Preparing for Your First Biking Expedition: A How-To Guide for Beginners
By Jenny Miller
Photo courtesy of Pixabay by StockSnap
Whether you’re participating in a marathon, going mountain biking, or planning to hit the trails on your bike during your upcoming camping trip, there are a few steps you’ll want to take prior to embarking. Courtesy of Beaverhead Trails Coalition, here are some tips for how to prepare your mind, body and gear prior to your big trip:
Mind
Know the phrase, “Get your mind right”? It applies here, too. Mindset is everything. Visualize yourself completing the event. Mentally prepare yourself to train, and to do whatever it takes to successfully finish. Even if you don’t come in first, second or third place, you’ll still win the race mentally - and that feels every bit as good!
If you’re prone to stress, then look for ways to center yourself and your mind. Breath exercises can help, as can daily meditation.
Body
Obviously, you’ll want to train in advance of the big day. Physically preparing your body is a key not only to finishing the race, but also to avoiding injuries. If you’re new to training, one of the best things you can do is find a routine. Block off the same time each day and commit to spending that time training.
What type of physical training should you do? When it comes to training, interval training can be particularly helpful. Recent scientific studies have even shown that it might help slow the aging process.
Another helpful tip is to set small, realistic goals for yourself. Find a training plan that starts at a short distance you can reasonably handle, and gradually increase the distance over time. Whether your goal is a mile, a kilometer, or just the corner of the block, focus on hitting that goal - and pausing to celebrate when you hit it - before moving on to your next goal.
Gear
You’ll also want to make sure you’ve got the proper gear, which might vary depending upon the type of event you’re completing. If you’re doing a cycling tour on the trails, for instance, you will want to bring energy bars, sunblock and a map, among other things.
Bike tours might also require you to bring clothing and, depending upon the length and location, cooking utensils and camping gear, as well. Regardless of the type of event you are participating in, you’ll want to choose lightweight gear. It’s also a good idea to bring bicycle gear such as a wrench and a patch kit. You never know when you might need it!
Home
Many people become so focused on preparing their mind, body, and biking gear for an upcoming event that they forget all about this step. Of course, it is equally important to prepare your home before you leave. It will be one less thing you’ll have to worry about, and it will free up your mind so you can truly focus on your expedition while you’re gone.
Some items to cross off your to-do list before you leave include putting your car in the garage, making sure all doors and windows are securely locked, adjusting the thermostat, and ensuring all fire detectors work properly and have new, working batteries.
Along those lines, business owners need to take precautions in case there’s an issue while they’re touring. One of the best safeguards is to appoint a registered agent to address anything serious that crops up. With your guidelines in place, this ensures that a hiccup can be managed without your direct involvement, so you can go exploring with peace of mind.
On your mark...get set… go!
Now that you’ve done your research, you have an idea of where to start when it comes to preparing for your upcoming biking expedition. By using this list as a guide, you’re on track for planning a successful cycling trek, regardless of distance or location. Good luck with your upcoming event - and all the exhilarating memories it will bring.