Welcome to Part 6 of the 6 part series on “How To Become A Better Mountain Biker”. These are tips and tricks that I have used over the years to become a better rider. You may find all or some of these useful, but I can guarantee you that every single one of these tips worked and still work to this day. These should help every rider…from the beginner to the seasoned veteran. If your goal is to become a better rider…read on and keep the rubber side down!

Heavy Bike Training - ”Time To Really Push It”

In case you missed it…take a look at the previous articles in the series.

• Part 1 – Ride Different Trails
• Part 2 – Sessioning
• Part 3 – Diversify
• Part 4 – Miles…Miles…and More Miles…
• Part 5 – Cross Training
• Part 6 – Heavy Bike Training

Heavy Bike Training

Time for part 6 in the series, and this one is my favorite. Heavy bike training is the #1 way that I have become a better mountain biker in recent memory.

The theory here is pretty simple. Have you ever seen a batter warming up in the on deck circle that is using a weight or second bat to get ready? This batter is warming up with heavier weight so when his time comes to step up to the plate…the bat feels lighter in his hands.

This is the same in practice with mountain biking. Can you imagine how your 30 lbs. 5.5″ travel bike would feel after riding a 35 lbs. 6″ travel bike all of the time? How about if you step down to a 26 lbs. cross country rig?

You will see these results:

• Bike will feel much lighter under your body (naturally)
• Increased Endurance

You body is adapting and learning how to deal with the increased resistance. Once you feel that your riding has increased to the level that it once was on the lighter mountain bike, you will notice that you are much faster on your regular, lighter rig.

This method is also extremely helpful with getting over those plateaus in our riding. Have you noticed lately that your riding has not progressed like you have wanted it to or you seem to not be seeing the gains that you are used to? Jump on a heavy bike for several weeks and watch your progress back to the lighter bike. The results will amaze you!

How Can I Get This Same Effect With My Current Ride?

Not everyone has the ability to go out and purchase a new bike, so how can we get these same results out of your current rig?

1. Training Wheels – No…these do not bolt over your rear axle to keep you from falling over. Many endurance athletes actually use a heavier set of wheels to train on and use the lighter set on race day. With this simple swap out…you get a similar affect to riding a heavy bike and then switching to a lighter one. The good news for you is that normally heavier wheels are also much cheaper than their lighter counterparts…all things created equal.
2. Heavier Tires – Heavier tires create a similar affect to the heavier wheels. Heavier tires also tend to have greater rolling resistance which will even further help your cause. Heavier tires are also the cheapest way to create the consistent resistance that you are looking for.
3. Carry A Heavier Pack – I would not recommend practicing this method too frequently, but carrying a heavier pack on your rides will also increase your endurance. A bad side effect to carrying a heavier pack is running the risk of back problems in the future.

For this mountain biking tip, do not just take my word for it. Go out and try it for two weeks…I guarantee that you will see major gains in a very short amount of time.