Do we need to do any training?

[cyclingacrossmaerica]

Hi All,

My girlfriend and I will be cycling the TransAm West to East this August. Although we both cycle to work currently (3-4 miles each way) neither of us have any touring experience.

We are both relatively young (25 and 24) and have a lot of enthusiasm. We will have to complete the TransAm in 90 days.

I am getting a bit concerned that this might be too much of an ordeal. I am less worried about myself, but I wonder whether it might be too much for her.

What do people think? Should we be training, or can we just rock up and go?

[paddleboy17]

It sounds like the question that you are asking is are the two of you in good enough physical shape?  It sounds like you could be, and you have the youth thing working for you.  Lots of people just ride and harden up along the way.  When you run out of time, and there could be lots of reasons why you run out of time before getting as far as you meant to--you just come home.

The question that I don't think you asked, is are the two of you ready for this?  That is best answered by trying out your team and your equipment, in some test trips.  Do some overnight or weekend trips.  Start modestly and increase the difficulty.  I think you can figure out if the two of you are ready for this.

[John Nelson]

90 days is on the generous side, so you have some time to get in shape en route. The problem with starting out with inadequate training, however, is that the risk of overdoing it early on are high. If you push it the first couple of weeks, you may end up with something like a knee strain that may not get better fast enough for you to complete your trip on schedule. To mitigate this risk, I suggest you increase your mileage, including some training on hills and with your gear. As paddleboy said, however, being young sometimes allows you to get away with breaking all the normal rules.

[staehpj1]

If you don't train, plan on taking it easy for the first ten days to two weeks.  Actually that is a good idea either way unless the schedule is tight.  90 days in a generous time allotment and allows for easing into the trip.

[Westinghouse]

It isn't a necessity. IMO it is a good idea to do some kind of training whatever you're doing. Strengthening the legs and upper body is advisable. Get a good book on sports stretching and do exactly what it says. Stretch regularly during your tour. You will be in a front leaning rest on your bikes. That puts pressure on the palms of your hands, and can cause a bit of stress to the arms, shoulders, and lower back. Stretch regularly. Interval training on your bikes, on a tread mill, or on stationary bikes in a gym can strengthen your leg muscles, and it can improve your cardiac fitness and aerobic efficiency faster and more proficiently than just straight riding or running. Try some weight training.

[e46rick]

You can ride yourselves in to shape, but you would likely have much more enjoyable first month or so if you did more preparation.  Just your backside alone would thank for some prep, let alone your legs, hands, neck, etc.

Most young, reasonably fit people are capable of making across the country.  You just might enjoy it more with some prep.

 

[Pat Lamb]

Start with butt conditioning.  I'd suggest you start increasing weekend ride length, shooting for a 50-75 mile ride each weekend.  This will get you used to being in the saddle for long periods, and you can start to learn how much water and salt you'll need to ingest to replace what you sweat out.

Legs, lungs, heart -- you can ride those into shape in a week or two.

[RussSeaton]

August?  Its April now.  That leaves May-June-July to train for the trip starting in August.  Lot of time.  No you don't need to train any.  Seems like you already ride now.  You can get on the bikes and start riding.  Probably ride 60-70-80 miles each day just fine.  Not saying riding with gear before the trip would not be good.  You have several months to take Friday-Saturday-Sunday loaded trips.  Do that every other weekend for the next three months and you will be in great physical shape.  And know how your bike behaves loaded.

[BikeFreak]

Hi All,

My girlfriend and I will be cycling the TransAm West to East this August. Although we both cycle to work currently (3-4 miles each way) neither of us have any touring experience.

We are both relatively young (25 and 24) and have a lot of enthusiasm. We will have to complete the TransAm in 90 days.

I am getting a bit concerned that this might be too much of an ordeal. I am less worried about myself, but I wonder whether it might be too much for her.

What do people think? Should we be training, or can we just rock up and go?

One nice thing about such a 90 day trip: If you manage to do it without any fights, extensive arguing etc, you can safely get married and remain as a couple for the rest of your lives :-).

[staehpj1]

Hi All,

My girlfriend and I will be cycling the TransAm West to East this August. Although we both cycle to work currently (3-4 miles each way) neither of us have any touring experience.

We are both relatively young (25 and 24) and have a lot of enthusiasm. We will have to complete the TransAm in 90 days.

I am getting a bit concerned that this might be too much of an ordeal. I am less worried about myself, but I wonder whether it might be too much for her.

What do people think? Should we be training, or can we just rock up and go?

One nice thing about such a 90 day trip: If you manage to do it without any fights, extensive arguing etc, you can safely get married and remain as a couple for the rest of your lives :-).

Or if not, split up knowing it was the right decision

Seriously, expect some arguments.  They are just part of human relationships.

[DaveB]

"Training" with intervals, etc. as the racers do, no, not at all.  Training as in getting used to longer days in the saddle, and riding a loaded bike, yes, certainly.  Three to four miles a day won't harden your rear ends or get your legs used to pedaling hours at a time.   

[mbattisti]

Hi All,

My girlfriend and I will be cycling the TransAm West to East this August. Although we both cycle to work currently (3-4 miles each way) neither of us have any touring experience.

We are both relatively young (25 and 24) and have a lot of enthusiasm. We will have to complete the TransAm in 90 days.

I am getting a bit concerned that this might be too much of an ordeal. I am less worried about myself, but I wonder whether it might be too much for her.

What do people think? Should we be training, or can we just rock up and go?

One nice thing about such a 90 day trip: If you manage to do it without any fights, extensive arguing etc, you can safely get married and remain as a couple for the rest of your lives :-).

Or in my wife's and my case with our 90 day TA trip on a tandem to celebrate our 30th,  I guess you could say we renewed our vows (still together)!

[bobbys beard]

as a few have metioned, no matter how enthusiastic, young and fit you are, your backsides will indeed benefit from a bit of extended saddle time prior to your trip.   anyone who has ever had to cycle long distances with saddle sores will never forget the experience!

in august it will be hot and that makes a big difference too. a bit of training (though not essential) would be sensible and just make your trip a whole lot more enjoyable.

[bogiesan]

The question that I don't think you asked, is are the two of you ready for this?  That is best answered by trying out your team and your equipment, in some test trips.  Do some overnight or weekend trips.  Start modestly and increase the difficulty.  I think you can figure out if the two of you are ready for this.

Find a week-long supported bicycle tour event in June and do it.

You will learn how much you do not know and some time to figure it out.

A July event is too late. It only gives enough time to panic about how much you do not know.

[bogiesan]

The discussion aboiut preparing your nether regions for long hours in the saddle is a bit scary. Saddle sores are not caused by inexperience, they're a localized bacteriainfection, like a pimple but weirder, that can show up on anyone. A sore butt is a different issue that is caused by improper saddle adjustment, improper bike fit, the wrong bike shorts and many other, more subtle causes.

I suggest you explore a recumbent tandem. Two engines will move the bike more efficiently--if you are not going to train--and the delightfully comfortable recumbent chairs take care of your butt prep. The additional benefit of the tandem is you cannot get away from each other. At all. Ever.