Quote: Originally Posted by limerickman [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]
How much time do you have to train between now and the trip?
The reason I ask is that you say that although you train and run, you're a newbie as far as long distance cycling is concerned.
950kms is a fair distance which translates in to 600 miles of pedalling. Over 7 days.
Depending on the time that you have between now and the event itself, I would try to build up my stamina by doing long rides at a steady speed.
The objective is to start to build "cycling muscle memory" : allowing your body to adapt to being able to cycle long distances without going in to your reserves leaving you too tired to cycle the next day.
So select a target training distance which will require you to work to 90% of your capacity but which will not see you exceed that threshold and slowly increase the distance you ride as your body becomes acquainted.
How far should that distance be? I don't know because everyone has different fitness thresholds.
At a guesstimate if you're aiming to cover 50kms a day at the moment, use that as your measurement.
As you become acquainted with that distance you should see an improvement in terms of the time taken to cover that distance and the speed at which you are able to recover from that distance.
When you reach that point extend the distances to 60/65kms and work at that level. Incremental progress is the real secret to improving your
performance and recovery.
In terms of training fuel, the amount of perspiration will determine how much liquid you will need. For a long distance cycle - which I would measure as 4 hours onwards - I would consume 2 litres of fluids. What type of fluids? I use water with a small bit of lemon dilute flavouring.
Other cyclists I knew prefer to use gels and such like. Again it is an individual preference.
As regards food, if I am doing a long session, I tend to eat 2 hours before a ride.
Food would include eggs for protein, perhaps some porridge or some pasta. On the bike I do take some biscuits with me - fig flavoured ones.
Again this is individual preference. I went through a phase of consuming apples at one point on long spins so fads come and go.
Cycling is all about preparations.
Prepare through sufficient training.
Prepare through eating and drinking the correct consumables.
Prepare through sleeping and relaxing and allowing your body to recover.
I'll reiterate that incremental progress should be your aim between now and your trip.
I hope that this helps.
I have around 9 months, the summers get real hot here and I'd like to aim for doing it in the winter when it's cooler.
I realise that and I was far from expecting it to be an easy from the off. That's some really valuable information there, and I appreciate it a lot. I understand everyone there and duly noted all of it. One question, for the increment training, should I train consecutively due to the actual event being a 7 day, consecutive event to get my body used to the short recovery time or should I leave that till I've advanced enough in terms of stamina?
