Sorry, ladies. Didn’t mean to offend. But it’s a good mnemonic for this time of year. As the weather cools down, lots of bikers are moving to their indoor trainers. Those of us fortunate enough to live in a year-round biking climate will change their riding habits, and not go out with the speed and intensity that marks the warmer months.
At this time of year, cyclists need to think about riding long and slow. And that means Time In The Saddle. TITS.
The pros know this. For them, winter is an important part of their training regimen. They put in lots of miles, and they don’t ride all that fast.
Time In The Saddle allows you to build your base — or rebuild, after some intense summer events. It also trains your body differently. You’re burning fat more efficiently when you ride at slow speeds for long periods of time. When you ride hard, your energy comes from glycogen.
You’re building endurance. You’re improving your aerobic system. You’ll be able to ride faster longer. Your bottom will also get used to being in the saddle for long periods of time. Don’t underestimate the importance of comfort in training. A comfortable biker is a fast biker.
In fact, some coaches say it’s a good idea to forget about mileage on your long rides. Think about Time In The Saddle instead. If your weekend long ride is 50 miles, try riding three hours, and adding time from that point.
My new derailleur is in. I’ll be back on the road bike this weekend. I can’t wait to grab some — uh, you know what I mean.


