RAGBRAI for beginners

[wolfak]

The official RAGBRAI website has some training tips on it.

[gingerale]

You know, I actually did 4 days of RAGBRAI this year for the first time. My parents did it the year before and talked me into going with them and doing it this year. I didn't even start riding (and I'm about 30 lbs overweight) until the end of April of this year. I'd never done more than 16 miles at one time, and no hills (mostly because where I live there aren't any readily available).

I completed 4 full days. But this year's route was very hilly which made it much more challenging for me. I plan on doing it again next year and here's how I'll train differently:

1. Longer rides. While I did complete one day totalling 77 miles, I thought my butt might actually fall off! UGH! The only thing that got me through that long day was pure d stubborness and determination. So for the few months leading up to RAGBRAI 2009 I will make sure I do some 30-40 mile rides each week.

2. Hills, hills, hills! While the terrain for the course the year before was generally flat (according to my parents), this year was not. But I will definitely be more prepared this next time. I found a place within about 30 miles of where I live now that has some decent hills. Nothing like what we did on the route this summer, but things I can work with. So some hill training is a must, in my opinion.

Other than that, riding RAGBRAI can be broken down into town to town rides. When you need a rest, stop at the next town, eat and drink up, rest, whatever you need to do. I think the most separation we had one day between towns was about 20 miles (I may be wrong on that but I'm thinking it's pretty close). Some rides between towns were as little as 6. So it is really nice to at least know you're never far from a good rest stop (not to mention all of the little places between towns selling food and drinks).

Good luck with it all. I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I did. Even though I wasn't completely prepared, I enjoyed myself immensely.

[Reesha]

I think RAGBRAI is on the short list for 2010 for me. I'll be coaching my high school cycling team both fall and spring and I'll have to buckle down and get a trainer during the winter. My problem is finding it in me to do long rides on the weekend after bike commuting to school and riding with the team all week long.

I also need someone to go with me!

has anyone ever done it alone? I figure it wouldn't really be alone, as you'd make friends all along the way... but still... seems like something you'd do with a friend, significant other, or family member!

[Jiffer]

I would find some shorter events to train for. A half or metric century. Then move onto a century and do a few of those. Then maybe look for a two day event and start working on back to back riding. Eventually you'll know when you are ready to accomplish your big goal.

The more you ride, the stronger you'll get. I just did my first back to back ride of 75 miles each day. I really didn't know how I'd do the second day and was a little nervous about it. I ended up doing just fine and was so proud of myself. I didn't even train specifically for this event and didn't know until a week before that I was going to do it, but had been riding a LOT this year, so my body was ready.

Congrats on the new you! Have fun accomplishing your goals ... and have fun on the journey as well.

[indysteel]

For the time being, just gradually increase your mileage, both per ride and per week. In terms of RAGBRAI, start doing long back-to-back rides.

There's no one "right" way to do a tour. Some really like to take it slowly, stopping at each rest stop or town, having a leisurely lunch. Some like to push their pace. I've done it both ways and probably prefer a happy medium between the two. I'd at least like to be in good enough shape to ride hard any given day so, for me, that means some fairly high mileage weeks (175 plus miles) and some long back-to-back rides. Plus, I'd do some hill work depending on the terrain. If wind is a potential issue, I'd train for that, too.

If it gives you any hope, I did a week long tour my first full year of cycling. It's a doable goal and a lot of fun. Good luck!

[Reesha]

Well there are definite weeks where I'm doing 40-50 miles each day between commuting to school and then riding with my team after school. There's breaks in between the rides though so I'm not sure it counts! 12 miles in the morning for instance, then 25 at 3 pm then another 12 once we're done with the 25.

Truth be told I haven't done anything over 35 miles in a single shot since I moved here. Haven't found a good long distance riding group yet. I guess when cycling isn't the ONLY scene in town it's a little harder to break into

[millefolia]

I was glad to see this thread--I've been thinking lately that I'd like to do RAGBRAI someday too. I don't live in Iowa anymore, but I grew up there and so it was always the big cycling event every year--only I wasn't big into cycling then.