Strategy is an important aspect of cycling. There\’s training strategy: when should training for an event begin? How soon should I begin interval work, and how intensely should I ride? And how often should I perform intervals? Once a week? What does any athlete need to do to prevent burnout?

Racing has been called \”chess on wheels\”. It\’s about more than sheer speed; a rider must be able to \”read the race\”. I\’ll be the first to admit my illiteracy in this area. Whenever I see a brief video clip of a bicycle race, all I see is a lot of people in lycra outfits, riding fast.

There are tactics besides the physical training aspect. There\’s proper nutrition and fueling. And getting enough sleep. And don\’t forget the mental side of things, such as developing confidence, and not berating yourself on those inevitable days when nothing seems to go right.

Strategy isn\’t limited to competition. It applies to events such as century rides. Allow enough time before big-ride day to work up to the distance. Experiment with on-bike food, and learn what works for you.

If you\’ve got a ride such as Tour de Cure on your calendar, and group training rides are offered, get to as many of those training rides as you can. That\’s especially important if you aren\’t used to group riding. I find starting scary when I\’m surrounded my other riders.

No two people will use exactly the same strategy; but the important thing is to have that plan, and to implement it.