Training for a bike tour now versus last one…
I am trying to do a better job of training for my upcoming October bike tour.
I was so busy with work last time that I didn’t do a great job preparing. And the tour was good, but I was physically and mentally exhausted at times. It didn’t help that I packed too much, either.
What did I do for the 12 weeks before my last big bike tour?
Week 1 – 4 rides over 4 hours 3 minutes (longest 2 hours 20 minutes)
Week 2 – 4 rides over 3 hours 4 minutes (longest 2 hours 3 minutes)
Week 3 – 2 rides over 1 hour 1 minute (longest 31 minutes)
Week 4 – 5 rides over 5 hours 27 minutes (longest 3 hours 22 minutes)
Week 5 – 4 rides over 5 hours 53 minutes (longest 3 hours 21 minutes)
Week 6 – 3 rides over 5 hours 29 minutes (longest 4 hours)
Week 7 – 5 rides over 3 hours 53 minutes (longest 2 hours 11 minutes)
Week 8 – 2 rides over 5 hours 5 minutes (longest 4 hours 30 minutes)
Week 9 – 3 rides over 6 hours 35 minutes (longest 3 hours 8 minutes)
Week 10 – 3 rides over 10 hours 41 minutes (longest 3 hours 18 minutes)
Week 11 – 4 rides over 3 hours 39 minutes (longest 1 hours 14 minutes)
Week 12 – Break.
Week 0 – Started the tour.
What have I done to prepare for this one so far?
Week 1 – 3 rides over 6 hours 15 minutes (longest 2 hours 6 minutes)
Week 2 – 4 rides over 8 hours 23 minutes (longest 2 hours 12 minutes)
Week 3 – 4 rides over 8 hours 48 minutes (longest 2 hours 28 minutes)
Week 4 – 4 rides over 9 hours 25 minutes (longest 2 hours 44 minutes)
Week 5 – 4 rides over 9 hours 37 minutes (longest 3 hours)
Week 6 – 2 rides over 4 hours 2 minutes (longest 2 hours 5 minutes)
Week 7 – 4 rides over 9 hours 28 minutes (longest 3 hours 21 minutes)
Week 8 – 3 rides over 8 hours 7 minutes (longest 3 hours 1 minute)
Week 9 – 2 rides over 6 hours 44 minutes (longest 3 hours 12 minutes)
Week 10 – 4 rides over 11 hours 26 minutes (longest 3 hours 11 minutes)
Week 11 – 3 rides over 8 hours 46 minutes (longest 3 hours 15 minutes)
Week 12 – 1 ride over 2 hours 7 minutes.
Week 13 – None
I hit a bad wall at 12, and needed to take a break. Plus my damn bike seat broke.
Notes
- So far, I am doing much better. I am putting in more rides to build a solid base. And slowly extending my longest rides. I’ve already spent more time in the saddle in 7 weeks than in the previous training.
- At Week 11/12, I hit a wall; not sure if it is overtraining, stress from some family health issues, or just the hard grind of trying to train/work/enjoy-time-with-family. I am taking week 12 off mostly.
- My bike seat broke at the end of week 11. It is the 2nd seat by that brand that broke, and I am super disappointed with them. The steel just snapped. I am on a new seat I like, but it is going to be tough to get used to a new seat on tour.
- I am doing two 2-hour rides during the week. I usually do these in the morning, and that is working well. Then I do long ones on the weekend mornings. I might try to squeeze in a 3rd week-day ride, but I will see how I feel. It is tough to do 3 hour rides and then a high intensity work day.
For reference for myself:
For my first bike tour, here are the 3 months leading up to it:
- Apr – 9 biking days / 173 km / 11 Hours (avg ride 73min)
- May – 12 biking days / 400 km / 25 Hours (avg ride 125min)
- Jun – 13 biking days / 508 km / 26 Hours (avg ride 120min)
My 2nd tour: 3 months leading up to this current tour:
- Jun – 18 Biking Days / 320km / ~28 Hours (avg ride 93min)
- Jul – 17 Biking Days / 324 km / ~28 Hours (avg ride 99min)
- Aug – 13 Biking Days / 554 km / ~32 Hours (avg ride 148min)
This one:
- Jul – 16 Biking Days / 778km / ~35 Hours (avg ride 131min)
- Aug – 14 Biking Days / 755km / ~34 Hours (avg ride 146min)
- Sep – (Incomplete as of Sep 24) 9 Biking Days / 539km / ~25 Hours (avg ride 166min)
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