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[Closed] Training tips for TD / Tour Aotearoa for mere mortals

flanagaj · 2016-10-31T13:36:45Z

I have always been one for over analysis. Some folk are lucky in that they have the right genes and seem to be able to just go and blag it and still push out 100 mile days, others like myself struggle with the cumulative fatigue that seems to creep up on me when I do long bike tours. What I am trying to deduce is should all of your training rides be just in the zone 2 region and your main goal is to just keep the heart rate as low as possible OR should you do that, but also try and fit in some high intensity spin sessions during the week as well? I remember reading a post on here regarding a TD finishers HR stats and someone commented that the rider stayed constantly in zone 2 for the whole race. Is this because anything above zone 2 effort and your body will just not recover overnight for the next day’s mileage? The other question is whether it is possible to build up to cycling 100+ days, day in day out or does genetic makeup play a key role? I feel more comfortable doing a hard 3 hour 160 - 165 average HR MTB ride than I am cycling at a snail’s pace to stay in zone 2. I did cycle 1200 miles down the TD last year in 16 days, but towards the end of the trip I was not enjoying it one bit and the mental and physical challenge got the better of me. I have a short term memory and feel like I have unfinished business and want to head off at do the TA in Feb 2017. It's just the memory of the suffering on the TD keeps nagging at me and I don't want the TA to be a repeat performance. My mileage goals for the TA is to average 67 miles / day and complete it in under 30 days. Keen to hear from those who have faced the same battle with multi day rides, bitten off more they can chew or eventually cracked the puzzle and now embark on adventures without concerns of mileage / recovery ....

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flanagaj

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turn up fresh and rested and race yourself into form a week or so in

Yes. That is my main aim and I must remember to taper my training off massively at the end of Jan. I have allowed 30 days cycling, so go steady for the first week.

don't blow yourself out in the first 4 days

This is key and I have done this before myself and I suspect a great many others also. Once you blow yourself out from hitting it far too hard for the first few days, I reckon it is game over. I have read some real horror stories of people training for the TD where they did 6 hour rides before and then smash out 12 hour + days for the first few days only to retire from fatigue, knee issues, saddle sores ....

Posted : 07/12/2016 1:04 pm

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