Need tips for training for a cross country

[captenaj]

That is absolutely fantastic. Thank you. This is going to be great.

[boy in a kilt]

Zen's advice is a good place to start. Upper body strength is always good to have for a long ride.

My little piece of this will help with the distance. For the record, I'm jealous. I've wanted to ride cross-country since I was 15. When I was young, broke and didn't have a job, family or bills, I was too stupid to realize it was the perfect time to do it. Ah well, I'm not dead yet so it could still happen.

First off, don't think of your ride as 3,000 miles (or whatever your route is). That'll just mess with your head and make the whole thing seem bigger and scarier than it really is. What you are really doing is riding 50 or 60 miles a day for a couple of months. The best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time.

Train to the point where you can ride 50 or 60 miles a couple of days a week and not be wiped out. Having a smooth cadence will make this easier.

Also, plan rest days on a regular basis. Every four days or so. And if you get up one morning and decide you just need a rest, pay up for your campsite for another day and spend a day doing bike maintenance, writing letters, read, eat or lay on the grass and look at the trees.

Realistically speaking, I'd be more concerned with ensuring you and your bike get along. Can you sit in the saddle for several hours a day without your butt going on strike? Are there any little quirks to your bike that bug you a little? Sort them out now because they will drive you looney after several hours a day.

[captenaj]

Thanks to all for the feedback. I have been working on my upper body strength and concentrating on getting my bike comfortable (in addition to putting on some miles). Now here's a new problem: winter. OK, it's not winter but it's 45º and raining and it's going to be like this until it is 30 below and snowing. I have a trainer but I haven't used one before. Do I need a special tire for my bike? The LBS says I should get one that's tough and dissipates heat. I think I would do well with training videos. Are there any that people can recommend? Most of the training schedules I have looked at online just say to ride 15 miles this day and 40 miles that day but does all that still work when you're on a trainer?

The ride doesn't start until March but I'm getting a little nervous here. My goal is to ride every mile of the 3,115 mile journey (but I know things happen - anything over 3000 miles would keep me happy). Any help is greatly appreciated.