Time in the saddle key to training regime

Setting a goal is the first step to achieving anything in life. It keeps you focused and on a set pathway. It’s choosing which pathway is the best to take that can be tricky.

That’s certainly true of cycling. What should your training regime look like?

If you’re just getting back into cycling, simply getting out on your bike is a good way to get started. Even if it’s just a cruise around the block three times a week, the important thing is to roll out your driveway habitually.

Don’t worry about how far or how fast you’re going, just get out there on the path or road.

The simple art of making hills easy to climb

“I hate hills,” is a common refrain among cyclists and no wonder. So often I see people struggling up even short hills. They’re in the wrong gear and angrily stomping on the pedals as they attack the hill. It’s a distressing sight because a few simple techniques make climbing hills so much easier.

The most important factor is gear selection. Your gears are designed to make it easier to pedal under all sorts of conditions. Gears are all about ratios. You’ll have two or three chain rings (big sprockets on the front) and up to ten sprockets on the back. The closer the size of your chain ring is to your rear sprocket the smaller the ratio between the two and the easier it is to spin your pedals.

Go places and meet people with a cycling club

The best thing about cycling is that so many other people share your passion, especially in cycling-mad Bendigo. If you want to discover Bendigo or meet like-minded people, joining a club is a great way to do it. There’s a huge variety on offer.

For social rides around Bendigo try the Bendigo Ghost Riders. Two rides a week (Saturday and Monday) on mountain bikes. Contact Colin Filton on 0419 505 679 or see www.warbyghostriders.com/bendigo.php.

Winner’s motto: never give up

When Noel Sens first started riding, he strapped a walking stick to the top tube of his bike so he could walk when he got off. Since then he has captained the Australian paralympic cycling team and won a gold medal at the European open championships. Noel always liked to go fast.

He used to race motor bikes until a bad accident in 1983 ended his racing career. But five months in hospital and numerous operations didn’t destroy Noel’s competitive spirit.

He was swimming as part of his rehabilitation. “But swimming was a bit boring because you just went up and down, up and down.” Team triathlons provided the first competitive challenge and his team won many.