Quality bike session: three words guaranteed to give you that sinking feeling when you read them on a training schedule. Whether it's on the turbo trainer or out on the road, those words mean only hard work and pain. However, there is one sure way

a further 2-3 times.Warm-down: After the last 5-min interval do a 10-15-minute warm-down at 100rpm, with a low resistance. Keep sipping your drink until you get off the bike, then make yourself a protein shake immediately. Afterwards, take a hot

triathletes, but before you join the bunch, here are a few skills to master. Pedal smoothlyFirst things first: you need to learn to ride steady on your own. Many beginners use too low a cadence, so the bike surges forward with every pedal stroke - this can

There's no need to suffer from adrenaline withdrawal when the  triathlon season draws to a close. There are loads of cycle sportives around at this time of year to tempt you to go long and stay strong on the bike. Sportives are the cycling version

foot comes to the top of the pedal stroke. This will push you forward and boost your momentum. Gently push on the handlebars and rock your bike beneath you as you climb. Stay above 75You may feel mighty powering uphill in a monster gear at 50

If you steer clear of interval training on the bike, thinking it's complicated, you're not alone. But you can benefit from interval training that consists of simple efforts requiring nothing more than a watch.In an Australian study of 38 cyclists

One recent sunny day at noon, I watched the exodus from the office, and it occurred to me that we don't have a lunch hour as much as break time. Everyone regularly goes for a midday ride, run, walk or swim. Working out at lunchtime re-energises you and is a great way to fit train...

 Sombrio Forensic gloves, £26These super-thin gloves are a great all-rounder and they're perfect for the transition from autumn to winter. They might be aimed at mountain-bike riders but they're great for triathletes, too. The tough, hardwearing

Once you’ve worked out which lever on your bike shifts to a harder gear and which makes pedalling easier, you should know how to change gear, right? Perhaps, but it takes practice to avoid that grinding mis-shift, says mountain bike Olympian Andreas

and yet a couple of weekends spent fine-tuning your bike, equipment and riding position could have a similar effect. A better understanding of how to reduce drag on the bike could very quickly turn you from an also-ran into a contender, because, as any