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My husband I have been offered a trip on a bike tour through Burgandy France. All expenses paid! (except possible hospital expenses). I am 58 and in pretty good shape. There is a support van and I am calling this my eating/drinking/riding in the support van tour. Seriously. Just a few questions. I have NEVER seriously biked. Last time was about 6 years ago, in the bay area. Went about 7 miles, mostly uphill and it about did me in, but was highly invigorated! So here's my questions:1. how do I "train" for this thing. It's in about 12 days. 2. What kind of clothing will I need? The brochure says between 25 and 30 miles a day, but you can take all day. Any kind of advice, other than canceling the trip? Thanks, Susie:eek:
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My husband I have been offered a trip on a bike tour through Burgandy France. All expenses paid! (except possible hospital expenses). I am 58 and in pretty good shape. There is a support van and I am calling this my eating/drinking/riding in the support van tour. Seriously. Just a few questions. I have NEVER seriously biked. Last time was about 6 years ago, in the bay area. Went about 7 miles, mostly uphill and it about did me in, but was highly invigorated! So here's my questions:1. how do I "train" for this thing. It's in about 12 days. 2. What kind of clothing will I need? The brochure says between 25 and 30 miles a day, but you can take all day. Any kind of advice, other than canceling the trip? Thanks, Susie:eek:
12 days?
You can't really train in 12 days.
Do you know what kind of bicycles?
Your primary concerns will be:
1. The seat will likely be extremely uncomfortable, causing you a lot of pain, as your bottom nerve endings will not be deadened. Other muscles will be sore, particularly depending upon the type of ibke - shoulder and neck, for example. Hands may cramp.
2. You will be using muscles you haven't used since the Bay Area, and they we be weak and sore. Even runners get sore muscles when they first bike.
3. I don't know about your aerobic capacity - it sounds as though it might be ok.
I would suggest some short rides, starting today, starting at about 5 miles and building up some mileage each day. Don't overdo your first couple of days. Give your self a rest day or two in that 12 days. You need to get your butt used to a seat and to engage those bicycling muscles.
Go to a good bike shop and explain your situation. Get some good padded mtn biking shorts or similar, a comfortable jersey or two. A light wind breaker. I have no knwledge about the weather and heat/cold. You may need leggings, etc.???
You will want to keep yourself hydrated - I assume they will have adequate water/sports drinks available. Eat a good bowl of oatmeal for breakfast and whole grains. It is low glycemic and will provide energy for a long time.
25-30 miles is no easy accomplishment for a beginning bicycler.
But, GO and enjoy. You will make it through, and it will be fun. DO NOT CANCEL!
Burgundy looks kind of hilly (according to a brief look at my atlas), and 12 days is nowhere near enough time for a beginner to train for 25-30 mile daily rides. So yes, in one sense, you might be crazy to try this.
BUT--you'd be even crazier to skip a free trip to France! Too many people miss out on fun and interesting things in life because they are afraid to do something crazy. In my opinion, you'd be better off struggling to pedal through Burgundy than you'd be sitting at home watching TV.
So here's another way of looking at this. You can get up every morning on this trip and ride until you get tired. You can go 3 or 4 miles, stop to rest, ride a few more miles, stop to rest again, ride in the van for a while, have lunch, walk your bike up the steep hills and coast down the other side, and enjoy being in a new place and seeing new things. If you get so tired that you can't even walk, someone will give you a ride. Sure, you'll get sore, and you'll be bone tired at night, but when you get home, you'll have a great memory.
In the meantime, try riding again to see how far you can go without getting exhausted. Practice on some hills. Brush up on your French.
Have fun!
Welcome Nuevomex. Two words: DON'T CANCEL!
Whatever happens, it will be the adventure of a lifetime. The very worst that isn't bad at all: You decide to ride in the support van, eating and drinking your way through beautiful countryside. The best could be that you find a wonderful new activity that you and hubby can enjoy for a lifetime.
My two cents re: your questions:
1) There's not that much training you can do in 12 days. But if you can, get on a bike and ride a bit. It will help break your butt in, if nothing else. I'm serious.
2) You can spend untold quantities of money on bike clothes, but my clothing advice will be simple: Go to a bike shop and get a couple of pair of decent, padded cycling shorts. Don't wear them with undies and wash them between uses. You can do it in the sink and hang them up to dry overnight. They really help. Oh, and maybe some decent rain gear.
Finally, take your time during the actual ride. If you've got all day to go 25 miles, that means you've got plenty of time to stop at castles, admire the views, talk to the cows, etc. You may come to cherish rolling gently and easly through the countryside in ways hard core cyclists never do. Using an easy-does-it approach, you can take eight hours to go 25 miles and still get back in plenty of time for drinks.
Holy crap! No, dont cancel. Wow, how great for you! Where do I sign up?? Anyways, 25 to 30 miles per day should be pretty easy. Between now and then get out and ride for sure. Start with a somewhat shorter distance if you cant do 30 miles right away. Then tomorrow add a couple of miles to that. etc. Make sure your bike is in good condition, take it to the bike shop for a tuneup if there is any question. Especially, get the fit of your bike right. They can take care of that too. Buy a pair of quality bike shorts, the padded layer is way more comfortable than anything else you might have. If you dont like the spandex look you can wear regular shorts over them. As far as clothing, ask the ppl sponsoring the ride what you should wear. Or check the expected temps and likelihood of rain. Then head to the bike shop again. They will have clothing to meet any eventuality. The clothing technology is very advanced and completely worth the price.
A friend of mine did the same thing years ago...a bike ride through the French wine country. He said he got about 10 miles per gallon.
Thirty miles in a day is no big deal if there is no time limit on how long you must ride. Heck, walking thirty miles in a day is perfectly possible, and a riding a bike is many times easier than walking. On a bike, ten to twelve miles per hour is like walking -- you neither perspire, nor breathe hard. Just take your time, enjoy Burgandy, stop when you are slightly uncomfortable (or whenever there is somehing interesting to see or do) and enjoy yourself. Big hill wearing you down? -- ride more slowly or walk. There is always a downhill on the other side :)
Training? Perparation? Well, practicing your French would help, as would reading up on the history and culture of the region.
Paul
If you have all day, 30 miles per day isn't anything a healthy person would have a tough time doing IF and i mean IF you are comfortable on the bike.
Yes, by all means cancel........and send the registration form to me! Seriously, all good advice above. Get some cycling gloves. (That was all that was left to say). A pair of cycling specific shoes (they have stiffer, more pedal friendly soles) that also allow normal walking would also be recommended by most here.
I wonder if your tour organizer/service doesn't offer a list of recommended clothing.
While you cannot "train" your body into a fierce cycling engine in a few days, you can get it used to the riding position so that, along with your butt, your hands, knees, back etc. won't be suddenly shocked and will protest less---allowing you to "drink in" more of the wine country. So hit the neighborhood daily for some casual rides...you might build towards accumulating say 20 miles in one day as your 12 day goal. Getting off now and then is encouraged.
EnjoyEnjoy......I predict you will come back a cycling enthusiast "thirsting" for more and end up a regular poster here at BF. Cool!
P.S. There are tricks of course to easing discomfort on the bike. Stand up on the pedals frequently to give your bottom a break, while you're "up" you may as well arch your back, stretch your leg, hunch your shoulders. At any get-off point, do the same. Undoubtedly you'll learn these and others from Le Professeur Experience. Oh yes, and a long, hot shower before dinner.
If you can find a comfortable saddle then take it with you to France, they should be able to mount it to the bike provided to you. Also check out some of the padded seat covers that are available. Get off the bike every few miles for 10 - 15 minutes, relax the "touch points" (hands, feet and butt).
What kind of bikes does the tour company offer? Road bikes may not be the best choice for a beginner. A comfort or mountain style bike with fatter road tires should make the miles softer.
Yes, by all means cancel........and send the registration form to me! Seriously, all good advice above. Get some cycling gloves. (That was all that was left to say). A pair of cycling specific shoes (they have stiffer, more pedal friendly soles) that also allow normal walking would also be recommended by most here.
I wonder if your tour organizer/service doesn't offer a list of recommended clothing.
While you cannot "train" your body into a fierce cycling engine in a few days, you can get it used to the riding position so that, along with your butt, your hands, knees, back etc. won't be suddenly shocked and will protest less---allowing you to "drink in" more of the wine country. So hit the neighborhood daily for some casual rides...you might build towards accumulating say 20 miles in one day as your 12 day goal. Getting off now and then is encouraged.
EnjoyEnjoy......I predict you will come back a cycling enthusiast "thirsting" for more and end up a regular poster here at BF. Cool!
P.S. There are tricks of course to easing discomfort on the bike. Stand up on the pedals frequently to give your bottom a break, while you're "up" you may as well arch your back, stretch your leg, hunch your shoulders. At any get-off point, do the same. Undoubtedly you'll learn these and others from Le Professeur Experience. Oh yes, and a long, hot shower before dinner.
I completely disagree- I am older and claim seniority on any free-bee's to France, and I live closer. And I can go sick for that trip if necessary. And on top of that I speak French. And I am jealous.
If you have reasonable fitness- then 30 miles a day will be OK providing you can get a bike with low enough gears and you can get the butt attuned. Don't just get in casual rides- Find a big hill so that you know what you are going to let yourself in for, and just ride, ride, ride. If you are taking your bike- then get it checked over- and if its a mountain bike- get slicks fitted.
On the clothing- Cycling shorts and cycling specific top are a must for comfort. Others will disagree- but Don't just get 1 pair of shorts- get at least two as they HAVE to be washed every night. A good waterproof top is necessary aswell, but these are expensive- get a cheap showerproof that folds up small, but make sure it has plenty of ventilation.
Other than that- Do not mix the wine- Stay on the RED Burgundy. The white is a bit on the dry side. The reds though are superb.
Don't just get in casual rides- Find a big hill so that you know what you are going to let yourself in for, and just ride, ride, ride. .
Stapfam, I completely bow to what you say-- after all, you are older than me ;) .....but I would caution the 58 years old OP with not much recent cycling or experience in pacing herself, selecting gears, spinning pedals, etc. not to blast herself up too many hills or blow out too much mileage. We would all hate to see her head for France with aching knees, pulled achilles, etc.
Stapfam, I completely bow to what you say-- after all, you are older than me ;) .....but I would caution the 58 years old OP with not much recent cycling or experience in pacing herself, selecting gears, spinning pedals, etc. not to blast herself up too many hills or blow out too much mileage. We would all hate to see her head for France with aching knees, pulled achilles, etc.
Agree there, but I put it badly- I do not mean to go out tomorrow on the big hill- But before this trip of a life time (Still Jealous) Find that hill and have a go at it. As some one else has put it- You can walk up hills. You can coast down them but if you get to France and Don't realise how steep a hill can be- Then it comes as a shock
Incidentally for neuvomex- Hills can be hard. I have talked several Novices- admittedly with a bit more riding than you- Up some very big hills. Big Mistake is to think that you have to take them with Speed and a lot of effort.Way I get them to go up the hills is to start in a sensible gear (If it is that steep, then the smallest ring on the front and a comfortable gear on the back) Keep the speed comfortable but make certain you are putting in some effort. As the hill gets harder- change down- Harder still- change down and down again. Then when you have run out of gears and it is still hard- Then slow down. Just keep the pedals moving to keep the legs and lungs working fairly well. Then if it gets too hard- WALK. Never know- you might surprise a few people by getting up the hills---- Or you may be one of those that can walk faster pushing a bike than others can ride it.
Then on top of things- Your body and butt will only let you do so many miles- 5 miles as suggested as the first ride is OK. If you ache the next morning and can't sit on the saddle- have a rest day. Then each day do some milage but gradually push the milage up. If you get up to 20 miles before the trip and no aches no pain and still enjoying it- France will not be a problem. If 15 is your limit- then take it steady in France- and enjoy the scenery- and the food and the ambience and the wine and the---- Jealousy setting in again.
I think it may have been some time since some of you all started out on your first time bicycling in many years. I think you might have forgotten just what it is like, or perhaps you have been bicycling all your life and never knew.
And, on such a ride, you don't really have all day to ride the 25-30 miles. There will be a general pace which the group sets which you will be expected to keep up to.
Slow easing into the training is the only way, IMHO.
But, it seems that the lady who asked the question has disappearred into the dusk/dust!
Sometimes amazing opportunities are worth the expense (in your case, sore muscles). GO FOR IT!
Go for it! They have the most amazing "painkillers" in Burgandy, although I am partial to the "painkillers" they make in Bordeaux. (I'm opening a really nice C. Montrose for my birthday in a couple of weeks that I have been saving for years.)
And, on such a ride, you don't really have all day to ride the 25-30 miles. There will be a general pace which the group sets which you will be expected to keep up to.
Having taken a several Back Roads trips, people rode at a wide vareity of paces. People rode in groups of threes, fours, twos and solo. We really DID have all day if we wanted. And the van was there if someone wanted to ride 10 miles and call it a day.
Having taken a several Back Roads trips, people rode at a wide vareity of paces. People rode in groups of threes, fours, twos and solo. We really DID have all day if we wanted. And the van was there if someone wanted to ride 10 miles and call it a day.
OK
I guess I am judging by those group rides I went on where you go "at your own pace" - not. I stand corrected.
OK
I guess I am judging by those group rides I went on where you go "at your own pace" - not. I stand corrected.
I hear ya, but these trips are really quite luxurious. I went as a journalist, so I didn't even have to pay. :D
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