How should I train for a bicycle trip across the country?

C

Christopher R

New member
I'm getting ready to do a bicycle trip from Dallas, Tx to the Canadian border I was wondering what a good work out regiment would be to get ready. So far the only thing I can think of is riding a bicycle at the gym till my finances clear then buying a bike and riding it whenever I can.
 
Nothing can take the place of hours in the saddle(seat)for conditioning yourself for a bicycle tour. OTOH, there is no need to over do it.

You can stay in reasonable touring condition riding a few hours a week, then as the leave date nears, gradually upping the distance. Do a couple of back to back 50-60 milers to get the feel. You'll gain conditioning as you tour.

BTW, touring is not a race. The average daily distance for loaded touring is 50-60 miles, but some manage much more.

Motivation, a bicycle that fits you well and a saddle that won't cause you too much discomfort are critical components of long distance touring.
 
The best training would be just to put in the miles. Depending on how much time you plan on taking, be sure you can do the mileage for many days in a row. It's one thing to do a century, but to do one for 8 or 9 days in a row is something else.
 
You want to spend a lot of time in the saddle. Pedaling at a high cadence 70-90 rpm's with a lite pressure on the pedals will allow you to go for a very long time. Start out with an easy 10 min warm up and then start adding enough resistance to where your breathing gets to the point where you can still talk but not sing. You want to be able to maintain that level for hours on end. You want to spend a lot of hours on your bike and start climbing hills and ride with a load to get use to it.
 
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