Take care of your body

The low-impact nature of cycling makes it a great activity to do regularly and for the long haul. It doesn’t take long to start to feel stronger and fitter on your bike, but the more you ride, the more you should take care of your body so you can keep riding happily. When you’re focused on riding and building your fitness, it can be hard to add in rest days once or twice a week to give your body a chance to recover from the work it’s doing. Going hard for too long of a stretch and skipping easy rides are mistakes even seasoned riders make.

Noticing an achy neck or wrists or numbness might warrant a bike fit or an adjustment. On the bike, shifting your hands around regularly is a little action that can go a long way. Off the bike, adding a few minutes of moves such as planks to build core strength and exercises that incorporate pulling to counteract riding’s rounded, forward posture will significantly level up your warm-up or cool-down routines. Bonus points go to those who fit in massages or foam rolling, too.