The press-up is an exercise that’s stood the test of time. It targets muscles you need to hold a confident riding position, and improves overall stability as part of a mountain bike fitness regime.

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Doing press-ups regularly will increase your upper body strength quicker than riding alone, as the stress and subsequent adaption is much greater. If you want to take your bike handling in technical terrain to the next level, add press-ups to your training routine.

Level 1: Full press-up

Doing a full press-up where your chest touches the floor is a great achievement. And doing 10 reps is the benchmark. Don’t get soft when it gets hard though, a dipping lower back could be a sign of a weak core. Can’t do 10 full press-ups yet? Scale back and go to your knees, keeping the full range of movement to reap all of the benefits.

Level 2: Banded press-ups

If you’re confident with the press-up and can do multiple sets of 10 with strict form, then to progress you need to make the exercise more difficult, not just do more reps. Using a band for additional resistance will help overload the muscles and increase the benefits of the exercise, so you keep progressing.

Level 3: Floor Press

If you have a barbell and weights the floor press is a great way to overload the muscles involved in pressing. Yes, the range of motion is restricted but this actually makes it a better option that the traditional barbell bench press for riders with cranky shoulders. Once you can do 3 sets of 10 with good from, increase the total weight on the bar by 2.5kg. If the gym you train in doesn’t have fractional (small) weight plates, buy some and keep them in your kit bag.