These are the days of planning and beginning to get myself in physical shape.
Fortunately, I've plenty of time for both, as I've pretty much settled on leaving sometime during the week of May 19th. That seems to fit within the various obligations Carla and I have for late spring and early summer.
I've taken the liberty of copying the training regimen I have adopted as recommended by Brian Martindale who works as Adventure Cycling's Tours' Director: http://www.adventurecycling.com
Base Training Miles
Start training at least four months before the planned departure date. One month of riding four to six days a week, either inside on a trainer or outside on the bike, is sufficient. You want to spin the bike at a high rate of revolutions per minute (RPM) -- at least 90 RPM -- and use easy gears. A good goal is to have from 300 to 600 miles, roughly 20 to 30 hours on a trainer, under your belt. Also, take time to work into a stretching routine. This will get your muscles, tendons, and ligaments ready for the next stage of training.
Building Strength
The goal for the next month is to build up riding strength in your body, once you have a good base of training. This is the stage where you gradually start mixing in more difficult training. Riding hills and structuring training to include intervals and sprint training are key to this stage. You want to mix this type of training in gradually while maintaining your spin rides between workout rides. Don't overdo it. Mix in easy rides and rest days. The goal is preparation, not overworking your body. Days you work on sprints should be the shortest riding days, and easy riding days should be longer. Remember, strength does not mean crushing huge gears. Higher rates of spinning will get you up the hills faster with less energy used. Hill climbing and strength training should be continued once or twice a week into the next stage of training.
Building Endurance
This stage is meant to build up endurance for longer rides. Start by taking longer rides once or twice a week. By the end of this third month, you should be riding 40 to 50 miles a day, two days a week. Start toning down the strength riding for the sake of spending time in the saddle. Start enjoying the rides. Ride to places locally where you have either never been or haven't seen in a long time. Ride many hills and enjoy the views. Take a meal with you and stop to enjoy it.
Ride with Weight
This is the most important stage of training. About six weeks before your departure date, begin to carry weight on the bike as you ride -- particularly on the long endurance days. Begin slowly, carrying about 20 pounds or so, and work your way up to carrying all of your gear a couple of times a week for two weeks before your trip starts. You need this time to build strength in your ligaments, muscles, and tendons. This will help to avoid injuries and prepare you for an enjoyable trip".
So, you can see that I have my work cut out for me. The good news is that now that I am retired, I can do these stages during the week when Carla is at work and it will not take time away from that which we spend with each other. As I am doing all of this in Chicago, training by necessity during the winter is inside on a trainer and it will not be until early April that I can get outside on the trails which abound throughout Chicagoland.
My next posting will provide information on what one is expected to take on a trip such as this. It seems a lot but I'm sure that it can be adjusted to meet the circumstances of my ride. Until next time.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
The Proposed Rout and Other Stuff
A short description of the proposed route can be found at this link:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes/greatrivers.cfm?pg=more..
I remember in another life training for marathons with my great California friend and running partner Dan Sayer. By the time we ran the races, we had trained on all parts of the 26 miles. It was then easy to visualize every foot of the race and so by race day, made the event easier to finish.
Although I cannot physically visit this route in advance of the ride, between the very detailed maps I have received from the Adventure Cycling Association, Google maps and Google earth, I can get there via the Internet! Not quite the same as being there, but almost.
I try not to dwell too often on those parts of the geographical descriptions which read, "Rolling Hills are the norm, except for ..." I know the route is hilly for about the first half of this ride, but I won't worry now about that now. Also the part about "Tornado season in Iowa, Illinois and Missouri is May and June.." Just when I'm going to be there!
Being a California guy, I've never seen a Tornado but I understand the wind blows and it rains. I'll worry about all those things the closer I get to leaving! Well, maybe I should find out a little more about the rain and wind stuff. In the meantime, an hour a day on the bike, looking ahead to next week when it increases to two per day. Yikes.
http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes/greatrivers.cfm?pg=more..
I remember in another life training for marathons with my great California friend and running partner Dan Sayer. By the time we ran the races, we had trained on all parts of the 26 miles. It was then easy to visualize every foot of the race and so by race day, made the event easier to finish.
Although I cannot physically visit this route in advance of the ride, between the very detailed maps I have received from the Adventure Cycling Association, Google maps and Google earth, I can get there via the Internet! Not quite the same as being there, but almost.
I try not to dwell too often on those parts of the geographical descriptions which read, "Rolling Hills are the norm, except for ..." I know the route is hilly for about the first half of this ride, but I won't worry now about that now. Also the part about "Tornado season in Iowa, Illinois and Missouri is May and June.." Just when I'm going to be there!
Being a California guy, I've never seen a Tornado but I understand the wind blows and it rains. I'll worry about all those things the closer I get to leaving! Well, maybe I should find out a little more about the rain and wind stuff. In the meantime, an hour a day on the bike, looking ahead to next week when it increases to two per day. Yikes.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Bringing you up to date
A little housekeeping as I get started here.
Already of invaluable help to me is an organization which has tons of information about all aspects of the kind of ride I am intending to complete. It is the Adventure Cycling Association and can be accessed at:http://adventurecyclingassociation.com/. This is a great organization which has very detailed maps, information about equipment, bikes, support and online journals posted by many who have taken cross country tours, international tours, and several localized tours. All that plus much more. I spend part of each day online focusing on the Great River Trail tour which is the one I basically will follow on my trip.
In addition, right off the bat, I'd like to thank Bob Lee, a neighbor who has already given of his time to hear me out and encourage me in my effort. As you may remember, Bob just completed a 4 month tour up the east coast and then across the country west to east fulfilling a goal of his to raise funds for 3 very important organizations.
You can read more about his trip on his blog, http://www.3reasons.org/. I do look forward to taking him up on his very generous offer of advice as I get further along on this journey.
Additional thanks go to a couple of young employees of our local Bike shop in Barrington who listened very carefully when I spent time in there, were encouraging, recommended I speak with Bob, and in fact, gave him my name and finally, will allow me to come in to the shop during cold winter months to watch and learn while we convert my bike with the equipment I will need to complete this ride. I do have a basic understanding of the mechanics of the bike, but their instruction will be greatly appreciated. More about who they are and their help in future blogs.
What I found out from all these conversations was that good planning, the proper equipment, good physical conditioning before I leave in May and good common sense from now until I arrive at my destination are the keys to my success. To that end, my training program has been 4-5 days of training on a stationary bike at home for an hour a day for November, increased to two hours a day 4-5 days a week in December, three hours in January and four hours in February and thereafter,
Already of invaluable help to me is an organization which has tons of information about all aspects of the kind of ride I am intending to complete. It is the Adventure Cycling Association and can be accessed at:http://adventurecyclingassociation.com/. This is a great organization which has very detailed maps, information about equipment, bikes, support and online journals posted by many who have taken cross country tours, international tours, and several localized tours. All that plus much more. I spend part of each day online focusing on the Great River Trail tour which is the one I basically will follow on my trip.
In addition, right off the bat, I'd like to thank Bob Lee, a neighbor who has already given of his time to hear me out and encourage me in my effort. As you may remember, Bob just completed a 4 month tour up the east coast and then across the country west to east fulfilling a goal of his to raise funds for 3 very important organizations.
You can read more about his trip on his blog, http://www.3reasons.org/. I do look forward to taking him up on his very generous offer of advice as I get further along on this journey.
Additional thanks go to a couple of young employees of our local Bike shop in Barrington who listened very carefully when I spent time in there, were encouraging, recommended I speak with Bob, and in fact, gave him my name and finally, will allow me to come in to the shop during cold winter months to watch and learn while we convert my bike with the equipment I will need to complete this ride. I do have a basic understanding of the mechanics of the bike, but their instruction will be greatly appreciated. More about who they are and their help in future blogs.
What I found out from all these conversations was that good planning, the proper equipment, good physical conditioning before I leave in May and good common sense from now until I arrive at my destination are the keys to my success. To that end, my training program has been 4-5 days of training on a stationary bike at home for an hour a day for November, increased to two hours a day 4-5 days a week in December, three hours in January and four hours in February and thereafter,
That regimen ought to put me in good enough condition to enjoy the physical challenge. (I suspect my Doctor would also think this a good idea as daily exercise and a good diet is her mantra for my continued good health.) Carla and I have enough travels planned between now and May that this schedule will have gaps in it, but with the goal set, I'm confident of its success.
Last housekeeping details. I will try always to spell correctly and use correct syntax , but cannot guarantee an error free blog.
- If all this seems a little more information than you need, I want to try to detail all my thinking and progress as I travel this journey so please bear with me.
- Believe it or not, someone WILL care about the temperature on a given day, or what I eat along the way. So I'll be true to what I do and try to abbreviate what I say!
And finally if you stick with this event until its conclusion, my hope is that you'll find smatterings of what I value the most, a sense of humor about it all.
The Beginning
It started a couple of months ago when the reality of retirement really struck me. Carla and I had finished remodeling our home, fall was well underway and it came to me that although I've been busy, I really wasn't sure of what was going to keep me occupied off into retirement. That concern is one I think most newly retired folks wonder about. I certain do.
Our neighbor in Fox Point, Bob Lee had just completed a very successful 6500 mile bicycle ride for charity ( http://www.3reasons.org/) up the east coast of the US and then across the northern part of the country. It was possible to follow his journey via blog and pictures and what an adventure it seemed to be. It just came to me one day that such a journey would be fun as well as a great way to see part of the country. For years I'd traveled by air back and forth and up and down across the US, often looking down as we flew across cities, farmland, desert and mountains. "Wouldn't it be fun to ride down there and see what it really was made up of" was a frequent thought.So without boring you with all the motives of this ride, I intend to do that.
In May of 2008 I am planning to ride my bicycle approximately 1500 miles alongside the Mississippi River from just south of Davenport, IA to New Orleans, LA. I expect to average about 50 - 60 miles a day, camping about 2/3's of the time and finding a B & B with a soft bed and shower the remainder of the time. Once I reach New Orleans, I'll do my part for their economy by staying for a couple of days, eating and drinking well before I come home to Chicago on Amtrak's City of New Orleans.
That's the general goal. If you care to, you may travel alongside as I plan, (to make sure I have the proper equipment and directions before I set off), train (to make sure that this partially-used body is able to finish the adventure) and finally as I set off in early May, to experience the trip.
I will have the able assistance of several people and organizations to help with all of this, but more about that in future blogs. It will be well planned in advance and just to be clear, I am convinced it will be safe.
Finally, without the support and blessing of my wife Carla who is used to my oddball behavior, none of this would be possible. Oddball, but not stupid. This ride is downhill all the way. Think not? Go look at a map or globe of the earth. Davenport, Iowa is higher on the globe than New Orleans, so that looks downhill to me! Although this ride is a one-man event, ("person", if you're politically correct, which I'm not), it does involve time spent away from home. If Carla had seriously indicated her reluctance for me to do this, it would have only remained a dream. So thank you Carla for your encouragement and support.
Our neighbor in Fox Point, Bob Lee had just completed a very successful 6500 mile bicycle ride for charity ( http://www.3reasons.org/) up the east coast of the US and then across the northern part of the country. It was possible to follow his journey via blog and pictures and what an adventure it seemed to be. It just came to me one day that such a journey would be fun as well as a great way to see part of the country. For years I'd traveled by air back and forth and up and down across the US, often looking down as we flew across cities, farmland, desert and mountains. "Wouldn't it be fun to ride down there and see what it really was made up of" was a frequent thought.So without boring you with all the motives of this ride, I intend to do that.
In May of 2008 I am planning to ride my bicycle approximately 1500 miles alongside the Mississippi River from just south of Davenport, IA to New Orleans, LA. I expect to average about 50 - 60 miles a day, camping about 2/3's of the time and finding a B & B with a soft bed and shower the remainder of the time. Once I reach New Orleans, I'll do my part for their economy by staying for a couple of days, eating and drinking well before I come home to Chicago on Amtrak's City of New Orleans.
That's the general goal. If you care to, you may travel alongside as I plan, (to make sure I have the proper equipment and directions before I set off), train (to make sure that this partially-used body is able to finish the adventure) and finally as I set off in early May, to experience the trip.
I will have the able assistance of several people and organizations to help with all of this, but more about that in future blogs. It will be well planned in advance and just to be clear, I am convinced it will be safe.
Finally, without the support and blessing of my wife Carla who is used to my oddball behavior, none of this would be possible. Oddball, but not stupid. This ride is downhill all the way. Think not? Go look at a map or globe of the earth. Davenport, Iowa is higher on the globe than New Orleans, so that looks downhill to me! Although this ride is a one-man event, ("person", if you're politically correct, which I'm not), it does involve time spent away from home. If Carla had seriously indicated her reluctance for me to do this, it would have only remained a dream. So thank you Carla for your encouragement and support.
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