Does the herd here have any training suggestions for my June tour from Pittsburgh to Washington, DC (335 miles)? Currently my mileage is quite low due to the winter weather, but I am stepping up the miles. I have a bit more than 2.5 months to get to the point I can ride 50 miles a day for seven straight days. Lowest mileage day is 28 miles (Cumberland to Paw-Paw), highest is 62 (Harper's Ferry to DC.)
My current plans are to start bike commuting at least two days a week as soon as the nighttime temperatures remain well above the freezing mark. (My return commute is at night.) A couple of weeks before the tour, I want to commute five consecutive work days. My commute is over 15 miles one way. Add in rides to church (4 miles), gym (7 miles), etc, and it adds up.
In addition to the commuting, I have a camping weekend with Neil F. for the last weekend in April. 40 miles out, 40 miles back.
bautieri
03-07-08, 08:24 AM
Your training rides should mimic the terrain you're going to be riding over. Your endurance will be fine by time you go out and ride. You had previously mentioned that a decent amount of this trip will be on dirt roads, therefor you need to ride some dirt so you're not surprised when your rear breaks loose. I would also practice some panic stops on dirt, you need to know how your bike will behave and (more importantly) how you will handle the bike.
If only I knew of a trail where you could practice, somewhere long and flat with dirt and stone...maybe near a creek of some sort :rolleyes:...
The Historian
03-07-08, 08:30 AM
Your training rides should mimic the terrain you're going to be riding over. Your endurance will be fine by time you go out and ride. You had previously mentioned that a decent amount of this trip will be on dirt roads, therefor you need to ride some dirt so you're not surprised when your rear breaks loose. I would also practice some panic stops on dirt, you need to know how your bike will behave and (more importantly) how you will handle the bike.
If only I knew of a trail where you could practice, somewhere long and flat with dirt and stone...maybe near a creek of some sort :rolleyes:...
Ah, the Perkiomen Trail, here in my backyard, so to speak. It's a rail trail, aside from one monster climb at Spring Mount.
flip18436572
03-07-08, 08:44 AM
Up your riding miles so you know that you can handle 40 to 70 miles in a day, and make sure that you are riding similar elevations to prepare yourself. Practicing on long flat and then riding hills and mountains are not the same thing and you will not feel as confident. You have plenty of time to get up to those numbers.
Good luck and keep us posted.
The Historian
03-07-08, 09:36 AM
Your training rides should mimic the terrain you're going to be riding over. Your endurance will be fine by time you go out and ride. You had previously mentioned that a decent amount of this trip will be on dirt roads, therefor you need to ride some dirt so you're not surprised when your rear breaks loose. I would also practice some panic stops on dirt, you need to know how your bike will behave and (more importantly) how you will handle the bike.
If only I knew of a trail where you could practice, somewhere long and flat with dirt and stone...maybe near a creek of some sort :rolleyes:...
If this is an invitation to ride at Stony Creek, it will have to wait until I buy a mountain bike. That trail is far more aggressive than anything I'll find on the tour.
The Historian
03-07-08, 09:43 AM
Up your riding miles so you know that you can handle 40 to 70 miles in a day, and make sure that you are riding similar elevations to prepare yourself. Practicing on long flat and then riding hills and mountains are not the same thing and you will not feel as confident. You have plenty of time to get up to those numbers.
Good luck and keep us posted.
The trail network between Pittsburgh and DC is a rail-trail and a canal towpath. It's amazingly flat - the canal towpath has a drop of 625 feet over 184 miles. The rail-trail part has a slight upgrade, nothing more than 1 percent overall, but that's for more than 100 miles.
I'll be practicing on gravel as soon as the ground dries out. Till then, pavement.
flip18436572
03-07-08, 10:04 AM
Will you have a lot of hills to ride in the Pit - DC ride? If so, I would find some roads that will give you similar hill workouts in preparing. Other than that, just get some seat/riding time and have fun doing so.
bautieri
03-07-08, 11:49 AM
Ah, the Perkiomen Trail, here in my backyard, so to speak. It's a rail trail, aside from one monster climb at Spring Mount.
Correct, the Perkiomen would make a nice place to practice those maneuvers.
If this is an invitation to ride at Stony Creek, it will have to wait until I buy a mountain bike. That trail is far more aggressive than anything I'll find on the tour.
Let me know when you do, we'll go break er in.:)
BigBlueToe
03-08-08, 09:50 AM
I have never once been able to train suffciently to be "ready" for a tour. I've always had to work my way into shape on the tour itself. For that reason I usually schedule low-mileage days for the first two or three.
If I really wanted to be "in shape" for a tour, my training regimen would have to conclude with about a week of riding every day for the same average mileage as the tour, carrying the same load. I'd stop riding a day or two before the start of the tour - to get that rejuvenated feeling you get after a rest day in the middle of a tour.
A guy on the touring board says he starts carrying rice and beans in his panniers on his training rides a couple of weeks before he leaves on tours to simulate the load he'll be carrying.
My advice would be to train as best you can, and try to give yourself a couple of easy days to start the tour. Is this a tour you're planning yourself, or will others have input into the itinerary?
The Historian
03-08-08, 10:35 AM
I have never once been able to train suffciently to be "ready" for a tour. I've always had to work my way into shape on the tour itself. For that reason I usually schedule low-mileage days for the first two or three.
If I really wanted to be "in shape" for a tour, my training regimen would have to conclude with about a week of riding every day for the same average mileage as the tour, carrying the same load. I'd stop riding a day or two before the start of the tour - to get that rejuvenated feeling you get after a rest day in the middle of a tour.
A guy on the touring board says he starts carrying rice and beans in his panniers on his training rides a couple of weeks before he leaves on tours to simulate the load he'll be carrying.
My advice would be to train as best you can, and try to give yourself a couple of easy days to start the tour. Is this a tour you're planning yourself, or will others have input into the itinerary?
We are planning it ourselves. Here's the itinerary:
June 1 - Mckeesport to Connellsville - 43 miles. If we start in downtown Pittsburgh instead of McKeesport, that's 60 miles.
June 2 - Ride to Ohioplye, visit to Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob, ride to Rockwood - 40 miles (we are getting driven to the FLW homes I've mentioned by a poster to the touring forum.)
June 3 - Rockwood to Cumberland, MD, 43 miles.
June 4 - Cumberland to Paw-Paw, WV, 28 miles.
June 5 - 50 miles to Williamsport, MD
June 6 - Williamsport to Harper's Ferry, WV, 40 miles.
June 7 - Harper's Ferry to DC, 60 miles.
natbla
03-11-08, 07:51 AM
I'm a resident of Frostburg, and work in Cumberland, so let me make one suggestion:
Not sure on where you were planning to stay in Cumberland, but if you want a slightly more civilized camping experience, there is a new campground in Frostburg that is right behind downtown (but up a steep hill) and next to the rail trail and Western Maryland Scenic Railroad station. Cumberland has a no camping ordnance so you'll have to get a couple miles out of town at one of the C&O Canal camping areas. That's not too far, but would make it a little inconvenient to get to in town resources.
The Historian
03-11-08, 08:06 AM
I'm a resident of Frostburg, and work in Cumberland, so let me make one suggestion:
Not sure on where you were planning to stay in Cumberland, but if you want a slightly more civilized camping experience, there is a new campground in Frostburg that is right behind downtown (but up a steep hill) and next to the rail trail and Western Maryland Scenic Railroad station. Cumberland has a no camping ordnance so you'll have to get a couple miles out of town at one of the C&O Canal camping areas. That's not too far, but would make it a little inconvenient to get to in town resources.
It's my understanding camping is allowed at the Cumberland YMCA. True, it's near a railroad switching yard, but once asleep I can sleep through anything.
Care to meet when we come through? We are already meeting a few Bike Forums posters in PA and MD on the trip.
natbla
03-11-08, 09:10 AM
I forgot about the camping at the YMCA. I remember seeing tents there last summer. They must have an exemption from the ordnance. I may be up for getting together when your in the area. It will all depend on my work schedule that week, and other committments.
My friend is doing the the same route, but starting in DC and ending in Pittsburgh and he's doing it in 3 days. That to me is too much, I think your effort is better.
BTW the stretch from Frostburg to Cumberland has enough downhill gradient that its a really easy ride. I was out on the trail with my daughter last night. The trail is soft enough that I had to put a hand on her back and help her keep moving on her bike while she pedaled, I was walking next to her with our dog. I was amazed how soft it was in places.
The Historian
03-12-08, 08:17 AM
Will you have a lot of hills to ride in the Pit - DC ride? If so, I would find some roads that will give you similar hill workouts in preparing. Other than that, just get some seat/riding time and have fun doing so.
Here's the daytime commuting route I've planned:
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/81715
And the return trip at night:
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/63371
I start commuting on it tomorrow. I was going to start today, but somebody didn't get his headlight charged or laundry done. :o