How to Increase Power Output in Your Legs for Longer Bike Rides

A step by step guide on what you can do to increase your cycling distances and speed over time.

How to Increase Power Output in Your Legs for Longer Bike Rides

How to Increase Power Output in Your Legs for Longer Bike Rides

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How to Increase Power Output in Your Legs for Longer Bike Rides

How to Increase Power Output in Your Legs for Longer Bike Rides

Post Talking Points

3 minute read

  • HIIT
  • Energy Drinks
  • The Caffeine Alternative
  • Positioning
  • Bodyweight Exercises
  • Uphill Rides

Cycling has always been a fun and exciting sport for many the adrenaline rush and euphoria you get from cycling at maximum speed and power is second to none.

However, the truth is, training to improve your sprint and power output for longer bicycle rides is challenging as your body tries to break through a new plateau and get to the next level. While having consistency in your training routine is important, the training method you perform is also critical to your success as a recreational or professional cyclist.

In this article, we will look at the top 6 ways to help you increase power output in your legs and thrive on longer bicycle rides:

1: High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

The first type of training to incorporate into your program is High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). Plenty of research done over the past 5 years has indicated that HIIT can help to increase your power output as well as boost considerably longer rides.

The idea behind HIIT is that you alternate between short periods of high-intensity and low-intensity. During the periods of high-intensity (45 seconds to 1 minute), push yourself to your athletic limits with a quick burst of energy, while during the periods of low-intensity (1 minute), catch your breath by cycling at a moderate pace. Build up to 15-20 sprint intervals in a single workout.

These power bursts are a great way to increase your leg strength and muscular endurance. As always, begin by warming up before proceeding to the vigorous demands of HIIT.

2: Consume Energy Drinks

Drinking an energy drink with carbs instead of just mineral water from the beginning of your long ride may help to preserve your muscle tissue glycogen stores by 50% in the very first hour alone. This has been proven by a survey released in the Journal of Medication & Scientific research in Sports & Physical exercise.

Also, certain high-quality energy drinks may also help to delay the onset of muscular fatigue, giving you a longer-lasting workout at consistent energy levels to help improve athletic performance.

3: Consume Caffeine as an Alternative

If you dislike an energy drink with carbs, you can go with caffeine as an alternative.

Caffeine will make you more energetic and alert as research has shown that the intake of caffeine can enhance endurance and anaerobic capabilities during a workout and can be useful for athletes. If you are also looking to lose weight, studies have also shown that caffeine intake can increase your body's metabolism and aid in weight loss.

So, get yourself some black coffee before getting on the bike!

4: Ensure Right Positioning on The Bike

You will be able to pedal more efficiently by positioning the bar, cleats, and saddle properly as the correct posture and optimal position can help boost power and efficiency.

Once you have your bike set up correctly, invest some time daily to gradually bolster your range of motion so you can adapt to a variety of positions and have improved mobility. Other activities such as yoga or dynamic stretching can also help to enhance your joint mobility.

5: Perform Bodyweight Exercises

Utilise bodyweight training to build strength, endurance, and power. Another benefit of bodyweight exercises is you can do it at home or in the gym. To increase power output in cycling, we will focus on bodyweight exercises that target the legs, core, and arms (training the arms also assist in riding longer).

Here are some of the effective bodyweight exercises:

  • Squats
  • Lunges
  • Wall Sits
  • Calf Raises
  • Push-ups
  • Burpees
  • Mountain climbers
  • Planks
  • Bicycle crunches
  • Lying Hip Raises

The Core 2.0 Range. built for performance and recovery

Perform each exercise in a circuit 30 seconds continuously. After you complete a circuit, rest 1-2 minutes before going again. Repeat this circuit for 8-10 times.

6: Ride Uphill

Lastly, riding uphill is a great way to increase muscular endurance and power as you pedal at a moderate cadence for an extended period.

One of the effective ways to skyrocket your power output is to progressively overload climbing distance. For instance, start by doing hilly rides with 800 feet of climbing and slowly add distance until you can complete 2,500 feet of climbing in one go.

Conclusion

One of the best measures of athletic performance is power output during exercise. The more bike power you have, the faster you can ride over a given distance.

So, go ahead and implement the tips above & get your KYMIRA® Cycle Kit or Recovery Sportswear and you will experience gradual progression over time.

Wondering how KYMIRA® products can help you to perform better?

Our Infrared Sportswear will allow your body to accelerate its recovery processes by delivering more oxygen and nutrient rich blood to your muscle cells. In the recover phase, KYMIRA® technology helps to benefit…

• Exertion Recovery • Lactate Recovery • DOMS and Soft Tissue Recovery • Connective Tissue Recovery • Reductions in Inflammation • Improved Sleep

This will allow you to push even harder and increase the power output in your legs for longer bike rides!

Over to You

Let us know in the comments below your thoughts on ways to increase power outputs in your legs!

Subscribe Today!

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While having consistency in your training routine is important, the training method you perform is also critical to your success as a recreational or professional cyclist.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn this article, we will look at the top 6 ways to help you increase power output in your legs and thrive on longer bicycle rides:\n\n1: High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)\n\nThe first type of training to incorporate into your program is High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). Plenty of research done over the past 5 years has indicated that HIIT can help to increase your power output as well as boost considerably longer rides.\n\nThe idea behind HIIT is that you alternate between short periods of high-intensity and low-intensity. During the periods of high-intensity (45 seconds to 1 minute), push yourself to your athletic limits with a quick burst of energy, while during the periods of low-intensity (1 minute), catch your breath by cycling at a moderate pace. Build up to 15-20 sprint intervals in a single workout.\n\nThese power bursts are a great way to increase your leg strength and muscular endurance. As always, begin by warming up before proceeding to the vigorous demands of HIIT.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n2: Consume Energy Drinks\n\n\nDrinking an energy drink with carbs instead of just mineral water from the beginning of your long ride may help to preserve your muscle tissue glycogen stores by 50% in the very first hour alone. This has been proven by a survey released in the Journal of Medication \u0026amp; Scientific research in Sports \u0026amp; Physical exercise.\n\nAlso, certain high-quality energy drinks may also help to delay the onset of muscular fatigue, giving you a longer-lasting workout at consistent energy levels to help improve athletic performance.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n3: Consume Caffeine as an Alternative\n\nIf you dislike an energy drink with carbs, you can go with caffeine as an alternative.\n\nCaffeine will make you more energetic and alert as research has shown that the intake of caffeine can enhance endurance and anaerobic capabilities during a workout and can be useful for athletes. If you are also looking to lose weight, studies have also shown that caffeine intake can increase your body’s metabolism and aid in weight loss.\n\nSo, get yourself some black coffee before getting on the bike!\n\n\n\n\n\n\n4: Ensure Right Positioning on The Bike\n\nYou will be able to pedal more efficiently by positioning the bar, cleats, and saddle properly as the correct posture and optimal position can help boost power and efficiency.\n\nOnce you have your bike set up correctly, invest some time daily to gradually bolster your range of motion so you can adapt to a variety of positions and have improved mobility. Other activities such as yoga or dynamic stretching can also help to enhance your joint mobility.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n5: Perform Bodyweight Exercises\n\nUtilise bodyweight training to build strength, endurance, and power. Another benefit of bodyweight exercises is you can do it at home or in the gym. To increase power output in cycling, we will focus on bodyweight exercises that target the legs, core, and arms (training the arms also assist in riding longer).\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHere are some of the effective bodyweight exercises:\n\n\nSquats\nLunges\nWall Sits\nCalf Raises\nPush-ups\nBurpees \nMountain climbers\nPlanks\nBicycle crunches\nLying Hip Raises\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe Core 2.0 Range. built for performance and recovery\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPerform each exercise in a circuit 30 seconds continuously. After you complete a circuit, rest 1-2 minutes before going again. Repeat this circuit for 8-10 times.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n6: Ride Uphill\n\nLastly, riding uphill is a great way to increase muscular endurance and power as you pedal at a moderate cadence for an extended period.\n\nOne of the effective ways to skyrocket your power output is to progressively overload climbing distance. For instance, start by doing hilly rides with 800 feet of climbing and slowly add distance until you can complete 2,500 feet of climbing in one go.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nConclusion\nOne of the best measures of athletic performance is power output during exercise. The more bike power you have, the faster you can ride over a given distance.\nSo, go ahead and implement the tips above \u0026amp; get your KYMIRA® Cycle Kit or Recovery Sportswear and you will experience gradual progression over time.\nWondering how KYMIRA® products can help you to perform better?\nOur Infrared Sportswear will allow your body to accelerate its recovery processes by delivering more oxygen and nutrient rich blood to your muscle cells. In the recover phase, KYMIRA® technology helps to benefit…\n\n• Exertion Recovery\n\n\n• Lactate Recovery\n\n\n• DOMS and Soft Tissue Recovery\n\n\n• Connective Tissue Recovery\n\n\n• Reductions in Inflammation\n\n\n• Improved Sleep\n\n\nThis will allow you to push even harder and increase the power output in your legs for longer bike rides!\n\nOver to You\nLet us know in the comments below your thoughts on ways to increase power outputs in your legs!\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSubscribe Today!\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https:\/\/kymira.com" }, "headline": "How to Increase Power Output in Your Legs for Longer Bike Rides", "description": "A step by step guide on what you can do to increase your cycling distances and speed over time.", "image": [ "https:\/\/kymira.com\/cdn\/shop\/articles\/unnamed_bfdf5549-a1f9-4767-8a12-bb5c1e571dd0.png?v=1667507188\u0026width=908" ], "datePublished": "2018-01-02T12:59:00Z", "dateCreated": "2022-11-03T20:19:54Z", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Aston" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "KYMIRA" } }