Many professional and amateur cyclists swear by the fitness booster of a training camp. Traditionally, this involves travelling to warmer climes early in the year. However, the ecological footprint and current travel restrictions call such a training trip into question. After all, you can also train at home. But is it just as good? As part of our marathon focus, our experts reveal in BIKE 03/2022 crucial tips and tricks.
Arguments in favour of a training camp abroad
- Get out of the winter grey and into the mild climate of the Canary or Balearic Islands. The dry and warm Climate in the south is ideal for long training sessions, even early in the year. Riding outside is motivating and the risk of catching a cold is limited.
- Despite the training programme, a trip abroad is also Holidays. Away from home, it's easier to forget about everyday life and the holiday feeling can boost your training motivation.
- A hotel offers a lot at a training camp Service. You don't have to worry about shopping and housekeeping and can use the wellness facilities instead.
- Hardly any racing driver will admit it, but standing in the starting block with a tanned body builds self-confidence. An accurate Tanning edge is a visible sign of the current training status.
Arguments against a training camp abroad
- Flights, hotels, travelling to and from work cost money and can be a real pain - and not just during the pandemic. The additional Stress is bad for regeneration and the training effect.
- Flying is an environmental sin. Travelling by car also blows a lot of pollutants into the air. Especially when it comes to the "hobby" of training, you should think about its Sustainability make.
- Hotel restaurants usually have fixed meal times. Together with unfamiliar or unsuitable food, this can lead to conflicts with training. An oversupply of Food is tempting but rarely good for the shape.
- If you only concentrate on one thing in an unfamiliar place, you run the risk of falling into monotony and losing motivation. There is often only one bike available. In the hotel less variety than at home.
Arguments in favour of a training camp at home
- Having your own kitchen requires no change and gives you full control in terms of Nutrition. You can decide for yourself what and when you eat.
- Sleeping in your own bed and cycling on home trails requires No changeover. This makes it easier to regenerate and get back into training.
- The changeable Weather conditions in Germany also have something good about them. After all, races don't always take place in glorious sunshine. The training camp at home teaches you how to deal with the wet and cold.
- A training camp at home hardly costs any more than normal everyday life. The money saved Money can be invested in new material, for example.
- At home, an athlete has the most Possibilities available. The range of exercise equipment is well-known and extensive. This prevents monotony.
Arguments against a training camp at home
- It is usually more difficult in everyday life, Commitments and not be distracted by household chores or habits.
- Early in the year in Germany it is often dark, wet and cold. Before March, it is rarely possible to train long sessions in good conditions.
Conclusion
One of the main advantages of a training camp abroad is the mild climate, which is associated with a tan and a holiday feeling. Hotels in particular often offer a carefree package. However, a training trip is not quite so carefree. A foreign environment with unfamiliar food can have just as negative an impact on the training effect as "cabin fever". Costs and CO2 emissions also speak against a training camp abroad.
You can train at home with little money, in familiar surroundings and with a familiar diet. A well-known and diverse range of options offers variety. The often uncomfortable weather in the German spring prepares you for challenging racing situations. At the same time, it rarely allows for long training sessions. Without good planning, there is a high risk of distractions during training camps at home.
The Training camp at home currently offers decisive advantages over a training trip. Those who know how to get fit with shorter sessions and follow the key planning tricks will benefit the most from training camps at home.
In BIKE 03/2022 we devote ourselves intensively to the The fascination of the marathon and show on over 40 pages which Race you absolutely have to drive, how you Shape comes and which Bike is ideal for the long haul. Plus: cycling shorts put to the test and an interview with Germany's first marathon world champion Andi Seewald. Have fun with the new issue!
Jan Timmermann
Editor
