less to ride also means that you can afford to train until your heart is content.

If you want more budget biking tips then visit https://bebusinessed.com/resource-guides/cycling.

 

Thanks to my sponsors at www.genwhitson.com. You can now find me on Twitter @GenWhitson https://twitter.com/GenWhitson.

About Our Cycling News and Review Columnist

Genevieve Whitson is a NZ born, British/Scottish cyclist, based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Gen has a raced at the highest level for Road, Cyclocross and Mountain biking, have competed in four World Championships, multiple World Cups as well as riding professionally on the road. Gen has raced all around the globe on the road bike and is currently riding for a Belgium team, Isorex competing in all the major spring classics.

Highlights of her career include gaining a top 30 finish at the World Cyclocross Championships, a stage win in a major USA road tour, and winning the 2015 Scottish National Hill Climb Champs. Gen also loves riding rickshaw in Edinburgh for strength training on the side. She also is heavily involved in supporting/mentoring up and coming female/male athletes to ride to their potential. Her mantra on the bike is: Eat the pain…

 

 

Disclaimer: The information published in this column is the author’s own professional and personal knowledge, and opinion. This information and opinion are not substitutes for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding any medical condition and consult a qualified medical professional before beginning any nutritional program or exercise program. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on InShape News.