Tapering for a race?

"David Kerber" <ns_dkerber@ns_ids.net> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

You people who race occasionally (not every week!): do you find that "tapering" your workouts
helps your performance on race day? I know runners and swimmers will taper their workouts as they
approach big races. Do you think it works for cyclists as well? If so, how long before, and how
much do you taper your workouts?

I don't race, just commute, but I really notice the difference for a weekend challenge if I ride
hard or easy Thurs/Fri. If I don't ride at all I feel like King Kong, but I don't know if that
translates into good results.

Doug Toronto

I've noticed the same thing. Skip a day and the next day's ride is likely faster.

"Doug Purdy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I don't race, just commute, but I really notice the difference for a

weekend

Quoted message said:

challenge if I ride hard or easy Thurs/Fri. If I don't ride at all I feel like King Kong, but I
don't know if that translates into good results.

Doug Toronto

"David Kerber" <ns_dkerber@ns_ids.net>

Quoted message said:

You people who race occasionally (not every week!): do you find that "tapering" your workouts
helps your performance on race day? I know runners and swimmers will taper their workouts as they
approach big races. Do you think it works for cyclists as well? If so, how long before, and how
much do you taper your workouts?

As you may know tapering is denying the body what it is expecting. The theory isn't as much rest as
it is denial. I haven't been around competition for years... but as I recall there was a four day
period... from max to mild.

hth

David Kerber ns_dkerber@ns_ids.net said:

You people who race occasionally (not every week!): do you find that "tapering" your workouts helps
your performance on race day? I know runners and swimmers will taper their workouts as they
approach big races. Do you think it works for cyclists as well? If so, how long before, and how
much do you taper your workouts?

I try to not get in a really hard ride closer than four days out, and try to take at least two days
off the bike, or at least keep the intensity WAY down. Sometimes I feel invincible after only one
day off, but two or three is usually better.

Mark Hickey Habanero Cycles habcycles.comhabcycles.comOpen ↗ Home of the $695 ti frame

In article <[email hidden]>, Doug Huffman

Quoted message said:

I've noticed the same thing. Skip a day and the next day's ride is likely faster.

"Doug Purdy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I don't race, just commute, but I really notice the difference for a

weekend

Quoted message said:

challenge if I ride hard or easy Thurs/Fri. If I don't ride at all I feel like King Kong, but I
don't know if that translates into good results.

Doug Toronto

Even if you just have an 'easy' cruise day on a couple days it seems to peak on the bike, but
that might be b/c it's one of the few types of activities where you're doing it -every- day in
many cases.

I rode with the wife easy on Sat and Sun, and by today, I was up a gear harder, and really pushing
sections I typically labor on. It was great. I was surprised, especially as I was really tired from
some yard chores and house work, and rode like 4 hours later than usual. I thought I'd be like
cutting the ride in half. Instead I felt like I could do it twice. Neat! ;-)

For running I have to start a taper like a week before and event. Swimming, 3-4 days. Seems based on
demand. You get rest on a bike. Little rest running, though.

Best,

-B

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Email Replies to johnson<nospm>01j <att> ntelos <dott> net

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

David Kerber ns_dkerber@ns_ids.net said:

You people who race occasionally (not every week!): do you find that "tapering" your workouts
helps your performance on race day? I know runners and swimmers will taper their workouts as they
approach big races. Do you think it works for cyclists as well? If so, how long before, and how
much do you taper your workouts?

I try to not get in a really hard ride closer than four days out, and try to take at least two
days off the bike, or at least keep the intensity WAY down. Sometimes I feel invincible after only
one day off, but two or three is usually better.

That's kind of what I was thinking, but wasn't sure about the specifics of how many days before to
stop the hard rides. Thanks Mark and Badger for the specific suggestions.

The race is Monday morning. I did a short, hard, high-rpm ride last Monday, nothing Tuesday, and a
longer easy pace Wednesday. I was thinking of doing another hard one on Thursday, nothing Friday,
easy on Saturday and nothing on Sunday. That would seem to fit with your and Badger's suggestions.
Or I may go easy Friday and nothing on both Saturday and Sunday; I'll play that by how I feel.

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