Cycling “addresses every aspect of physical conditioning,” explains sports scientist and former Olympian, Professor Greg Whyte. “Aerobic training (when your muscles have enough oxygen to produce all the energy they need to perform), anaerobic training (when your muscles don’t have enough oxygen, so are forced to break down sugar to get energy), strength training, endurance training – cycling’s got it all covered.” And when it comes to toning muscle, cycling really is the thing to do, “While your legs are doing most of the work, your bum is also engaged, and your core needs to work hard to stabilise your body, so you’re getting a good workout,” says Whyte. “Most people don’t think their arms are involved because they’re not moving, but they’re engaged in an isometric contraction when they’re holding you in place. So you are working muscles throughout your body.”
Better yet, you can start cycling at any level of fitness or health. “Cycling is low load-bearing, which means if you’ve been injured, are susceptible to injury or are carrying extra weight, it’s still accessible to you, and much better for you than running.”
If you start your cycling regime the added bonus is being able to enjoy an athlete’s diet, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” says Søren Kristiansen, Team Sky’s head chef. “It has to fill you up and stabilise your blood sugar so you don’t crave sweet things.”
Two great ways to start the day:
Team Sky smoothie : banana, apple, blueberries, strawberries, almond milk (or regular milk), mint. Simply pop into a blender then serve.
Team Sky porridges: oat flakes, cinnamon, ginger, sliced apple. Boil in water until you get the right consistency, then serve with bananas and blueberries.
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