Just about everyone in cycling—and many other aerobic sports—is suddenly talking about the powerful benefits of Zone 2 workouts. This is, roughly, a level of exertion that is aerobic while being just hard enough to improve your mitochondrial and cardiovascular function without overly taxing your body. But despite the hype, Zone 2 is more than just another fitness trend. And it’s not quite as simple to master as it might seem. Editorial director Bill Strickland and designer Tom Messina dig into the roots of Zone 2 riding, and its nuances, challenges and benefits, and also examine some common misconceptions (all detailed in Bicycling's story about how to master it). Whether you’re riding purely for your own enjoyment, for personal fitness or weight-loss goals, or to be fast and strong in competitive situations, you should be doing plenty of Zone 2—the right way.
If you have questions about Zone 2 riding, or any training topic, let us know in the comments below!
Bill Strickland is the Rider-in-Chief of Bicycling. His equal passions for cycling and writing have led to the books Ten Points: A Memoir; Tour de Lance: The Extraordinary Story of Cycling’s Most Controversial Champion; Mountain Biking: The Ultimate Guide to the Ultimate Ride; and The Quotable Cyclist. His Bicycling story, “100 Pedal Strokes” won a National Magazine Award for Interactive Feature in 2008. In 2009, he assigned and edited the story “Broken,” which won the National Magazine Award for Public Interest. “The Escape,” the December, 2011, edition of his Bicycling magazine column The Pursuit, was named a Notable story by The Best American Sports Writing. Various editions of his books have been translated into Dutch, German, Hebrew, and Japanese. He uses commas by rhythm and sound, which is a terrible way to do it but makes him happy.
