Riding and training mean different things. If you approach your training like you’re just riding, you’ll likely sabotage your goal. In this episode, we’ll explore the differences and what it means for your time on the bike. We also go over how one is not any better than the other, it comes down to whatever you want and need from the bike and cycling.

Training

In this episode, we break down training and give it a general definition. That will help you separate your training periods from your riding periods. The biggest issue here is that if you approach your training like you’re riding and don’t stick to your plan, you’re going to miss your goal and be frustrated with your training. Training doesn’t have the same flexibility as riding so you need to stick to your plan.

Riding

With riding, you get to just do you. You’ve got more flexibility in your schedule and can be as spontaneous as you want. There is a downside. If you’re looking for specific gains, it will be harder to measure, track, and achieve those gains through this flexible approach.

Which is better?

Which is better is entirely based on you and what your goals are. Want to crush a race or event? Make a training plan and stick to it. Just want the general mental and physical benefits of being on two wheels? Go with the flexibility of riding.

Like we mention in the podcast, both have their time and purpose and you can go back and forth through training and or riding throughout the year.

Here at NFR, we do both at different times. You don’t have to be racing or training to be part of the NFR community, we talk a lot about that through the episode.