Happy New Year! So, 2012 is here and you have made your New Years resolutions…Get in shape, lose weight, exercise, get that bicycle out of the garage and dust it off and start to ride…Well, here is a little help. If you are new to cycling or you haven’t biked for a few years and you want to start again, here is a 6 week training program to get you off the couch and back on that mountain bike.

There are also some essentials you will need:

• Helmet – this should sit firmly on your head, and you should feel the straps pulling under your chin when opening your mouth.
• Lights – both front and back if you plan on riding at night.
• Reflectors – red at the rear, amber for the pedals.
• Basic tool kit – puncture repair kit, tire levers, spare inner tube, allen key set or multi-tool, and a pump.

Also, some exercises that will help train your muscles:

• Plank – Lie on your front, weight supported your by toes and forearms. Hold for 10 to 30 seconds. Perform three sets.
• Lunges – Stand with feet together, hands on hips. Lunge forward with your left foot and bend your knees. Repeat on the right side. Perform four sets of 15 with 30 seconds rest between each set.
• Superman – Lie facing the floor, with arms and legs outstretched. Raise your arms and leg up a few inches and hold for a count of 10. Perform three sets.
• One-legged squats – Take the weight on your left leg and lift the right leg an inch or so off the floor. If you need to, use a chair for balance. Slowly bend your left knee as much as you can, pushing your bottom back. Straighten your leg and repeat, keeping your right foot off the floor at all times. Perform four slow sets of 15 on each leg.

Six-week plan