Touring Fitness

[tallliman]

I'm planning my first tour this year and will bemail doing a modest 350 miles in 8 days with one day spent mainly watching cricket. I'm aiming to stay in b&b's throughout so won't be carrying much.

Generally, I ride fairly flat out locally and achieve around 80-100 miles a week at about 17mph average. Logically, I'll be riding slower on the tour, aiming to spin a lot. However, as I've got 8 months to spare, how much riding do I need to be doing per week so I don't suffer too badly on tour? Should I be aiming for the 350 miles a week?

Is there any correlation for how much further one can ride at say 12mph if they can a happily do 50miles at16-17mph?

I may be over thinking this but I'd rather do that than worry!!

 

[Dave 123]

You've got all day to rack up 50 miles a day...... 25 in the morning, a spot of lunch, and 25 in the afternoon. There's no rush, or is there?

 

[tallliman]

No rush certainly but I just want to be sure that I'll be able to manage the rides on back-to-back days.

 

[Big T]

I often do 400 miles a week on tour, but only average about 150 a week in normal life. 350 miles a week is only 50 a day and you've got all day to do it, so you don't need to do that amount of training.

Practice back to back rides at weekends and you should be fine.

 

[velovoice]

How hilly is it?

 

[growingvegetables]

No rush certainly but I just want to be sure that I'll be able to manage the rides on back-to-back days.

Fwiw - I used to take my kids out on tour. 40-50 miles a day. Like ... over the Pennines and back again. Carrying tents and all the gear. Back-to-back cycling days.

I didn't ever need to do any training .

Neither did my kids! They managed ... most days; and the days they found hard .... well, it was kinda tough, cos it was a long way home!.

Seriously though - 50 miles a day is a nice leisurely pace. Gives you time to stop and stare. Visit the odd interesting spot. Plenty to time to make up for big hills or foul winds, without breaking your lungs or busting your legs.]

 

[Spinney]

I often do 400 miles a week on tour, but only average about 150 a week in normal life. 350 miles a week is only 50 a day and you've got all day to do it, so you don't need to do that amount of training.

Practice back to back rides at weekends and you should be fine.

This ^^^
50 miles per day doesn't sound that much for you, so your main problem will be aching legs/bum from doing it day on day. If you're in a B&B make the most of the cooked brekkies and make sure you eat and drink during the day - but if you're only doing 50 miles a day you've got plenty of time for that, as others have said. My average speed is more like 12 mph, and I'd not worry too much about extra training for that kind of trip, other than making sure my bum is acclimatised.

 

[tallliman]

How hilly is it?

Not too bad, one day through the Yorkshire Moors up past Fylingdales with 6000ft of climb in 50miles is the worst.

Thanks all for replying, it seems I'm worrying too much about it in many ways. I'll try and do a week of commutes (40 miles per day) in the build up.

 

[StuartG]

I'm guessing 50 miles in a day isn't worrying too much. It's the 50 miles the next day and the day after that. I don't think I can give you a reassuring answer on that.

For me day 2 always starts bad. However easy you thought day 1 the legs are still carrying it. Residual lactic acid? Unlikely, but it feels like it. I was terrified on my first long tour to be totally knackered 2 hours into day 2 with 6 more harder ones to go.

But an hour later I was cruising faster than I had ever ridden before. It just got better. Well until the last day when steam finally ran out. But with the end in sight I stll got the result.

This has, more or less, been repeated on every subsequent tour. After an intial dip I just got stronger (and I'm not usually classed as a strong rider). Last year it was day 6 I achieved a performance I still can't believe. I notice other riders with me wax, and sometimes wane, on a different timeline. I suppose that may be something to look forward to - to watch how your performance changes over the week.

But if you have a down, grit teeth, good times may be just around the corner. Oh and having 350 miles (switch to km for bigger numbers) on the odometer at the end will make you feel real good. Its only with great reluctance I force myself to zeroise it for the next ride!

My normal week is a single club ride of about 100km.

 

[totallyfixed]

You won't have a problem with those distances at all, stop worrying, we usually do anything between 100 and 250 miles per week depending on the time of year, on our last tour we did 722 miles in 10 days comfortably.

 

[tallliman]

The days are likely to be 50miles, 70mi (pan flat through lincolnshire and over the Humber), 25 mi (day at the cricket), 50 hilly miles and then 50's then on.

I'm usually fairly good at keeping going to be honest. It's probably more not having done that much back to back.

 

[StuartG]

As to speed I like to go with the flow. Nasty headwind? I reign in, draught if I can. Go easy, save strength. 10 mph is quite enough for me. No wind and flat - well 20 mph is exhiliration and a distance killer without discernable issues. Never pedal downhill - unless it is the last hill to your lodgings. No point in using energy you don't have to. The savings will pay dividends later.

Oh and stop at a cafe/pub before you need to. Otherwise you won't find one when you do. Having stopped sods law proclaims there will be an even better one just down the road. But better to have two stops than one. The point of tours is the stops are as important as the bits in between. Enjoy.

 

[steveindenmark]

It sounds like the only hill you will hit for miles is the Humber Bridge

 

[tallliman]

It sounds like the only hill you will hit for miles is the Humber Bridge

According to the route planner, I climb further the next day when I only do 25 mi!

 

[Tin Pot]

Not too bad, one day through the Yorkshire Moors up past Fylingdales with 6000ft of climb in 50miles is the worst.

Thanks all for replying, it seems I'm worrying too much about it in many ways. I'll try and do a week of commutes (40 miles per day) in the build up.

I've recently upped my mileage significantly, 60miles a day, first just a day a week, then some times two days on the trot now three days a week. I'm 40 and BMI 29% and had a proper bike fit first.

The first couple of weeks were hard, but my body adapted pretty quickly. I would suggest you'll have no worries if you do a few consecutive days building up before hand.

My primary concern would be your position on the bike, I've been in agony for long rides before. It's worth any amount to avoid that!