Training

The bike is one of the most common cross-training tools for runners, particularly for those recovering from injuries or trying to manage impact and load in the lead-up to an event, but does cycling really help with running fitness? Well, the answer is more complex than a simple yes or no.

You can be fit enough to ride hard for hours and still ruin the day with a fuelling plan your stomach won't tolerate. That is where gut training comes in. It's not about forcing down the biggest carbohydrate number you can find online, but gradually teaching your stomach to handle the fuel you need.

You've put in the hard miles, banked the training and race day is nearly here. Now comes the bit that can mess with your head: backing off. Tapering in cycling means reducing your training load before an important race or event so accumulated fatigue can fade without giving up the fitness you've worked for. Done well, it means riding less while keeping enough intensity in your legs to feel ready when it counts. Here's how to get those final days right, including how much to ride, when to rest and what a practical cycling taper week can look like.

The bike is useful for runners when it has a job. It can add aerobic work without another set of foot strikes, keep a disrupted week moving, or rest your legs from the pavement. It shouldn't become a second programme piled on top of a full running week.

Cycling cadence is how fast you pedal, measured in revolutions per minute (RPM). It's a highly individual metric that shifts with the rider, the terrain and the intensity of the effort – which is why there's no single ideal number to chase. This guide explains what cadence is, what counts as a good cadence for cycling and how to find the RPM range that suits you, with a cadence chart for every riding situation plus drills you can do on your smart trainer.

You rode long, or maybe you rode hard. You glide back into the parking lot and then you swing your leg over the saddle to dismount your bike. And it hurts. You feel a familiar twinge in your low back, an aching in your hips. You peruse your buddy's Strava and notice something odd… he's been secretly doing Pilates on his non-bike days. Now you're wondering if you should do Pilates, too.

When I took my very first FTP test on an indoor trainer, I had no idea what to expect. I just knew it was going to start easy and get *very, very hard fast*. So I chugged some water, blasted my favorite playlist, pointed a high-powered fan straight at my face, and pedaled until my legs turned to jelly. My reward? A whopping 78 watts.

Good fitness doesn't automatically produce good bike handling. A rider can hold strong power indoors yet still feel nervous on descents, drift while looking behind or tense up when a corner tightens. Outdoor cycling asks you to balance, scan, brake, steer and react as the road changes around you. These eight practical drills will help you ride with more control and confidence, so you can focus on the road ahead.

Gravel biking is riding on a mix of paved roads and unpaved surfaces such as forest tracks, towpaths and compacted gravel roads, offering more variety and adventure than a typical road ride. If you're wondering how to start gravel biking, the good news is that you may already have a bike capable of getting you started without spending a fortune on specialist equipment.