Author Topic: Bike Tour  (Read 6234 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline stephanie

Bike Tour
« on: December 06, 2007, 12:39:46 am »
Hi, I'm new to this site.  Nice to meet other cyclists.

I am interested in doing a bike tour of the sort that averages 50-miles per day for a week.  I rode without really training this last summer (commuting) and the summer before did a couple of triathons with only a bit more riding (though I went with my mountain bike and the cycling was probably my weakest overall event).  Also, I'm in Chicago and need to develop a much better tolerance for hills, as even those in our suburbs killed me.

Normally, I just do almost no biking over the winter. (I hate most spinning classes, unless the music is just right, and have an only slightly better tolerance for stationary bikes at my gym.)  However, I'm both interested in doing a tour in the spring and in starting my triathlon season ASAP, so would like to keep in bike shape over the winter.

Thus, I'm interested in what you all do to bike or keep in bike shape over the winter (I can bike outside some, but not consistently) and how you would train (and for how long) for the kind of tour I mentioned above.  Any ideas?

Offline whittierider

Bike Tour
« Reply #1 on: December 06, 2007, 03:39:16 am »
50 miles a day at typical touring paces is not so much that you couldn't just start increasing your miles when the weather gets better and do it with no other special training.  I've done 50 miles before breakfast many times, and have probably done that many after dinner in the summer quite a few times too, although I wasn't carrying a load of camping gear.

If you want better and more effective training, there are lots of training books; but generally I'd say that if you want to do a tour in the spring and start your tri season ASAP, you need to be doing your base miles now-- longish rides at medium-low intensity for three months before starting to increase the intensity and work into the hill climbs and intervals and sprints and time-trial paces.  If weather does not allow you to ride much in the winter, then cross-train, doing something else that builds long-term endurance.

I just finished my first pass of Joe Friel's "Cyclist's Training Bible," and my answer probably reflects that.  There's way too much there to put in a few paragraphs, and I do plan to read it again to understand and retain more.  One of the things he says early on though is that there are a lot of training plans that work-- if you just stick to one.  One problem is that people read about a training plan in a magazine and start on it, but switch to another plan every time a new issue comes out.


Offline gjjmtnus

Bike Tour
« Reply #2 on: December 06, 2007, 08:24:05 pm »
To prepare seriously for a trip this is the regime I use:
Winter: train cardio increasing time and mileage goals daily on stationary bike.  Work lower/upper body and abs for strength.
Spring; Short bike runs with one weekly long run, work towards 1/2 the distance of your daily goal (50 mi).
Summer emphasize 2 long bike runs a week, increase difficulty w/ hills/obstacles.  Add to the overall length of each trip gradually.
Finally one trail run at the distance and technical difficulty that your daily ride will be on average.
It's not scientific, but its what I do

Climb till there is no trail, then keep climbing.

Offline DaveB

Bike Tour
« Reply #3 on: December 09, 2007, 11:01:49 am »
Are you looking to do a fully self-contained (camping plus cooking plus plan your own route) tour or do you want an organized tour where your luggage is sag'ed and the route preplanned?  

If the later, consider GOBA in Ohio which isn't that far from you.  This year it starts in Lorain County west of Cleveland.

GOBA is a 3000 rider annual event that always starts on Father's Day weekend in June. It's a week long organized tour that averages about 50 miles/day with a couple of optional days.  It's camping but your baggage is transported by the organization every day so you only need your emergency tools on your bike.  Food is available at routine food stops.  Each night is spent in a small town with the campground being a county fairgrounds, school grounds or similar.

There are similar week long tours in other states too.  Wisconsin has one (SAGBRAW) every summer as does Michigan (PALM).

Most of thes rides have a motel option if camping isn't your thing but the cost is significantly higher as with any "credit card" tour.

This message was edited by DaveB on 12-9-07 @ 7:04 AM

Offline jan404

Bike Tour
« Reply #4 on: December 21, 2007, 05:07:57 pm »
Hi stephanie,

concerning the tour I would bother to much if you are doing triathlon I guess you are in pretty good shape and such a ride should be no problem...

I myself lived in Chicago this summer and where I live in  Germany it is even more flat than in Ilinois... So I wasn't used to mountains either.

I rode about 25min to work about 2 times a week and that was all and I didn't encounter any problems on my tour in Western Montana (I did little less than 100km/day for 3 weeks).

Its a pity you didn't post earlier I was always looking for a touring companion in Chicago...

Best wishes,

Jan