Do you need to train for your bike tour? That’s a question that only you can answer, but we created a helpful PDF guide to help you get started on planning!
To download the PDF, simply complete the form below. We’ll instantly e-mail you the PDF to download.
Explore all of our Riding Tips and you’ll find more on Training, What is a Self-Guided Bike Tour, and our Difficulty Levels Explained.
TRAINING GUIDE EXCERPT:
G E T T I N G
S T A R T E D
Whether you have booked a trip or you
are still considering one, you’re
probably wondering how difficult riding
30-50 miles per day will be and
whether a multi-day bike tour is
something you are equipped to do. For
riders who are accustomed to this type
of mileage on an occasional basis, a
tour of consecutive 40-mile days can
come as a surprise. For others, a 30-
mile day may be entirely new and a
goal you’ve set for yourself. For anyone
who is new to multi-day bike touring, it
is important to plan in advance and train
in order to get the most out of your trip.
D E T E R M I N I N G Y O U R
C U R R E N T F I T N E S S
L E V E L
The best way to determine your current
fitness level/cycling capability is to
simply ride your bike and see how you
feel. Most important is to ride your bike
on consecutive days for at least 10
miles (ideally with varying levels of
elevation) and to do so for a set period
of time. Keeping a cycling journal is
beneficial, as you can detail your
experiences with sore
muscles, nutrition, energy, etc. It’s
a great feeling to look back through
your journal and see your progress!
Additional ways to determine your
cycling-readiness are to log your
resting heart rate over a period of time.
Resting heart rate is one measure of
cardiovascular health.
Some of our riders are taking spring and
early summer trips and riding outside to
gauge cycling fitness may not be
feasible in the winter months. Cycling
indoors can be advantageous, again
making sure to ride on consecutive
days and see how you feel. Wearing a
watch that measures your heart rate
can yield helpful insights as well.
