Need tips for training for a cross country

[blueskies]

I used this plan to train for Cycle Oregon, and would follow it again to train for any type of extended touring:

https://www.trainingpeaks.com/traini...p?plankey=2755

It's a twenty (or 21?) week training plan to get ready for extended touring, with climbing. It took me from occasional recreational riding to Cycle Oregon ready in 20 weeks.

The rides are specified by time, effort, and type of course. So, it might say "One hour recovery ride on a flat course, this should be a 1 on a scale of 1-10 for perceived exertion." -or- "4 hours, flat to rolling course, 1-4 effort on a scale of 1-10."

The long rides were back-to-back, building up from 1-2 hours, up to 5 hours. I usually did those on weekends. Week day rides were normally 1 hour, sometimes base building, sometimes climbing, sometimes recovery. All of this could be done on a trainer. If it were me, and I was doing this training over the winter, I'd sign up for a spinning class. I'd do my "hill/climbing/interval" style workouts in spinning class, and my distance rides at home on the trainer. Just to mix it up, and keep the training a little more fun.

My goal was to do Cycle Oregon & be trained so that I could enjoy the experience, not just survive it... and I did. I was riding with my smile on.

Good luck!
Blueskies

p.s. Are your riding with a group? Is it an organized tour? Will you be carrying your own gear or have support? I ask because we're thinking about next year's vacations, and a bike tour is high up on the list of possibilities...

[captenaj]

Thanks for the link, Blueskies. But the training plan costs $60 and shelling out more money isn't feasible right now. That goes for joining spinning classes, too. They cost. I do have an indoor trainer so I can get used to my new bike during the winter. I'm going to have to find some specific training plans for it. The tour is fully supported and is sponsored by WomanTours. They seem like a great organization.

[Eden]

My husband has one of these Conti trainer tires http://biketiresdirect.com/productde...COUHT&ssn=6066 and he's been quite happy with its performance on the trainer.

Beware that trainer riding can be boring and more diffcult than a road ride (you never get to coast on your trainer!) so putting in a long mileage ride may not be a great/desirable thing to do. The longest trainer ride I've ever tolerated was 2 hours and I didn't want to do it again any time soon. If you want to do very long trainer rides I'd suggest getting off and taking a good break every once in a while.

If you do want to keep track of mileage to keep with your training plan just set your bike computer up to pick up from the rear wheel - hopefully you have enough cable to get back there (my TT bike is set up this way - not sure why, but I bought it used and it was already like this). Of course a wireless model would be ideal.

[onimity]

I can't handle riding on a trainer. I got one, took it back and got some good winter gear instead. It need not cost you anything, since layering is really the way to go regardless. I always have cold hands and like mittens so I splurged on some lobster gloves and a helmet-friendly hat.

I am getting ready for a touring trip too (in Dec.) and find that 30 degrees and windy is a lot less painful than mind-numbing going-nowhere exercise indoors. But I get bored easily, and while it snows here it definitely doesn't get to minus 30!

Is your trip self-supported? I am feeling confident with my ability to put in a good number of miles each day but my big worry was doing that on a fully-loaded bike. I've been taking my bike to the grocery store, recycling center, etc. to work on that aspect, the store is a good workout when you are eating as much as I am!

I read that you can either start 'fit or fat' on trips like these, though, and in the end you will emerge fit regardless, you just have to give your body time to adapt to what you are asking it to do, either way, listen to pain, give yourself rest days and most of all enjoy it!

Anne

[Brandy]

Wow...first, I'm envious! It sounds like a great trip.

I just started base building for the "off-season" <~~~not that we truly have one here in California. That means long, steady distance at a lower intensity than I would normally ride at. Most of my events are ultradistance (double centuries) so this should help with my endurance. Closer to the start of the season, I will begin to do some speedwork. You can accomplish all of this on the trainer (not promising it will be fun) but it can be done.