Spring is (finally!) starting to present itself, and as the days get longer and the weather gets hotter, we find ourselves getting more and more excited to start racing.

But we’re not there yet. Or at least most British and European athletes aren’t, with the first races of the 2026 season scheduled in late April and early May.

Now’s the perfect time to get excited about racing … and to prepare yourself for the season ahead.

Here’s our list of the top 10 things you should do between now and race day.

 

1. Ride outdoors.

Over the winter, many of us clock up the miles on the turbo trainer. Alas, races are not held in garages, and getting comfortably riding outside is fundamental for good racing. Now’s the time to start venturing outside, and start enjoying the springtime sun.

 

2. Bike Maintenance.

Love it or hate it, bike maintenance needs doing, especially if you haven’t ridden outside in a while. An annual service isn’t a bad idea, and now’s a great time to do this to minimise disruption to your training and get booked in at the bike shop before the summer rush.

 

3. Test Equipment.

The new pair of bike shoes you’re saving specifically for racing are lovely and clean … but it’s definitely worth trying them out before race day. Even if you have kit, tech or parts that you’re saving for racing, always try them out beforehand. No one wants to find out their bike shoes don’t fit half way through a 112-mile bike ride in a race.

 

4. Test Nutrition.

In a similar vein to the previous point, trying something new fuelling-wise on race day is never a good idea. Now is the perfect time to experiment with different products and fuelling strategies. You’ve still got plenty of time to fine tune what works best for you.

 

5. Swim Open Water.

Ok, depending where you are in the world, maybe not just yet. But over the next few weeks and months, taking a dip in an open water swim lake, river or sea will stand you in good stead for that first race of the year. The temperature can take some getting used to after months in the pool.

 

6. Target Weaknesses.

There are still a few months before race season starts. If swimming isn’t your strong point, there’s still time to have a swim-focus block before you get into that last chunk of training in the lead up to the event.

 

7. Race Specific Workouts.

For triathletes, the obvious one is brick workouts. Logistically, swim to bike sessions can be a bit more difficult, but doing things such as riding similar courses, doing race-pace intervals and practising transitions are great to be introduced at this time of year. Remember to balance these workouts with adequate nutrition and rest!

 

8. Enter Races.

Many of us do this avidly as soon as entries open, but if not, now really is the time to get some things in the diary. Not only will this help guide your training, but races may start to sell out, so it’s best to get in there whilst you still can!

 

9. Plan Race Logistics.

If you’re lucky enough to travel to a race in a different part of the country or world, a long list of logistics soon presents itself. Booking hotels. Sorting flights. Organising a bike box. Finding insurance. Getting it done sooner rather than later can help put your mind at ease, leaving you to focus on the training side of things. And if you’re in search of the most convenient accommodation, or after things to do near the race location, we list this info with events on our site.

 

10. Check Out Courses.

In person is the dream, but obviously this isn’t always feasible, especially not weeks or months before hand. But having a look through the course on the race website, or through our site, can really help direct the type of training you should focus on. What’s more, you can download the GPX file for races from Aquabike.World, allowing you to ride the course virtually ahead of race day.

 

 

Anything else you’d add? Happy training!