CYCLING ENTHUSIASTS ADVICE

clairem1122

So I regularly visit the gym, doing a mixture of HIIT training, weights and just recently started LISS. However, I'm a complete novice on a bike, even to the point of not feeling overly confident riding in general.

Now I've made a rule this year to take on challenges and push myself outside of my comfort zone.

My partner is an avid rider and so asked if I wanted to join him and take on the Palace to Palace Cycling Event in London, which is a 45 mile ride from Buckingham Palace to Windsor Castle (for Princes Trust). It's on 1st October this year!

So my main concerns/questions are:

- is it realistic for me to go from novice rider (albeit reasonably fit girl) to a 45 mile ride in 12 weeks?
- how to create a training schedule (the hours/distance to practice and aim to improve by each week)
- is it an even more crazy aim, given that it's all on roads, and unclosed London roads at that!?!

Advice would be greatly appreciated, especially from those of you who have the experience and expertise in cycling

cheriej2042

Yes you can absolutely be ready in 12 weeks. The best way to train is to find a local riding club to train with. It will help you get used to riding within a group of people which is critical, learn how to handle your bike on the open road etc. sometimes these events will have a suggested training schedule but if not go to your local bike store if there isn't a club and have them help you put something together because they will know the area and where you can train. I have trained for century rides and bike trips where I did 250 miles over 2 days. You can do anything with proper training and enough lead time. I'm sure more avid regular cyclists can give you more specific advice. Good luck it sounds like a fun ride!

QS82

Hello. :-)

No expert here, although I do have a bit of similar experience to you, as I was a fairly non-confident cyclist who did a 100 mile ride (albeit not in a day) on hardly any training at all.

I think 12 weeks will be fine, especially as you're already reasonably fit. You'll be surprised how quickly cycling fitness and confidence increases as long as you keep at it. Having recently taken up off road biking, I'm constantly amazed how great this sport is for all round fitness!

I don't have any specific training advice for you other than to echo what cheriej said above about joining a club, but do make sure you've got a properly fitting helmoo (sorry! Boring bit, I know!).

Sounds like an awesome challenge! Good luck if you decide to do it! (DO IIIIT!)

TimothyFish

12 weeks is plenty of time. If you start at five miles and add five miles to your longest ride each week then you are at 45 in nine weeks. But try to ride some on most days. The biggest thing about riding in traffic is that you need to spend time riding in traffic to get comfortable with it. Obey the rules of the road and ride in such a way that you are visible and you have less to be concerned with.

Jthanmyfitnesspal

I also think it's doable for a fit person. I drove to Winsor from Heathrow and on to Bath and the Cotswolds just a month ago on a visit from the US. Its beautiful, but the roads we traveled were very narrow in parts. There is safety in numbers when cycling, so stay together.

Let me compliment the Londoners on their commitment to fitness. There were droves of cyclists and joggers everywhere! The drivers seemed to accommodate the cyclists quite well. My son and I rented the city bikes and really enjoyed riding in the city with all the other cyclists.

Best of luck!