Whats the point of investing in the latest high-tech gear and meticulously fine-tuning your bike if you cant even be bothered to put in the time and effort to develop a decent level of cardiovascular fitness? Its staggering how many cyclists seem to neglect this fundamental aspect of their training, expecting to magically develop the endurance and stamina needed to tackle challenging rides simply by virtue of owning a fancy bike.
Newsflash: it doesnt work that way. No matter how advanced your bikes technology or how sleek its design, its still just a tool - and a tool is only as effective as the person wielding it. Without a strong cardiovascular foundation, youre essentially handicapping yourself from the start, limiting your potential and putting yourself at risk of injury or exhaustion.
So, whats the bare minimum level of cardiovascular conditioning that a serious cyclist should be striving for? Is it possible to develop the necessary endurance and stamina through cycling alone, or are other forms of cardio exercise necessary to supplement your training? And whats the most effective way to incorporate cardiovascular conditioning into a busy training schedule - should you be focusing on high-intensity interval training, steady-state cardio, or some combination of both?