Shanaze Reade, Olympic finalist and World Championships gold medallist, has been brought in by on-demand restaurant food delivery service, Deliveroo, to help the Milton Keynes based riders improve their riding skills with some expert guidance on training, diet and how to handle different types of terrain.
Reade’s competitive cycling career spans 14 years to date, combining BMX riding (she won the UCI BMX World Championships three times) and track cycling. Reade partnered Victoria Pendleton in the Team Sprint at the World Championships in 2007, with the pair winning gold, before racing in the final of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London.
Deliveroo riders in Milton Keynes can cycle more than 150km a week, delivering high-quality meals to thousands of homes and offices across the city in an average of 32 minutes, so are reliant on their endurance and stamina.
“Keeping fit whilst earning money is one of the key benefits of being a Deliveroo rider," said Dan Warne, Managing Director of UK & IE at Deliveroo.
"Our riders cover big distances each week in cities across the UK, so we wanted to bring someone in to give them some guidance on endurance cycling and who better than an Olympian cyclist?”
Shanaze Reade added: “I have had a lot of races in my career, from endurance races to sprints and so I know how the Deliveroo riders need to think, eat and cycle to achieve their goals. When Deliveroo asked me for my assistance, I was more than happy to put my knowledge to good use and help the Milton Keynes riders get the most out of themselves.”
Shanaze’s top tips include:
- Mix up your training with gym classes or gym cardio machines. This will enable a great base to allow you to go for a lot longer without getting tired, which is essential for Deliveroo riders.
- Strength training has its place, when you reach the bottom of a hill and you are thinking “How can I do this?” This is where your strength training kicks in, so regular exercises can be done to achieve this, such as: Back squats, leg press, press ups. This will give you the raw strength needed to make it up the hill a lot easier.
- Having the correct equipment is essential. Make sure that your bike is well maintained and fitted to your height and riding preference. Having a good pair of cycling shorts is also a must! For long hours in the saddle your clothing can become very uncomfortable and off putting! Invest in shorts to make your ride more comfortable.
- Selecting the correct gear on the bike is another key point. You don't want to be spinning away with your pedals and not travelling far nor do you want to be pushing a huge gear. It's about getting the gear ratio correct for the terrain you’re on. This could be a big reason you fatigue quickly if it's not correct!
- Diet is one of the most important aspects! Having the correct fuel for the day and having a good amount of carbs will help with energy levels. Fuelling with protein after your shift will also aid your muscles and repair them.
- Most importantly, make it fun. Set yourself 3 challenges a week. Maybe that's racing your friend, going for a swim or going for a run. Pushing yourself and completing these challenges will make it easier to achieve your daily Deliveroo duties.
To celebrate this year’s summer of sport, Deliveroo has dropped its delivery charge for the month of August. As families settle down to watch the likes of Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis and Tom Daley in their quest to bring home gold, they can order food from their favourite restaurants including Cafe Rouge, Las Iguanas, Bella Italia, Pizza Express and Jamie's Italian.
Deliveroo is focused on providing the ultimate food and drink delivery experience. Customers have the option to schedule orders via the Deliveroo app up to one day in advance or receive food and drink as soon as possible between 12 noon and 11pm, from a variety of leading local, independent and high-quality chain restaurants, conveniently delivered to their homes and offices.
The £2.50 Deliveroo charge will be removed from the orders of participating restaurants for the month of August. To download the Deliveroo app visit the app store on an iPhone or Android device.
