Tips and training

Meet the coach – Kate Perry

Kate has been racing with Specialized Women’s Racing for five years, competing in the National Road Series. Kate has claimed 2 x podium finishers in the National Individual Time Trial Championships and is the current Oceania Individual Time Trial Champion (2019).

Other successes include a win at the Tour of Bright, Podium finishes in the Grafton to Inverell and Mersey Valley Tour (Women’s Tour of Tasmania). Not to mention 1 x Classic and numerous 200km hit-outs at Around the Bay.

Off the bike, Kate is an Associate lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science at La Trobe University, teaching in the areas of sport coaching, exercise physiology and exercise programming. She’s also an Associate coach with FTP Training – coaching a wide array of cyclists, from entry level athletes, to National level NRS athletes. The two go hand in hand, teachers are coaches and coaches are teachers. She loves saturating herself in all aspects of bike riding, and is fortunate enough to be able to combine a professional knowledge with the sport that she lives and breathes.

Kate’s top 5 tips for keeping bike fit in iso…

In the current environment, it’s more important ever to look after your physical and mental health. Even with physical distancing restrictions in place, there are still plenty of ways that you can keep happy and healthy both on and off the bike.

1. Try to keep a routine

Where possible, if you are still able to go outside for a ride (either solo or with one other friend) then you should! A little pedal outdoors helps you get that dose of vitamin D, breaks up the screen time and gives you a social fix. It doesn’t have to be an overly long or taxing ride – just try to keep the legs ticking over.

2. Enter the world of online bike riding

If you have a smart trainer, jumping on Zwift for group ride, race or even picking a workout is great if you are short on time, juggling home schooling and work commitments, or even just want a chance to sweat it out in the comfort of your own home.

3. It is okay to not be okay

Don’t be too hard on yourself, some days you might just not feel like riding, and that is okay. Isolation presents us with a feeling of underlying stress due to the big shake up and adjustment in our lives. You don’t have to be a hero and be punching out massive rides or crazy intense sessions, if you need a day off just to rest then take it 😊.

4. Home workouts are a thing

There are plenty of online home workouts doing the rounds at the moment – yoga, pilates, core work – so if you feel like you need a bit of a switch up then these are a good way to get some alternate exercise in and still work on bike form. Core stability and working on any imbalances will help you when it is time to jump back on the bike, particularly for those longer days when the aches and pains tend to creep in during the back half of your ride.

5. Remember to have fun

Exercise should be fun, and not a chore. With all the other stressors placed on our bodies at the moment, try not to let the exercise add to that, but rather use it as an outlet. Chuck on a podcast, Netflix if you’re indoors and just zone out from the madness and enjoy the feeling of moving!

We schedule a range of training rides in the lead up to October that cater to bike riders of all levels. Whether it’s your first time riding in a bunch or you need to dust off the cobwebs after a winter off the bike, there’s plenty of opportunities to get you ready for the big day with a group of like-minded riders.

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