Assumption #1, Consistency is key.
Lather, rinse, repeat…or as it is better known, the shampoo algorithm. A process of endlessly repeating the same thing, without thought or deviation.
And so it goes with our Tour Divide training.
It seems as though training for the Tour Divide can fall into a pattern that repeats itself every week. Squeeze in morning hikes or runs, swims or short rides during lunch hour, short to medium (2-3 hours) training rides during the week, any day we can get them, usually 3-5 weekdays, followed by a long ride of 100 miles or so on Saturday, then a 3 hour ride on Sunday. Then it’s “lather, rinse, repeat”.
What this shows is that over the last several months we have fallen into a pattern that is comfortable and repeatable. This is great, but it also allows us to plateau at a certain physical and mental fitness level. The 2-3 hour rides seem practically juvenile; easy and almost without thought. The 100 mile ride is certainly a worthy endeavor, but it has become “just something we do”, nothing special about it.
This is a perfect recipe for disaster.
During training for other events, getting this type of hours on the bike would have been awesome, but the Tour Divide demands another level all together. As a result, things are about to change.
While the weekday workouts of hikes, running, swimming and 2-3 hour rides probably can’t change much due to work, family, etc., the weekends are about to REALLY have to change.
The coming weeks will see us start to get out for either 100+ miles on each weekend day, probably starting even earlier than the 0500 start we got this last week. Alternately we’ll go out for 90+ miles on Saturday, camp out that night, and ride back Sunday. This will eventually stretch out to several 3 day trips of 100+ mile days in April/early May. This type of training is the only way we see to try to become accustomed to the rigors of doing so for 20+ days in a row on the Tour Divide.
The other thing that is getting incorporated into our rides is much more climbing during the week, with our fully loaded bikes. Add in more core work, and, pardon the expression, shit’s about to get serious!
Keep in mind that a lot of our training “plan” is based on what has worked for us in the past, what our friends and folks we know that coach have suggested, what fits our schedule and finally, what we ASSUME, is the best path towards our successful completion of the race. (Remember what they say about assuming!)
Speaking of assumptions and as a bit of a segue, in the next or soon to come blog post or so, Ray and I will each innumerate our biggest assumptions about the TD. This should be interesting to look at post event.
Until next time... Ride On!!
Shane and Ray
Long days in the saddle
