Training
Team Training
Outdoor Group Rides
- If you plan on going on a ride, it is imperative
that you have a helmet, water, and food. Also, it is courteous to have a
tube, pump/CO2, tire levers, and the knowledge to use them properly.
- For other
rides, send an email out to the TuftsCycling Google Group and include the
distance and pace you're planning to ride. Make sure you keep the meeting
point at the Campus Center so people can find you.
- Please
don't go on a ride if you aren't capable of the distance or pace.
- Please do
not wear underwear under bike shorts. It is unsanitary and uncomfortable.
Indoor Spinning Sessions
- There will
be an indoor spinning session at regular intervals (pun intended) during
the winter months. The schedule of these sessions will be decided in the
fall.
- Plan for
an intense workout...try not to have eaten right before the session. Also, bring lots of water and wear your usual
cycling kit.
- We will
provide the music and spin bikes. If you're going at a time outside of the
regular schedule and need to get into the trainer box, ask Alex for the combination to the
lock.
- You're
more than welcome to bring your own trainer and bike or bring your own
pedals to use on the spin bikes. If you bring your own pedals, please be
sure to have a pedal wrench or let the spin leader know that you will need
one.
So you've got your bike on campus, but where do you ride
it? Sure, dodging cars like a messenger in the Financial District sounds like
fun. Well it may be, but it's no place to train for race season. Below you'll
find some great rides that will spare you from the car-swallowing potholes of
Boston Ave.
Recommended roads and bike
paths:
View a
larger map.
Below are rides that consist of one or
multiple loops from the above map. The list is by no means exhaustive, but it
should get you familiar with the area. We always recommend doing some
exploring. We've found some of our favorite rides that way.
(Note: Please do not save changes to the
maps linked below.)
Mystic Lake Loop
Approx. Distance: 8.6 miles
Description: This
"lollipop" loop is only 1.5 miles from campus. It's a decent ride if
you're short on time, and you can do the ~5 mile loop multiple times to get in
a slightly longer ride.
Mill Street Loop
Approx. Distance: 20.7 miles
Description: This is a classic ride.
Mill Street is a haven for Boston-area bikers and you're likely to see many
other cyclists enjoying this relatively car-free stretch of road in Lincoln.
Many Tufts cyclists incorporate this loop into their longer rides.
Mill Street/Hanscom Loop
Approx. Distance: 26.9 miles
Description: This figure-8 loop is a
longer rendition of the popular Mill Street Loop. You'll pass by one of the
runways at Hanscom Air Force Base before encountering some peaceful farmland.
Monument Street
Approx. Distance: 33.8 miles
Description: This is a great ride
from the end of the Minuteman Trail. The rolling hills of Monument Street and
historic sights in Concord Center are not to be missed. Watch out for the tour
buses!
Concord Carlisle
Approx. Distance: 36.4 miles
Description: Another good ride from
the end of the Minuteman Trail, the Concord Carlisle ride gets you further away
from Boston. This map incorporates part of the Hanscom loop but omits Mill
Street. Mix it up!
The Kitchen Sink
Approx. Distance: 50.4 miles
Description: If you're feeling
particularly ambitious, this 50+ mile route combines the best roads from the
above routes with minimal use of the Minuteman Trail. Don't forget to bring
some food with you on longer rides!
Recommended Reading
Tufts Cycling Team members,
past and present, have found the following books helpful.
(The Team has no business relationships
with the authors or publishers.)
Sports Nutrition for Endurance
Athletes by Monique Ryan
The Cyclist's Training Bible
by Joe Friel
Maximum Performance for
Cyclists by M.D. Michael J. Ross (Tufts
Alum!)
Training and Racing with a
Power Meter by Hunter Allen