Cycling in Africa on Zanzibar is really possible. It is even possible to cycle through the ocean on a normal bike. After a long trip through Tanzania, where we did many things such as safaris, mountaineering and sightseeing, we decided to take some rest at Zanzibar. What a beautiful place is that! The beaches are outstanding, white and not overcrowded.

Snorkling and relaxing are cool, but we didn’t expect cycles on the beach!

We were able to rent two cycles for a day, and were free to go. We cycled on the beach and through the water for a day. This is for sure a must do when you go to Zanzibar if you like cycling. Ofcourse, we like speed cycling and mountainbiking as well but this is a different dimension. Just relax and try it yourself when you have the opportunity!

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Read the tips from Noord-Holland’s Finest Endurance Cycling captain Erik van der Wel on how to prepare for a 24-hour race in this blog.

How do I prepare for a 24-hour race? 24-hour races are relatively new in cycling. Inspired by the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans car race, the first 24-hour races on bicycles were organized about 10 years ago in France and Germany. A few years later, the first race took place in Zandvoort. Similar to car racers, the cyclists ride laps on well-known car circuits, including the Circuit Zandvoort, which is also back on the Formula 1 calendar. Participants can race solo or in teams of 2, 4, 6, or 8 people (the exact format varies per race). Like car racers, cyclists regularly switch on the circuit. Noord-Holland’s Finest Endurance Cycling has been participating in various endurance races (including 12- and 8-hour races) in the 4-person category since 2019. This is considered the premier class in endurance cycling.

Ensure an Equitable Team

Before participating in a 24-hour race, you need to assemble a team. It’s always nice to have a rider in the team with a good sprint (often there’s a sprint at the end of the 24 hours for a position) or a rider who can close that one gap. However, fundamentally, you want to have as equitable a team as possible. There’s little benefit if your teammate can keep up with the leading group, but you can’t follow the pace right after the next switch.

Work on Your Endurance

Despite having a few hours to recover after each switch, you exert effort over several hours. To perform at the end of the race, it’s crucial to have sufficient endurance. Just like in traditional road cycling, it’s advisable to build the foundation for this during the winter, which can be further developed in the spring.

Train in Succession

Characteristic of a 24-hour race is that you have to exert effort several times relatively close together. You exert effort while not fully recovered from the previous one. You can let your body get used to this by shortening the recovery time between two workouts. For example, train for an hour in the morning before work and an hour in the evening after work. You can also choose to train on Friday evening and Saturday morning.

Consider the Switching Strategy

Rider switches are often crucial during the race. Whether or not to join a nice group after a switch can result in a lead or a gap to the competition. Think beforehand about how often you want to switch and at what times (try to always switch simultaneously with several other teams to avoid having to close the gap to the group alone). Also, agree well on where to stand in the switch zone, so you don’t have to search for each other in all the hustle and bustle when multiple teams switch at the same time.

Do Interval Training

We’ve already talked about endurance training, but don’t forget interval training either. Especially after a switch, you may need to close a gap to rejoin the group.

Ensure Adequate Clothing and Nutrition

Conditions vary per race, and the temperature can drop significantly at night. Therefore, make sure to bring enough clean clothing to the race. A race consists of different intensive stints. Due to the high intensity, your energy requirement increases. Therefore, also bring enough food and make sure to eat something both before and after each stint.

Tapering For a 24-hour race, you need to train hard, but you also need to appear fresh at the start. Therefore, make sure not to do any heavy training in the last week before the race. Keep cycling this week, but take it easy. This way, you’ll benefit from all the training you’ve done, but also be sufficiently recovered at the start.

Author: Noord-Holland’s Finest Endurance Cycling captain Erik van der Wel

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Why a rain jacket?

As many cyclists know, you’ll encounter a few rain showers every year, and sometimes they can catch you off guard. This is especially true if you’re cycling in Northern Europe. Once you’re soaked and the sun doesn’t break through, it can be challenging to warm up. That’s why having a rain jacket in your wardrobe is wise. You don’t want to waste too much energy trying to warm up your body; after all, all your energy should go to your pedals.

Waterproofing vs. Breathability

When producing a rain jacket, you always need to consider what’s more important. Are you aiming for maximum waterproofing? Or is breathability crucial for you? A jacket with maximum water-repellent qualities may be less breathable. The better a rain jacket breathes, the longer it takes for the rain to penetrate it. Often, you also have the option to buy a windproof jacket, which is a great combination for bad weather accompanied by strong winds.

Packability in your back pocket or not

The key question here is whether you’ll be cycling through pouring rain all day or if there will be occasional showers. If you’re planning a ride with unpredictable weather, make sure you have a jacket that you can easily stash away. Nowadays, there are rain jackets that you can conveniently fold and store in the back pocket of your shirt.

Visibility in the rain with the best rain jacket for cycling

Keep in mind that with bad weather, you’re less visible as a road cyclist. Therefore, it’s important to have a bright color or reflective strips on your clothing. These reflective strips are subtle and a great addition to your cycling rain jacket.

The perfect fit

Getting the right size is crucial to make your ride as comfortable as possible. Ensure your jacket fits snugly to prevent flapping, which is detrimental to your aerodynamics and concentration. Additionally, look for a rain jacket with fitted sleeves. If your jacket fits well around your hands, rain won’t seep into your sleeves. Due to your forward motion, rain from your hands tends to flow into your sleeves.

Design that suits you

These days, rain jackets come in all shapes and sizes. As mentioned, it’s wise to have at least one with reflective strips. At TD, you can get a rain jacket in all colors and sizes, including your logos, colors, and patterns. Check out the possibilities via this link on our website.

What’s your favorite rain jacket? Let us and your fellow cyclists know in the comments!

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