apple_boy_

i want to ride from washington state to key west, i hope to average 15mph and 8hrs a day, my problem is i will be towing all of my stuff on a trailer.

how far should i b training and at what speeds?

i wont be going for another year, but i know i should be training now.

now i do 50 miles on weekdays, 100 on weekend-days, should i be doing more, or just increasing my workout?

TheKillerPenguin

hardcore

biodiesel

start with empty panniers.
add a few rocks a week to the bottom until your used to the weight.

A few of us at the local group ride would ride with a small pair of panniers and/ or a small pack to build endurance. Keeping your speed up with bags is tough at first, then second nature.

Next start multi day training.
Whatever your training is you need to be able to ride longer, faster etc. But Day after Day after Day.

Take your longest ride for the week. Cut it in half. Ride that two days in a row.
The next week the same mileage three days in a row.
The next week add 10% to that number two days in a row.
continue.

Use club rides, ride one in the morning, one at night, Saturday AND Sunday.

Don't forget your plateus and rest days. Steadilly increase your mileage, focusing on day after day mileage but keeping some speed training. Ride with bags most of the time, and vary the wieght... light on group rides, heavy the rest of the time.
If you can, commute to work. That will build mileage and toughness faster than anything.

Envyous. Good Luck.
Don't forget to Blog it on crazyguyonabike.com

apple_boy_

thanks, i'll keep that in mind, i cant do any multiple day rides for a few more months(school) but i'll start with rocks tommorrow.

one problem, i have a carbon fiber seat post.
what should i do to make it work with a pack frame?
i do have a frame that will fit, but only to the post...i am racing and don't want a frame on for races(not shined upon) i will be riding a touring bike for the trip, but i cannot afford it for a while.

should i wait until i get the touring bike or just risk fracturing my post?(not too lucky with breaky things)

jpsaun

This site has some good info.

https://groups.yahoo.com/group/RGBikeJourney/ and this one as well https://members.cox.net/transamerica/

Went from Key West to Washington, DC, then to Newport, OR - over 5000 miles.

cyccommute 

Rather than rocks, carry rice. It comes in 5 to 50 lb bags, it's cheap, it doesn't grind holes in the bottom of your expensive and formerly waterproof bag and when you are done with it, you can 1. eat it (we just finished the last of my 2003 training rice ) or 2. donate it to a food bank. If you get tired of rice, you can also carry beans.

By the way, try to keep your touring load to a minimum. Even on a very long trip like yours, you don't need to carry everything. Keep the load to around 50 lbs and allow for some food.

You also might what to go over to the touring group for more ideas. The road weenies over here don't know jack about touring

cyccommute 

Depending on when you are leaving, you want to get the bike you are going to take before you go. It's not a good idea to get a new bike and hit the road for a long distance tour without having some miles on it. You don't want to be in the middle of no-where and all of a sudden discover that the bike has fit issues or that the wheels are bad or that the cables have stretched and you need to do an complete overhaul. A good touring bike needs training just as much as you do.

As for the post, why not get an aluminum one that you can fit the rack to and, perhaps, another saddle? Then all you have to do is swap posts for race day and use the other one all the rest of the time. It's probably not a good idea to put a lot of extra torque on a carbon post.

lotek 

Ok, no one has mentioned it but I'd recommend
(strongly) you look into a Brooks B17 or
even the B67 sprung saddle.
You are going to be in it for a long time,
you might find your new race saddle just
doesn't work after 2 or 3 days 8 hours a day.
So, Get a new post (Am classic alu post, cheap)
and a B17 and start breaking that in with your
rack, paniers etc.
Marty