For me, talk of the current biking season started even before the calendar flipped to 2011. At a pre-holiday gathering, a group of friends suggested putting a team together for this year’s American Lung Association Trek Across Maine (June 17-19).

It took mere seconds for five woman to declare their dedication to the Saddle Bags team. And after I saw how excited they were about the challenge, I realized I didn’t want to miss out — on the fun or the complaining about the hills and/or the rain.

Additional Photos

Bicyclists ride in the Trek Across Maine from Sunday River to Belfast in 2005. The 180-mile fundraiser for the American Lung Association takes place this year from June 17 to 19. Staff file photo

That’s the thing about the trek: it provides a goal, the potential for huge accomplishment, time for bonding with teammates (and the bike) and a little bit of torture — all rolled into one. (Sign up to ride at www.lungusa.org.)

Now in my fifth year of training for the trek, I’ve realized that it’s never too early to start.

That’s why I found a nice little spot for my bike trainer in my dining room in early March, when I started logging miles three or four times a week.

I’m getting closer to what some might think of as middle age, and the legs don’t bounce back like they once did. So, a little advice for those of you in a similar situation: before you hit the road this spring, prepare your body just as meticulously as you prepare your bike.

A few suggestions:

• A trainer is a great option for getting some pre-road time in the saddle.

The last thing you want is to be in agony after your first significant road ride. A nice, easy 10 or 15 miles on the trainer means a good 45 minutes to an hour in the saddle that your butt eventually will thank you for.

You can get a decent trainer for about $100. And for those days when you can’t get on the road but want to get your miles in, most offer a quick axle-in, ready-to-go setup.

• You may use a treadmill or an elliptical machine in your gym workouts, but you’ll be using different muscles on your bike. Stretching is key.

While riding you’ll be facing temperatures that are still pretty cool in April and much of May and muscles can tighten up quickly. Stretch before you ride, after you ride and even on days when you don’t ride.

• Spinning bikes may look a little strange, but with an experienced instructor there’s no better way than a spin class to get you prepared for what you’ll encounter on the road.

The Saddle Bags spin on Saturday mornings with trainer John Emond.

We get up off the saddle as if we were climbing, move our hands around the handlebars to improve our dexterity and flexibility, pedal hard at high resistance to replicate slow inclines and spin hard on low resistance to work on speed with control.

Every element helps with the reaction time we’ll need when there’s suddenly a huge pothole in front of us or the usual gale-like winds of April hit from the side.

• And one key to getting your body ready to ride is investing in a good pair of sunglasses. You’ll need some that protect your eyes from the wind and the blowing sand and debris on the roads this time of year. Impaired vision can be just as dangerous as those potholes.

After you’ve taken care of all that, there’s the bike to think about.

Local shops will be busy for the next few weeks, so schedule an appointment for a tune-up as soon as possible.

Even if it means you have to be without your bike on a sunny Saturday, it will be worth it in the long run, because a good check of all the vitals is absolutely essential each spring.

When your pride and joy returns, all oiled and aired and tightened, strap on the shoes and helmet, grab a couple bottles of water and reset the odometer. You’re prepped and ready. Now ride.

Deputy Features Editor Karen Beaudoin can be reached at 791-6296 or at:

kbeaudoin@pressherald.com

Related Stories