Route Planning Hilly Regions

[roundisland]

Hope this is not going to make me sound like a complete wimp. With 2.5 weeks until departure to Perpignan France I'm still route planning and trying to see lovely places with as little pain as possible. Having never cycled in really hilly regions before I'm not sure what i'm going to be able to withstand touring with a full load.

A bit about my current fitness. In England I have been trying to build up my fitness with runs of around 45 miles with around 2200 feet of ascents I can do this in around 3hr 30mins.

Below is an example of a planned days ride for my coming tour, is it reasonable to think I would be able to cope with the demands of such a days riding fully loaded bearing in mind my current fitness. Cycle touring abroad is completely new to me.

Thanks

 

[rich p]

It looks perfect to me. You're not overdoing it at 36 miles even if it's a bit lumpy. Nothing alpine in that region but some testing, tough climbs nevertheless.

I'd guess that you'll take it easy up the hills, stop for a coffee, coast down the other side, buy some lunchtime provisions, relax with a bit of bread, cheese and tomato, watch the butterflies, birds and wild flowers then arrive at your camp at 3pm.

Tent up, shower, shop, beer, read, plan the next day, cook, eat, sip wine, sleep the contented sleep of the innocent.

I'm getting envious already!

 

[doog]

I will be passing very close to that route in June. Im working on my fitness as well but not overly concerned as I can always get off and push the bike up the steeper hills, stop as much as I want and as rich p says coast down the other side.

ps Im doing the Pyrenees first but hey ho

 

[andym]

If I'm cycling somewhere mountainous I tend to look first at the the amount of climbing to do. A 1,000 vertical metres is a reasonable day. In my experience the roads are usually not very steep but the climbs can go on and on.

 

[Telemark]

Take it easy on the day, and you should be fine, given your current rides above. If you are worried, you could always plan a flatter route for the next day, if that's an option?

Have fun! (and take lots of pictures to show us later!)

T

 

[roundisland]

Thanks for the replies it's helped a lot. Rich you describe the holiday that I want to create for myself hope it works out like that.
Andym that's could be better for me as I feel better when I can develop A rhythm up hills over time. Mostly short and steep around here .

Have a good trip doog, if you cycle by somebody pushing their bike up hill stop and say hello, it might be me!