If you’re planning to take part in an endurance mountain bike event, you need to be prepared. Preparation is not only about ensuring you have the right equipment and supplies, but it's also important you train your body and your mind so you can perform well when it comes to the event. In this article, we have a few tips for those preparing for an endurance MTB event.

Begin slowly

If you’re a beginner, you should start slowly with smaller mountain bike rides and build up to longer rides. If you push your body too far in the beginning, you’re going to feel sore and get worn out very quickly. This could lead to injuries or a long recovery time before you can get back on the saddle. Start with half an hour up to an hour of mountain biking and see how you feel. If that’s easy for your fitness level, you can increase it next time you go out on a ride.

Create a training plan

When you’re building up to any long-distance event, whether it's mountain biking, running or swimming, you should create a training plan. This will help you stay on track and allow you enough time to build up the endurance and skills needed to participate in the event. The length and intensity of your training plan will depend on your current fitness and skill level. Twelve weeks is generally considered enough time to train for a 12-hour endurance race if you have a good level of fitness. If you’re completely out of shape, you might need longer to train. You can develop your own training plan, or there are free and paid options available online. Training plans should include a range of short and long rides, strength training and endurance training.

Don’t forget to rest

If you’re challenging yourself to get ready for an endurance race in a short time period, it can be easy to push yourself too far. This may result in injuries and not being able to participate. Listen to your body and know when you need to take a day off to rest. This can improve your performance and enable you to get to your goal more quickly. Most tailored mountain bike plans, free or paid for, will include periods of rest and recuperation.

Get the right gear

To perform effectively in any mountain bike event, you need the right bike and gear. Do your research and select a bike you are comfortable riding for long periods of time. Never switch or change your bike at the last minute before an event. In addition to the right bike, you’ll also need protective equipment, including a helmet, goggles and gloves. Don’t skimp when it comes to buying your gear; even small things like gloves have quality levels. The best mountain bike gloves will improve your grip, keep your hands dry, and improve your performance. Cheap gloves can be uncomfortable and even hinder your performance. Quality mountain bike clothing will have inbuilt protection to absorb any impact if you come off your bike during training or an event. This can help minimize the damage to your body, allowing you to heal quicker and get back to your training plan or event. Wearing the same gear throughout your training will help you get used to the range of movement, features and any additional weight it adds to your body.

Nutrition

To be fit enough to ride in an endurance race, you need to fuel your body with the right levels of nutrition. A balanced healthy diet that contains all of the nutrients you need is recommended. Avoid unhealthy fried and fatty foods as these can contribute to weight gain. You should also ensure you get enough protein to build your muscles. Combine proteins with the right level of healthy carbohydrates; these will help you to push your body and ride for longer. Try out using energy gels and snacks that help you to keep going for longer when you feel like you’ve hit the wall. Again, when it comes to events, stick to the diet you’ve been following throughout your training and don’t add any new products that might disagree with your stomach.

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Preparing for an Endurance MTB Event