Touring - Tour Pacing

I'm preparing for a week-long tour coming up next month, and I have a question regarding tour pacing. When you're on a long ride (90-100-mile days), do you break it up into smaller chunks? Have you found an ideal breakdown for conserving energy all the way through a long trek?

Examples:
30 miles, rest, 30 miles, rest, etc.?
20 miles, rest, 10 miles, rest, 20 miles, rest, etc.?
50 miles, rest, 50 miles?
All at once with minimal stops?

I'm interested in how you have made it through multiple long days back to back. Thanks!

I have to break it down, mentally a 100 mile block is, to me, a bit intimidating. I that breaking the day into 25ish mile blocks works well for me. It's far enough that you feel like you've accomplished something, and short enough that mentally they aren't a barrier for me. I'll try and look at the map, and usually there is a nice logical place to break within +-5 miles of the distance I want. In other words, I want to break after 25 miles, there is a town at about 28 miles, I'll break there.

On a longer ride, I divide the breaks in to major and minor breaks. The first break is a minor break usually, something to eat and not more than 15 minutes. Second one might be the major break, eat lunch, see some sights, or just chill for a while, figure 30 minutes or more. Last break, usually a minor one, again let the legs recover, get plenty of fluids in and some food to fuel the last part in.

Psychologically, it's very effective for me, by the second break, I'm thinking "I'm already half way done, one more segment, and I'll be almost there" Yes, I play mental games with myself sometimes.

I'm also not adverse to taking a mini-break when needed, perhaps after a long climb, a few minutes of the break to let the legs refresh, a quick nosh and drink, and a picture or two.

On multiday tours I have to be careful to pace myself, to not use up too much energy the first day, since I have to do it again the next day. Enjoy the ride, Smell the Roses, Wave at the Cows, and remember, it's TOURING, you get there when you get there.

Hope this helps,

Steve W.
WHO would much rather be outside than teaching today.

I try to avoid riding during the hottest hours of the day (around 2:30-5:30 here), although sometimes in the past I couldn't avoid it because I had an itinerary (usually that itinerary involved getting home in time to get back to work, but I don't have to worry about that now that I work on the road).

Well, any time a friend of mine asks me a question like this, the first thing I do is find out why they want to do so many miles back to back. I had a good friend go out and put in 600 miles in six days and he maintains that he had no fun at all. He was fully loaded and camping. Makes for a long day and you might end up asking yourself....why? May be not. I've read the journals of people trying to get across the US averaging above 80 miles a day (means many 100 milers) and those averaging 60 seem to have so much more fun.

Anyway, my advice is get started very early. This gives you time to deal with potential problems and setbacks. Then if you don't have any issues arise it gives you more time to relax and recharge at the end of each day.

You need to be out putting in long training rides if you really want to help yourself out. Once or twice a week riding long.

Cheers




Have you found an ideal breakdown for conserving energy all the way through a long trek?

I do it like this: I start riding at some time in the morning and I just ride until I need to eat or rest. There is no predetermined pacing, it is more on how I feel. Usually in the morning I can go for 3-4 hours with out much more than a pee brake.

After the first break, and once things are warming up the breaks come more often, and are based on how tired I am, and if there is something to see or somewhere to rest and grab a drink or bight to eat. At times I will take a break ever 10-15 km.

Rather than planning breaks, just let them happen, and your body will let you know when you need one.

Have a good trip.

Best rule of thumb take a break when your body tells you. It depends on the day. Sometimes I can ride for a few hours without stopping then there are the days where its every hour. Just go with how your body is feeling. No matter what anyone says at around mile 80 your grumpy and the old butt is hurting but you ride on and the second wind kicks in and all of a sudden you reached your goal. I've been on tours with friends where everyone is in a hurry to get somewhere and their missing the point were out there to relax and get away from the rat race and enjoy the moment I think alot of us forget to have fun and enjoy the moment.And if the other person is in such a hurry to race to camp or the hotel let him or her go.

I'm preparing for a week-long tour coming up next month, and I have a question regarding tour pacing. When you're on a long ride (90-100-mile days), do you break it up into smaller chunks? Have you found an ideal breakdown for conserving energy all the way through a long trek?

Examples:
30 miles, rest, 30 miles, rest, etc.?
20 miles, rest, 10 miles, rest, 20 miles, rest, etc.?
50 miles, rest, 50 miles?
All at once with minimal stops?

I'm interested in how you have made it through multiple long days back to back. Thanks!


Just go with the flow! If you feel like taking a break, take it. If you feel like staying on the bicycle and riding, stay on the bicycle and keep riding. I wouldn't plan it out ... in fact, it is VERY difficult to plan something like that in such detail.

For example . . . . .
... suppose one day you are cycling along and it is a gorgeous day, you've got a tailwind, the terrain is flat, and you are clipping along nicely. Maybe 50 miles flies by before you know it.
... suppose another day you are cycling along, and all of a sudden a huge storm blows in and you are off the bicycle and huddled under some trees or in a barn for the next hour until it is comfortable to continue. Well, you've just taken a break ... but chances are it wasn't at one of your "scheduled" distances.
... maybe another day you aren't feeling so well, and you end up taking a number of unscheduled breaks in every service station you pass by.
... or another day is very hot and you decide that it is in your best interests to find a cool and shady spot somewhere between 11 am and 3 pm, so that you don't run into any heat related problems.

Just relax and ride! :)

Just go with the flow! If you feel like taking a break, take it.



Machka:
That sounds good. What do you do if you join a group of hotshots setting the pace of 100 to 150 miles/day and you absolutely do not want to stand out as the slowest member of that group? I know, you do not have to join that group. But let us say that there are ulterior motives.

Well, any time a friend of mine asks me a question like this, the first thing I do is find out why they want to do so many miles back to back. I had a good friend go out and put in 600 miles in six days and he maintains that he had no fun at all. He was fully loaded and camping. Makes for a long day and you might end up asking yourself....why? May be not. I've read the journals of people trying to get across the US averaging above 80 miles a day (means many 100 milers) and those averaging 60 seem to have so much more fun.

Anyway, my advice is get started very early. This gives you time to deal with potential problems and setbacks. Then if you don't have any issues arise it gives you more time to relax and recharge at the end of each day.

You need to be out putting in long training rides if you really want to help yourself out. Once or twice a week riding long.

Cheers

I know exactly what you mean!! When I did my 3 month tour of Australia, I made the mistake of deciding to ride with one of those guys who LIKES riding long, long days, day after day after day after day. His idea of a perfect tour would be to ride 100-150 mile days, weeks in a row, without a break ... and he has done that on a number of occasions. He enjoys it, and that's fine for him. However, I don't. I find it exhausting and instead of actually being able to stop and see interesting things along the way, when I ride like that I end up seeing a lot of the road right in front of me. I can tell you exactly what the highways of Australia look like! Fortunately I did slow things down now and then so that I could see more.

And I agree ... if you are planning to ride 100 miles a day for a week, TRAIN for it!! Train for it on the sort of terrain you will be riding on. Train for it with a loaded touring bicycle.

If you don't, the first day will be fairly easy. The second day won't be too bad. But by the time you reach the 4th day you might have serious doubts about what you are doing out there.

Machka:
That sounds good. What do you do if you join a group of hotshots setting the pace of 100 to 150 miles/day and you absolutely do not want to stand out as the slowest member of that group? I know, you do not have to join that group. But let us say that there are ulterior motives.

See my response above this one.

I did join with a guy who rode like that ... for THREE MONTHS in Australia, thousands and thousands of miles away from home in a place where I hardly knew anyone ... so I couldn't just head out on my own.

While I enjoyed seeing Australia, and I wouldn't have passed up those three months for anything ... I firmly believe my cycling this year was screwed up because of it. I was completely burnt out by the time I returned to Canada.

So if I were you, I'd be absolutely sure about those ulterior motives.

But if you did decide those ulterior motives were important enough to ride 100 to 150 miles a day with this group, train for it. Work your way up so that you feel comfortable doing double centuries (200 miles in one day). Ride back to back centuries on the weekends. You might even find it helpful to take up Randonneuring. That way you would have some idea what to expect ... how to eat, how your body is going to react to it all.

http://www.randonneurs.bc.ca/links/links.html
http://www.rusa.org/
http://www.ultracycling.com/

But if you did decide those ulterior motives were important enough to ride 100 to 150 miles a day with this group, train for it. Work your way up so that you feel comfortable doing double centuries (200 miles in one day). Ride back to back centuries on the weekends. You might even find it helpful to take up Randonneuring. That way you would have some idea what to expect ... how to eat, how your body is going to react to it all.



Machka: Thanks. Would you agree that it makes a world of difference if you go supported or not? My planned tour is fully supported!
My training consists of frequent centuries including last week six centuries back to back. I can do 150 miles but that is pushing it for this 63 year old.
I am counting on taking advantage of drafting behind the tour leader.
;)

Being fully supported will make a HUGE difference!

You can take a lighter bike, narrower tires, light "climbing" wheels etc etc. Just make sure your bike is comfy for you over the long haul. Check out something like a "Bento box"-for storing snacks rite on your top tube, and use your jersey pockets as well. Stay hydrated+eat.

I'd still be a bit leary riding at someone else's pace, as that's a very good recipe to burnout. You'll have to make that call though. Once burned, the rest of a ride is no fun at all.

Being fully supported will make a HUGE difference!

You can take a lighter bike, narrower tires, light "climbing" wheels etc etc. Just make sure your bike is comfy for you over the long haul. Check out something like a "Bento box"-for storing snacks rite on your top tube, and use your jersey pockets as well. Stay hydrated+eat.

I'd still be a bit leary riding at someone else's pace, as that's a very good recipe to burnout. You'll have to make that call though. Once burned, the rest of a ride is no fun at all.
[QUOTE]

Camel:
I love this forum for responses like yours. Where else can I get it? In answer to your advise:
I am planning to use a converted C'dale R2000, fitted for mountain riding, fitted for Expressway driving, tour serviceable wheels, aero bars.
I do not know a "Bento box." I got a Trek seat mounted bracket for a pretty big bag.
Thinking to need bad weather gear and lots of Trail mix food. I believe in eating more calories than I burn.
The Bike is fitted for 3 bottles.
I will be wary of burn out. I can hold 18-20 miles/hour for 100 miles in drafting. I have done so. I will not be too proud to drop to a slower team. They will have 20+++ riders. My bet is that I am fitter than some of them.
Again thanks.

Being fully supported will make a HUGE difference!

You can take a lighter bike, narrower tires, light "climbing" wheels etc etc. Just make sure your bike is comfy for you over the long haul. Check out something like a "Bento box"-for storing snacks rite on your top tube, and use your jersey pockets as well. Stay hydrated+eat.

I'd still be a bit leary riding at someone else's pace, as that's a very good recipe to burnout. You'll have to make that call though. Once burned, the rest of a ride is no fun at all.
[QUOTE]

Camel:
I love this forum for responses like yours. Where else can I get it? In answer to your advise:
I am planning to use a converted C'dale R2000, fitted for mountain riding, tour serviceable wheels, aero bars, Brooks saddle.
I do not know a "Bento box." I got a Trek seat mounted bracket for a pretty big bag.(adds weight)
Thinking to need bad weather gear and lots of Trail mix food. I believe in eating more calories than I burn.
The Bike is fitted for 3 bottles.
I will be wary of burn out. I can hold 18-20 miles/hour for 100 miles in drafting. I have done so. I will not be too proud to drop to a slower team. They will have 20+++ riders. My bet is that I am fitter than some of them. The tour leader "suggests 100 miles in 6.5 hours" I assume including stops.
Again thanks. :)

I'm preparing for a week-long tour coming up next month, and I have a question regarding tour pacing. When you're on a long ride (90-100-mile days), do you break it up into smaller chunks? Have you found an ideal breakdown for conserving energy all the way through a long trek?

Examples:
30 miles, rest, 30 miles, rest, etc.?
20 miles, rest, 10 miles, rest, 20 miles, rest, etc.?
50 miles, rest, 50 miles?
All at once with minimal stops?

I'm interested in how you have made it through multiple long days back to back. Thanks!


jtaylor:
I want to apologize for getting too involved in my own thing on your thread.
If you are interested, here is what I do on these centuries, assuming 90 to 100 Degree weather:
One bottle of water every 8-10miles.
Food every 25 miles. 700 to 1000 calories. 5 to 10 minutes rest at 50 miles.
Substantial breakfast to start and a solid meal at night. (Bottle of good wine)
Next day repeat. Time objective is 100 miles in 6 to 6.5 hours.
My most important insight is: Do not starve your body of food or water.