The beginning of 2016 training

It's the new year, and it's time to start training again. January 4th was my first official day of training, and I feel well recovered and ready to work hard again. This year, I'm racing JV instead of freshman, which will be considerably harder. The harder category would mean harder training, which can be a pain at times but I'm determined to do well. My goals for this year are to become a stronger rider since I don't have much power and to also to be better at starting races. In early January I'm planning on working on strength and as the year goes on and the race season comes around, I'll start working on my fitness. I also made a specific schedule that I'm going to stick to so I can make sure to be doing the right type of exercise. I also made a list of all of the races that I want to do so I have a specific schedule and also so I know when important events are coming up.

Getting a Job

Along with being really fun, cycling is also really expensive. It's almost impossible to not spend any money while cycling regularly. Things on bikes wear out pretty quickly, such as the drivetrain. A new drivetrain can cost up to 500 dollars which most people don't have lying around (especially not me.) Sometime in fall, I decided that I needed a job in order to keep up cycling, so naturally I went in to the bike shop to try to get one. I walked in my favorite bike shop (Blue Ridge Cyclery) and found one of my dad's old employees. I basically just mentioned that I needed a job and since they just opened a new store, I was wondering if I could apply. He told me to email the manager and I did. She responded a few days later and told me that she'd be happy to have me aboard to help out. I now work two days a week (not much, but a start) and I clean, build bikes, and help the occasional customer. I also get discounts on the merchandise at the shop which makes cycling much more affordable. I'm planning on keeping that job for a long time and working more hours in the summertime.

Resting for the next season

Both the mountain bike and cyclocross seasons are over, and it's time to start resting. Rest after a hard race season is very important so you are fresh and ready to go next year. The rest period is a time where you would ride only once or twice a week and only for fun. Sometimes, race season can be so hard that you forget why you're training in the first place, but the rest period is a great time to remind yourself. There is no training in rest season. All rides that are done are meant to be enjoyed. A rest period ride usually consists of grabbing any bike and going out on an adventure with no plans or worries. The rest period is also great for riding with friends and family that may not be able to go the same pace as you do. The rest period usually is between the last race of the season (November) lasting until January 1st.  You can also do things in the rest period that you wouldn't be able to otherwise such as doing other sports or eating some junk food. Despite being able to do those things, it's also really important to not get completely out of shape during the rest period.