Boost Your Mountain Biking Fitness

I like to set fitness goals for myself and one thing that works well for me is to participate in race events.  This provides a fixed date, a discipline and an event distance that all training activities can be focussed on.  In the past, I’ve done distance running events, adventure races which combined bush crashing-mountain biking-and-canoeing, and one pure mountain biking race.  This year I’ll participate in my second pure mountain biking race, the Test of Humanity event in Summerland, BC.  It involves doing as many laps around a well designed and manicured 10k course as possible in 4 hours.  Last year I split the laps with a friend, this year I’ll tackle the 4 hours on my own.  Committing to an athletic event like this and working towards finishing in a competitive placing in my age group means that I have to TRAIN… not just go out often for leisurely rides on my local trails.  This year I have a purpose- (thanks Daft Punk): Harder, Better, Stronger, Faster!!  When backcountry skiing season rolls around again I’ll be able to charge up the slopes with greater vigour and energy largely resulting due to this endeavour!
 
Like anyone who has a family and one or more jobs, my time to train is a precious commodity.  Early morning sessions are always the best but energy levels fluctuate and waking up in the quiet, early moments of the day isn’t possible.  Other times family commitments or the weather aren’t co-operative.  Lately, I’ve been busy as we’ve been working on buying a house and I’m involved in a project that’s in addition to my regular daytime job duties.  Riding has taken a back seat to other responsibilities.  I’m not training as much as I’d ideally like to so I’ll have to employ some unusual strategies to boost my fitness.  This is why I found the following video which shares a few different ways a mountain bike rider can increase his or her fitness level.  Trying new ways to stay in shape and get into better shape is a good way to grow, and I’m a big believer in pushing your limits so…
 
See you up there! :)