Welcome to week one of the British Cycling Sportive Training Plans for beginners, the first of 25 weeks of prescribed training sessions designed to get you to your first sportive in the best possible shape.

This week you’ll learn the importance of monitoring and increasing your pedalling speed, known as cadence, and will perform a simple test to assign heart rate training zones, from which you’ll gauge your training intensity.

Download Training Plans

By following the plans, British Cycling members will benefit from the same expert knowhow that has propelled Britain to the top of World cycling.

Developed by British Cycling’s expert coaches and using sessions ridden by the top riders; it’s a structured, scientific and proven route to cycling success which, together with advice from British Cycling’s Insight Zone, forms a powerful cycling knowledgebase.

FOLLOW THE PLAN
British Cycling members can start following our training plans at any time – match the plans to the date of your event and your ability level and see your cycling improve.

If you’re new to cycling or it has been a while since you were last in the saddle, the British Cycling Sportive Training Plan is the ideal way for you to train for and complete up to a 60-mile sportive. Using heart rate to gauge intensity, you’ll always be training at the right level and ensuring you’re riding and recovering optimally to make maximum fitness gains.

Whether you’re a sportive regular or aspiring to take part in your first ever event, British Cycling’s sportive tips and advice pages have all the information you’ll need.

COMING SOON
Intermediate/Advanced Training Plans (From November 11)

If you’re an experienced sportive rider, looking to take your cycling to the next level and maybe start hitting some gold standards, the British Cycling Sportive intermediate and advanced training plans are for you. With a less prescriptive, user-driven four-week rolling structure, you get expert coaching and proven British Cycling training sessions, but it’s more flexible and easier to mould round your target events. Whether you train using heart rate or power, you can guarantee every pedal stroke will be propelling you effectively towards your cycling goals.

Access Training Plans here.