Training Plans

One thing has led to another and I have not been out on the bike since Sunday. It has also crossed my mind that 3570 miles is rather a long way and I have only chipped 48 ish miles off that, so still 3522 to go and approximately 9 months until the Grand Depart!  So.  391.3 miles a month, 97.8 miles a week, 13.9 miles a day. Hmmm

Having spent some time over the past few evenings researching training plans for Sportives (the bike equivilant to a Marathon) and especially the Etape. Google reveals a plethora of advice on nutrition, lactate thresholds, V02 maxes and wattages per kilo.  Condensed I have to be able to a long way in a group up a hill and not get shelled out the back...too often.

So I shall be focussing my traing in 4 areas:

1. Distance
2. Speed
3. Hills
4. Group riding

1. Distance- I will keep riding the club runs each week and will also plan a few long distance rides.  I have entred 3 events organised by Evans bike shops each of about 60 miles and hope to add a ride to Brighton and when the weather gets better to Dorset.
2. Speed- I have a Turbo Trainer (a rolling road that fixes to the back wheel), and will be using this to train my legs to become comfortable with spinning the pedals at a high cadence.  I have attached an old cycle computer to the back wheel so that I can clock the static' miles.
3. Hills- I have the Surrey Hills practically on my doorstep and I will do a lot of road miles there, becoming familiar with the likes of White Dow, Leith Hill and Box Hill.  I shall also attempt a venture into the Malverns or Brecons when the weather is better.
4. Groups- The Club runs will be the main source of this practice and wishfully I can drum up some company for some of my longer planned rides.