Training for 7 days in the saddle

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thprice
Posts: 252
Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2011 6:34 am

by thprice

Hi,
I am looking for training suggestions for a 7 day tour through the mountains.
Each day will include 80-120 km and 2000-2500m climbing.

While my current training includes a 130 km and 2500m session once per week, I get multiple days to recover.

How should my schedule change to align with contiguous 7 days in the saddle.
The tour is in 3 months.

thanks

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Rick
Posts: 2034
Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2009 4:30 pm

by Rick

That's a tough one!
I have never done 7 longish days in a row, but I have done quite a few 150 and 200 mile races. I did 3 days of ~100 miles each, once and I was completely wasted and barely crawling at the end.
Will this be "competetive" or a leisurely tour ?

I would suggest building up by giving yourself as many days as you seem to need for decent recovery for ~120 km rides, at first, then gradually shorten the recovery until you are doing them back-to-back.

I think successive long days are going to be a lot different than ones with adequate recovery between. So build up as rapidly as possible, but make sure to be very well rested before the even actually begins (a week of very easy, short rides.)
Saddle sores, knee inflammation, and back and neck aches will probably be a bigger factor than "aerobic fitness" for something like this.

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darkblue08
Posts: 79
Joined: Wed Aug 17, 2011 12:56 pm

by darkblue08

I did a 6 day ride last year with 10000m climb. The training was 2 long ride per week (mine was back to back 4 hour ride in the weekend) and 3-4 2hour session, with one of them being a interval session at FTP, during the week.
2 key points for me was:
1) Don't use to much energy on day 1 and 2.
2) Test energy consumption, during training, so you know how your body reacts.

That did the trick for me, so much that Im going for a repeat this year.

thprice
Posts: 252
Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2011 6:34 am

by thprice

Thanks for the feedback.
Current plan is to:
- Build up to two 4-5 hr sessions on the weekends,
- Build my current 30min morning commutes to 1-2 hr training sessions,
- Apply Joe Friel's Training Bible including his a chapter on training for stage races.

I suspect training (including nutrition, sleep, etc) to get the recovery right will be the challenge.

regards

indigo
Posts: 89
Joined: Mon Sep 05, 2011 1:17 pm
Location: Geneva, Switzerland

by indigo

Yeah you should clarify, is this touring with friends, or an amateur stage race like Geneva -> Nice ?

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thprice
Posts: 252
Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2011 6:34 am

by thprice

The training is for an organised ride through the French Alps.

http://www.hauteroute.org/en/ looks great ... maybe a future plan???

Edit: Given the 2012 Haute Route sold out in 8 hrs, entering it may be difficult.

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