Preparing your mind & body

The important issues to consider when preparing for a nine-day Cycle Queensland adventure are your basic fitness and your cycling specific fitness.

You may think you are very fit if you walk or run often, but when you ride for longer distances you may soon find, by increasing soreness, that you really do have other muscles you didn't realise you had before.

The most essential aim of any training program is to set your goals and targets and to try consistently to achieve them. To train for Cycle Queensland you will need to build up your general level of cycling fitness to allow you to comfortably cover the daily average of about 72km. To do this we recommend a series of training rides of varying distances building up to 100km (the longest day we expect to have on the Ride) closer to the event. This program assumes that you are starting from zero. If you already cycle regularly then simply start at the point you are comfortable with and begin to stretch yourself.

Give our Eight Week Training program a go.

Where and when to ride

Why not join a cycling group? There are plenty of them about, everything from casual groups who do regular rides to associations who focus on touring and longer distances.

Contact your local bike shop for advice on your local groups, talk to other cyclists, phone Bicycle Queensland - just ride! Or organise riding companions. It's easier to train with friends so ask around at work or school and among your friends and see if someone else can join you on regular rides. It's hard to miss a session if you know that the other person or group will be there at the meeting point and will be disappointed if you do not turn up.

One of the best ways of fitting more kilometres into a crowded life is to combine training with your ride to work or school. Riding to work or school can be a great way of starting the working day and provided that you can find a reasonably stress free route you will feel much better for it at work and at the end of the day. If your usual trip is too short to help your fitness then simply add some extra distance, there's sure to be an enjoyable option somewhere.

Alternatively, think laterally and ride to your weekend visits or activities and then catch a lift home with friends, family or on the train (or vice versa of course). On a week day especially if you start early you can easily knock off 30 to 40kms before 8am and still have time for a quick bite and a shower before the day starts in earnest.

Come on a CQ Preparation Ride ...

Want to get some km's under your belt before CQ12? Why not join us on a Cycle Queensland preparation ride and learn some handy hints from our experiences ride guides. Keep an eye out on 'latest news' for exact date and booking details.

Ride 1:

Cycle Qld Preparation Ride: Undulating Terrain - River Loop Ride

Date: TBC (July)

Meeting Time: 6.25am

Meeting Point: Next to the Brisbane Wheel, Southbank

Ride Guide: Ben Wilson – Manager Bicycle Queensland

Total Distance: 35km (approx)

Ride 2:

Cycle Qld Preparation Ride: Hill Climbs - Mt Gravatt

Date: TBC (August)

Meeting Time: 7am

Meeting Point: Sunnybank Coffee Club, Canna Street, Sunnybank

Ride Guide: Andrew Demack – Development Officer

Total Distance: 50km (approx)

To register your interest, please email your name, mobile phone number & selected ride/s to bqinfo@bq.org.au or 3844 1144.

If you would like more regular training rides, you could also join the following regular Saturday morning bike rides, details:

BQ Regular Ride – Brisbane River Loop

Date: Every Saturday

Meeting Time: 6.30am

Meeting Point: Pagoda (near Brisbane Wheel), Southbank

Total Distance: 35km (approx)

* please make it known that you are a new riders to the group.

Saturday Morning GroupRide