The ExxonMobil Cycling Team is ready to start training!
Training Ride Programs
The ExxonMobil Cycling Team is collaborating with the Chevron Cycling Team, and other area teams, to hold a training ride series. This will allow team members to ride in larger groups to practice cycling skills and hopefully find someone that rides at your level. The rides will be set up so that riders are separated by skill level and 'Ride Marshalls' will control the group and give cycling skill pointers. The team organizing the ride will provide SAG support and light snacks. Each ride will start with a safety briefing.
There will be no additional charge to our Team members and all members are encouraged to participate in as many of these rides as possible. The training schedule is posted on our "Team Calendar" page. You can also view the shedule on the Chevron Cycling Team Web Site to see the current ride listing.
Our Training Goals, in preparation for this year's MS 150, are:
January: "Get comfy with the saddle". Target distance between 20 and 45 miles
February: "Build endurance". Slowly build the ride distance between 30 to 60 miles, with possible moderate hills near the end
March: "Build strength and more endurance". Distance should be around 45 hilly miles, or 60 - 75 flat miles
April: "More strength while maintaining endurance". Distance of up to 75-80 miles of combined hills and flats
Please let us know if you would be willing to help out with a training ride as we need experienced riders to lead groups (serve as 'Ride Marshalls' for our training rides) and volunteers to provide Support and Gear (SAG) and help out with break points during the training rides.
MS 150 Recommended Rides
The MS 150
Recommended Rides schedule is well loaded this year.
Check out what they have planned. (All rides are also conveniently listed on our Team Calendar
Popular Cycling Routes in Houston
If you need some ideas for where to ride so that you can do some training on your own,
here are some popular cycling routes in Houston.
Click one of the links below for maps and driving directions to:
Bellville
Brookshire
Katy Mills - Fulshear
Magnolia
Montgomery Loops
Rider Training/Conditioning
In order to complete a two-day tour like the MS 150, you have to be
in pretty good shape. Even people who cycle regularly may not be able to complete
a ride of this magnitude. It takes trainging and preparation to get ready.
If you are wondering how to get ready for the ride, the MS 150 group
has a recommended
Training Plan on its website.
If you want a more detailed plan, there are several on the web that will help you
get ready for a Century, or 100 mile, ride. Since that is basically what the first day
of the MS 150 is, add some longer Sunday rides, and you will be getting ready!
But all good riders know that training and conditioning is more than just accruing
miles on an bike saddle. You have to treat your body right to get to the finish line.
Hydration is very important to successful riding. Most excercise experts recommend a
minimum of 16 ounces of water per hour of riding. You also need to get nutrition
regularly during a ride.
Please use the following links to get information regarding:
Indoor Training - Downtown YMCA |
Once again, the Downtown YMCA has made all their cycling classes available to ExxonMobil MS150 Cycling Team members who have paid all their fees. Indoor cycling, or spinning, is an excellent way to bridge the gap between weekend road rides. The classes will simulate hill climbs to help you prepare for the road between Bellville and La Grange. We will also do interval training to improve your fitness and recovery ability. We also work on endurance.
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While the class length (60 - 90 minutes) isn't a considerable length of time relative to a road ride, in a spinning class, the intensity level that you are working is much greater and you will be fatigued when class is finished.
Spinning classes are an excellent way to not only maintain the gains that you make on your weekend training rides but to also improve so you will be even stronger on the weekend. The Downtown YMCA (DTY) is very generous by making the class available to the ExxonMobil Cycling Team members at no cost. However, there are a few requirements and guidelines.
- You must be a paid member of the ExxonMobil Cycling Team and your name must be on the team roster which will be provided to the front desk at the DTY
- To attend the class, go to the front desk and announce you are with the ExxonMobil cycling team and you will be asked to show an ID. They will verify your name on the roster and allow you to enter. You can go to the locker room if you need to change clothes, otherwise proceed to the spinning room located on the 3rd floor.
- Class schedules are available at the DTY front desk. Members of the DTY are given preference. If a DTY member enters within 10 minutes
of the start time (for example, arrives by 5:40 pm for a 5:30 class) and all bikes are taken, the last ExxonMobil cycling team member must
relinquish their bike to the DTY member.
- Please respect the fact that you are a guest of the DTY. The Y staff will be pleased to give you tours if you wish. It is an excellent facility and a great value. I encourage you to consider becoming a YMCA member. This offer is only available at the Downtown YMCA, not at any other Houston Y.
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Last Updated: 27 Jan 08
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