Distance Climbing Help

[Geonz]

Yep, what MP said!

I can also give you a more moderate picture of what we were doing prior to my work/illness issue.

An example of one 'cycle':
wk 1: 65 miles, 4500 ft climbing
wk 2: 55 miles, 5500 ft climbing - this was tougher than it looks because those climbs were much steeper than our normal terrain in order to get to 5500 ft in only 55 miles
wk 3: 85 miles rolling terrain (probably 2500 feet overall)
wk 4: 75 miles, 6000 climbing

After doing this just once, I noticed that wk 4 was MUCH easier for me than week 1 was, on the same general terrain. There could have been other conditions that made it seem easier, but I do recall that many of the climbs we had done in wk 1 that were repeated in wk 4 (we did both rides in the same county) were 'flatter' to us. I also know that after completing some of the climbs of wk 2, everything seemed easier in comparison (though that was definitely a mental benefit).

Week 5 was to be another shorter, steeper route, but that's when I got slammed with work....

Oh, and two other benefits to training like this are 1) that you can get to total fatigue in a shorter distance on some of those weeks like wk 2, so they are a bit easier to fit into the rest of life's schedule. And 2) if you have to travel to get to the bigger hills/climbs, you don't have to do that travel every weekend.

Okay, I"m confused. In week one you ride 65 miles? Or is that every day? (I'm justcurious. Hills are a little hard to find here, as are long distance events...)

[GLC1968]

Okay, I"m confused. In week one you ride 65 miles? Or is that every day? (I'm justcurious. Hills are a little hard to find here, as are long distance events...)

That 65 miles was one weekend ride. The schedule I posted was only my weekend long rides. I also ride during the week at least a couple of times (more, if I'm commuting) and do some other activities. If schedule permits, I also try to do a ride on the opposing weekend day either as a recovery ride or as some other type of training (usually a short ride).