Originally Posted by
Robert Foster
Well I am going to try it. Told my wife and have decided to really work at training. I have been working on sprints and short climbs but I can tell climbing is never going to be one of my favorite parts of a ride. Now that I have committed mentally I will have to spend more time getting ready physically. Like some have suggested I am more interested in finishing. Anything else will just be icing on the cake.
A good way of training is down at the gym. When I trained for my offroad rides- I spent the winter at the gym as well as getting out on the bike. 1 hours cardio by spending 10 minutes on each of 6 different machines worked wonders on getting me fit. I started at a low base by setting the machines at level 8 out of 20 and went up one level each week. Never went above 16 except on the cross trainer but each week was a new level in what I could achieve. When I got to level 12- I decided to see how fit I was by going all out- as in sprinting on each machine for as long as possible for one of the two sessions I spent there each week. Don't think they helped physically but it did push me to the limit and I knew that when on the rides- I could still keep going when it hurt. The mental side of pain is a limit that you have to find.
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How long was I in the army? Five foot seven.
Spike Milligan