Training for Italian Cycling Trip

smartbadge

Fellow Cyclists,

I am considering a two week cycling trip along the west coast of Italy. This will start on the Italian / French border and finish at the westernmost point of Sicily. Currently this is planned for the 14 days from the 27th March 2010.

Does anybody have experience with the training for a trip of this kind, particularly when that training must be done during the first three months of the year, i.e. Winter/Spring time in Ireland?

(I have been roadbiking for 5 years now and regularly do 100 mile spins during the summer months in Ireland.)

Happy New Year,
smartbadge

Ryaner

How long (distance wise) will you be covering each day? Is the trip supported, i.e. is something following in a car/van? How much hills are you covered on the trip?

papac

two week cycling trip along the west coast of Italy

.

Nice work if you can get it.:)
I'd say if you have five years of regular riding in your legs you don't have to worry too much.Just get out when you can and mind the ice.
I would try to include some back to back long spins if you can.Riding 100 miles in a day is one thing-5 long days in a row is another.
I have gone on long tours before with very little training(I was younger then though:))-pace can be as slow as you like so you don't need to be race fit.
What sort of daily mileage you planning.?

IM0

just figured its about 1500km (as crow flies along the coast) so Id say 2000km at least on the less travelled roads
2000km in 14 days =140km a day with NO rest days, has the giro changed the route this year

anyway as papac said back to back long spins closer to the time of departure are the way to go.

papac

2000km in 14 days =140km a day with NO rest days

Travel light.:)You would be amazed how little stuff you actually need and every kilo counts over long trips like that.

A case in point.
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=RrzKj&page_id=70621&v=U1

smartbadge

Folks,

Thank you for the speedy replies.

Not disregarding the figures from [EMAIL="me@ucd"]me@ucd[/EMAIL], the total distance that I have at present is 1812km. There will be one rest day in the middle. So average distance per day will be ~140km. The trip will be supported with a driver in a van.

The route will be one that is closest to the coast that allows bikes. In terms of gradient I have little information. However, I do know that the coastline gets very hilly south of Rome. In this regard, bikehike.co.uk has not been as helpful as its website would suggest.

My nagging fear is that, despite my general fitness and familiarity with
long distance cycling, a trip of this magnitude is being undertaken too early in the year, on the strength of too light a training regime, one that depends heavily on Irish conditions.

I may get a turbo trainer or attend a spinning group.

Thank you for your replies on this

-smartbadge

Esroh

Are you following one of the Italian routes. www.bicitalia.org give you the maps etc. might help with picking a quiet route for both you and support car

Lumen

smartbadge wrote: »

I may get a turbo trainer or attend a spinning group.

Do it. Even if a turbo is ill-suited to endurance training, some training is better than none. Who knows how many weeks we'll lose to snow and ice this year? Unless you're minted, I'd recommend you get a cheap turbo to start with. I bought one second hand for €60 - it's a bit busted up but does the job fine.

papac

I may get a turbo trainer or attend a spinning group

+1
An MTB is good in harsh winter conditions too.Ice is not such a problem off road and I reckon hours on an mtb probably equates quite well with hours on the road. I don't even mind the rain so much off road myself-kinda adds to the craic.
Better endurance training than turbo/spin also I'd say..

Ryaner

Since you say you already have a fair bit of cycling under your belt, the individual distances shouldn't be a problem. Expect to sleep - lots! I started training properly about two months ago meaning on the bike for 1-2 hours minimum per ride, 5 days a week. By the end of the second week, I was sleeping 10+ hours a night.

As you have a support van going with you, make the bike as light as possible. Leave the saddle bag, spare tubes etc in the van. It might not feel like a difference, but over the two weeks, it'll add up.