London 2 Paris 2015- possible problem with training, help!!
Discussion
So, in May my best mate and I would like to do London 2 Paris. Unaided, not for charity. Just two blokes and their bikes.
But I have a few problems. Any advice you have on how I can tackle these is greatly appreciated!
1- I live in Austria. Austria will be under 8ft of Snow from October/November until March. Roads will be icy and treacherous and cycling is out of the question!
2- Although I will be doing it on a roadbike, while the weather is still nice I am putting in the miles on a mountain bike. I assume this will hold me in good-stead?
3- For the winter months, my plan is to jump on an exercise/spin bike. I will simulate hill climbs etc.. .with the resistance settings, but my overall plan is to put the miles in on this to gain and keep my 'cycle legs'/stamina.
So what do you think? Will it be possible or do I not have a snowball's chance-in-hell of doing it? All comments, help and advice appreciated.
TIA
ET
But I have a few problems. Any advice you have on how I can tackle these is greatly appreciated!
1- I live in Austria. Austria will be under 8ft of Snow from October/November until March. Roads will be icy and treacherous and cycling is out of the question!
2- Although I will be doing it on a roadbike, while the weather is still nice I am putting in the miles on a mountain bike. I assume this will hold me in good-stead?
3- For the winter months, my plan is to jump on an exercise/spin bike. I will simulate hill climbs etc.. .with the resistance settings, but my overall plan is to put the miles in on this to gain and keep my 'cycle legs'/stamina.
So what do you think? Will it be possible or do I not have a snowball's chance-in-hell of doing it? All comments, help and advice appreciated.
TIA
ET
Edited by extraT on Saturday 6th September 20:00
It's not going to be easy with all that snow
Spin bike/turbo is going to be hard as hell for the endurance time on the bike you will require, but when you do get back on a real bike on the roads it will feel like too easy if you do the indoor training.
You will need to put the hours in on a bike indoors or outside, if you are aiming to ride for 6 hours a day you may want to break that into sections of 2 hours (tea stops) so that could help you in your training as 90 to 140 mins on a turbo is doable with a structure of change to keep you interested, then when the snow has gone get a few six to seven hour rides in so you have done a few and also believe in yourself for the ride
No great need to do much, if any top end training as almost all of you ride will be at endurance level.
Spin bike/turbo is going to be hard as hell for the endurance time on the bike you will require, but when you do get back on a real bike on the roads it will feel like too easy if you do the indoor training.
You will need to put the hours in on a bike indoors or outside, if you are aiming to ride for 6 hours a day you may want to break that into sections of 2 hours (tea stops) so that could help you in your training as 90 to 140 mins on a turbo is doable with a structure of change to keep you interested, then when the snow has gone get a few six to seven hour rides in so you have done a few and also believe in yourself for the ride
No great need to do much, if any top end training as almost all of you ride will be at endurance level.
It's not going to be easy with all that snow
Spin bike/turbo is going to be hard as hell for the endurance time on the bike you will require, but when you do get back on a real bike on the roads it will feel like too easy if you do the indoor training.
You will need to put the hours in on a bike indoors or outside, if you are aiming to ride for 6 hours a day you may want to break that into sections of 2 hours (tea stops) so that could help you in your training as 90 to 140 mins on a turbo is doable with a structure of change to keep you interested, then when the snow has gone get a few six to seven hour rides in so you have done a few and also believe in yourself for the ride
No great need to do much, if any top end training as almost all of you ride will be at endurance level.
Spin bike/turbo is going to be hard as hell for the endurance time on the bike you will require, but when you do get back on a real bike on the roads it will feel like too easy if you do the indoor training.
You will need to put the hours in on a bike indoors or outside, if you are aiming to ride for 6 hours a day you may want to break that into sections of 2 hours (tea stops) so that could help you in your training as 90 to 140 mins on a turbo is doable with a structure of change to keep you interested, then when the snow has gone get a few six to seven hour rides in so you have done a few and also believe in yourself for the ride
No great need to do much, if any top end training as almost all of you ride will be at endurance level.
extraT said:
So, in May my best mate and I would like to do London 2 Paris. Unaided, not for charity. Just two blokes and their bikes.
But I have a few problems. Any advice you have on how I can tackle these is greatly appreciated!
1- I live in Austria. Austria will be under 8ft of Snow from October/November until March. Roads will be icy and treacherous and cycling is out of the question!
2- Although I will be doing it on a roadbike, while the weather is still nice I am putting in the miles on a mountain bike. I assume this will hold me in good-stead?
3- For the winter months, my plan is to jump on an exercise/spin bike. I will simulate hill climbs etc.. .with the resistance settings, but my overall plan is to put the miles in on this to gain and keep my 'cycle legs'/stamina.
So what do you think? Will it be possible or do I not have a snowball's chance-in-hell of doing it? All comments, help and advice appreciated.
TIA
ET
A quick thought from me, as a novice rider who completed L to P earlier this year...But I have a few problems. Any advice you have on how I can tackle these is greatly appreciated!
1- I live in Austria. Austria will be under 8ft of Snow from October/November until March. Roads will be icy and treacherous and cycling is out of the question!
2- Although I will be doing it on a roadbike, while the weather is still nice I am putting in the miles on a mountain bike. I assume this will hold me in good-stead?
3- For the winter months, my plan is to jump on an exercise/spin bike. I will simulate hill climbs etc.. .with the resistance settings, but my overall plan is to put the miles in on this to gain and keep my 'cycle legs'/stamina.
So what do you think? Will it be possible or do I not have a snowball's chance-in-hell of doing it? All comments, help and advice appreciated.
TIA
ET
Due to weather and time constraints I did a significant amount of my training on a Turbo trainer - I was lucky that my TT was in front of a a TV screen which helped to alleviate the boredom.
I only started 'proper' riding in February, and before the actual L to P event, the most 'on road' miles I had done in one day was just 31, but I'd done a few 60-70 mile days on the turbo trainer. While I didn't break any speed records on L to P (in part due to a back injury), I completed the distance comfortably and genuinely felt like I could have done a few more 70-80 mile days without too much of a problem.
I thoroughly recommend an organised trip with full support, which made a huge difference in terms of food / drink etc but equally in terms of moral support on those days where you are struggling a bit.
I wouldn't recommend the training approach I took, but I'd recommend it over risky riding in poor weather,where you could fall and badly injure yourself.
Put the miles in on the TT and you should be fine, particularly if you already have some riding experience.
Good luck!
Sidicks
Edited by sidicks on Saturday 6th September 23:37
Usget said:
Which route, and how long?
I quite want to go via Newhaven-Dieppe and try and do it in a day. But I think I'm going to wait for next spring, now.
This route.I quite want to go via Newhaven-Dieppe and try and do it in a day. But I think I'm going to wait for next spring, now.
Its the shortest (I would like to do longer) but we both have very young children at home and dont/cant spend 4/5 days on what is essentially, a cycling holiday! We would like to do it in two days.
extraT said:
Usget said:
Which route, and how long?
I quite want to go via Newhaven-Dieppe and try and do it in a day. But I think I'm going to wait for next spring, now.
This route.I quite want to go via Newhaven-Dieppe and try and do it in a day. But I think I'm going to wait for next spring, now.
Its the shortest (I would like to do longer) but we both have very young children at home and dont/cant spend 4/5 days on what is essentially, a cycling holiday! We would like to do it in two days.
In order to make this schedule, you won't need to be busting a gut doing centuries every weekend, but you'll need base miles. Whether they come on the turbo or on the MTB doesn't strictly matter, it's all saddle time.
I dîd London to Paris this June and it was non- stop 24 hours. I have been riding 30 years plus racing etc. but this presented a completely different challenge. This one will be about your head towards the end. I saw much younger and arguably fitter guys fall to pieces because it was wet, cold and very windy. So whilst the training is very important, your mental approach will be key.
I did plenty of time on the rollers/turbo, but as someone said earlier, it's time in that saddle. I would do 1-2 hours spinning 4 nights a week. Weekends 60-70 miles in all weather. Then 100 and 140 milers closer to the event. But I did my London to Paris supported and I am not sure how I could carry the gear and food/fluids in order to not end up with a bike with panniers? You'll need plenty of clothing also, especially if wet. I know the original questions related to training but I think you also need to consider the logistics of this one. Good luck with this one, bit like a good massage.....you'll feel the benefits after its finished.
I did plenty of time on the rollers/turbo, but as someone said earlier, it's time in that saddle. I would do 1-2 hours spinning 4 nights a week. Weekends 60-70 miles in all weather. Then 100 and 140 milers closer to the event. But I did my London to Paris supported and I am not sure how I could carry the gear and food/fluids in order to not end up with a bike with panniers? You'll need plenty of clothing also, especially if wet. I know the original questions related to training but I think you also need to consider the logistics of this one. Good luck with this one, bit like a good massage.....you'll feel the benefits after its finished.
I did the Newhaven > Dieppe route (L2P) last year in 23hrs 45mins 
5pm at big ben, 6pm at eiffel tower. With, I think, the 11pm Newhaven ferry.
The second day we took a lot slower than we thought we would - we were worried about going too fast, so went too slow! Was great fun though, and done for the same reason you did; just because
There were quite a few others that were doing the same thing.
If you can do 50 mile ride, you can do the second day on L2P, which is 120ish miles.
5pm at big ben, 6pm at eiffel tower. With, I think, the 11pm Newhaven ferry.
The second day we took a lot slower than we thought we would - we were worried about going too fast, so went too slow! Was great fun though, and done for the same reason you did; just because
There were quite a few others that were doing the same thing.
If you can do 50 mile ride, you can do the second day on L2P, which is 120ish miles.
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