What's the thing that really boosted your skills/fitness?

[NotSoBigBen]

Have that on most of my MTB top tubes .... just a reminder but doesn't always work 

 

[PietSw]

For me it was jumping in the Deep End of the 94.7 Cycle Challenge...

 

After riding a few 18-25km sessions at Rietvlei and Thaba on the MTB and deciding to enter the Cycle Challenge. Then not getting any longer rides in and nearly dying at the 67km mark...

 

So because I am competitive by nature, I have a bone to pick with that event and have done longer rides (70-90km) once or twice a week and try and squeeze in a quick 20km local ride here and there... 

 

Without really changing my diet, I have dropped 7kg since Dec and increased average speed from 18kph to 32kph (I don't have a power meter so I cannot tell you how many watts).

 

But ja, for me its just determination to get faster and lighter, riding as much as possible.

[Bizkit031]

Best thing I have done is not doing boring Classics anymore and focusing more on Enduros and a skills course has made a huge difference.

[Fisan]

 

Spending more time at 95% HR / 90% FTP

 

 

And also spending less time at 95% HR. It's a mental struggle to incorporate the easy sessions - seeing others overtaking you on the hills and your legs are just itching to go for the sprint. But in the long run, this reeled in many more PR's for me.

[BenGraham]

Mankele Avalanche completely rewired my brain as far as mtb is concerned. It changed me forever.

[BenGraham]

Mankele Avalanche completely rewired my brain as far as mtb is concerned. It changed me forever.

Also I started doing training rides twice a week early morning. Unfortunately We just had a baby so training has been put on hold but I now know what I need to do to get back to were I was. I'm a bit out of it at the moment. Its been about 2 months of very little proper riding but I am being patient. My last proper ride was Sabie and it was amazing so I cling to that. Right now my son and my wife are more important than my mountain bike. It will still be there in the garage in a month or two when I start finding time to ride again. In the meantime I'm also trying to get into a bit of kettle bell training for core since that apparently has a big impact on technical riding. I can feel my core getting trashed on long rocky downhills so I figure while I can't be out riding I can at least work on that weakness.

[RyanAW]

Ride with faster people. Try and watch what they do with their body in technical bits. For me, body position and being loose really helps. Also try ride really close to them on single track. I find that not seeing every bump in the trail forces me to keep relaxed and get used to being out of control.

 

Then on rocky/rutted/crazy downhills, look for opportunities rather than obstacles. Look well ahead and focus on where you want to go. This has made a really big difference to my riding and it allows me to rest/gain time when others are really working hard (in races).

[Super_mil]

For me it was starting to commute to work along the Spruit twice a week to get fitness up, although that was not the intention of the commute, it was more to be out of the car. Skills wise, it was learning to dirt jump at the Scout Hall jumps that probably did me the most good. The Spruit actually has a lot of good spots where one can progress. 

[Mongoose!]

zwift

[arendoog]

Mix training between IDT,SS ,MTB ,road .If my time is limited i always fall back on intervals .They make you strong and fit .Endurance comes with one or two long rides even if it is day 1 on a stage event 

[franco2017]

I do a spinning class at gym twice a week (40 min intense cycling),train legs with weights,and cycle outdoors on weekends (try do as much technical riding as I can).I try ride at a different venue every weekend as each course offers something new and different.I also do some core training (lower back) at gym. Also important,I rest inbetween cycling sessions to prevent burn-out and for recovery.Bike setup is crucial and you don't have to spend all that money (just google - loads of info and videos). I also read up alot on MTBing skills on the internet which has helped alot.Practise makes perfect,and your riding will become much easier and more enjoyable.

[Jewbacca]

EPO... I mean Castle Milk stout... I mean... Dammit!

 

I am a little different. I have no HR monitor, no bike computer, no way of telling me how hard/fast/what zone I ride in.

 

I tried to compile a training program and then stuck to it. 2 intense sessions a week riding, 1 longer session. Running 60-70km a week also really helps with the lungs and the ability to recover while still using your legs.

 

Skills? Feel and anticipation. Stay calm.

 

Please get the basics right though. Being out of your comfort zone is one thing but doing it with the right basic technique is beneficial. I see so many guys cornering berms with their feet at 9 and 3 while pulling their back brakes. So many guys riding off camber stuff leaning with the bike instead of leaning the bike and pushing the outside foot....

 

Single speed? I am dubious... (And I have done freedom challenge, lesotho sky, trans alps etc on a rigid SS) Good for power but it kills your leg speed. If you ride both then I would tend to agree. Spin days and watt days. But just riding a SS is killer for when you put gears on!

 

Lose weight, eat less sugar, drink more beer..... Smile

[VicanZA]

EPO

[Speeltyd]

I do a spinning class at gym twice a week (40 min intense cycling),train legs with weights,and cycle outdoors on weekends (try do as much technical riding as I can).I try ride at a different venue every weekend as each course offers something new and different.I also do some core training (lower back) at gym. Also important,I rest inbetween cycling sessions to prevent burn-out and for recovery.Bike setup is crucial and you don't have to spend all that money (just google - loads of info and videos). I also read up alot on MTBing skills on the internet which has helped alot.Practise makes perfect,and your riding will become much easier and more enjoyable.

I could have written the above - did exactly that for many years. Then I changed the spinning classes to high intensity, IDT sessions twice a week. It put me on a complete different level - upped my power/weight ratio by almost 50%!. Boosted my confidence and made me focus more on HI IDT - moved from part of second half of the races, to part of the top thirds.

[muagie]

for me being slightly over wieght I couldn't hang on to the buddies in my group on a climb, but could hold on on flats and even pass them on the odd day , downhills gravity helped me lol.

I joined the local gym to spin on the odd rainy day but the success came with actually lifting some weights 2 to 3 times a week : squats and leg work and even the back and neck exercises improved the time it to took to fatigue on the bike, didn't really help with the cardio fitness but my muscles could put out more for alot longer and on the short punchy stuff I could stay intact with the group and on longer climbs the benefits are also there going up them faster and not falling to far back and even passing one or two okes now

[Escapee..]

Ride with fitter dudes

Who make you cry behind your sunnies

 

+1

 

Also I started doing training rides twice a week early morning. Unfortunately We just had a baby so training has been put on hold but I now know what I need to do to get back to were I was. I'm a bit out of it at the moment. Its been about 2 months of very little proper riding but I am being patient. My last proper ride was Sabie and it was amazing so I cling to that. Right now my son and my wife are more important than my mountain bike. It will still be there in the garage in a month or two when I start finding time to ride again. In the meantime I'm also trying to get into a bit of kettle bell training for core since that apparently has a big impact on technical riding. I can feel my core getting trashed on long rocky downhills so I figure while I can't be out riding I can at least work on that weakness.

 

Does your wife feel the same?