Ben King – Dimension Data for Qhubeka

Ben King, professional cyclist for Dimension Data for Qhubeka, uses the Garmin Edge 520 to train and compete in-season, and the vívoactive smart watch in the off-season to keep in tip-top shape all year around.

One of the features King appreciates most? “Instant uploads,” said King. “Personalized pages with tons of analytics. Compatibility across many software platforms and paring with most hardware devices. But the feature I use the most is the lap button for intervals.”

During the season, King values the detailed stats on each ride to monitor fatigue and track progress. “With maps and laps, it is easy to compare times and power to personal records on my favorite climbs,” said King. “The amount of structure of the training session depending on the type of training.”

But in the off-season, “it is totally unstructured.” “I do a lot of exploring on my mountain bike and trail running. With my vivoactive, I can still log the data and have maps to study after my adventures leads me to constantly discover new roads and trails,” said King.

No matter what kind of training, King stresses that nutrition is just as important. “If you aren’t recovering properly with the nutrients your body needs, replacing calories and maintaining your metabolic efficiency, your efforts in training will not lead to improvement,” said King.

“I track my energy expenditure with my Garmin devices to make sure that I eat enough on big days. I also use my Garmin to hone in on certain metabolic zones to train efficiency at various intensities.”

Next month, King will be competing in the Amgen Tour of California. Check back in to see more of cycling content with Ben. To see more of his adventures in the saddle, follow him here: https://www.instagram.com/bking137/