Training
Feb 18,2024 17:45
I started training about 4 months before my planned start. My idea is to continue bike commuting and add some longer rides on the weekends. Yesterday I rode the north end of Lake Washington.
President's Day I biked from Bremerton to Bainbridge Island via Poulsbo, about 42 miles including home to and from the ferry terminal. In the week I have bike rides to clinic and my office near Harborview that are 5 and 7 miles roundtrip, respectively, and various meetings and errands. My training isn't very scientific, but my intent is to increase mileage to around 50 to 70 miles per week and then to add trips with full panniers to simulate what I'll be carrying on my trip. The culmination will be biking from our cabin in Mazama up to Washington Pass, down and up to Rainy Pass, then down the other side, and then returning to the cabin. That will be 4 passes with full panniers, harder than any day on my trip. *If* I can do that I should be in pretty good shape for the tour.
Next weekend I'll ride Chilly Hilly on Bainbridge Island. The forecast is for temperatures in the 30s and 40s with rain likely. I've participated in this ride many times and so far I've avoided rain. It always turns out the weather is better than forecast. We'll see if my luck holds.
My luck held and I rode Chilly Hilly with hardly any rain. It was a great training ride because of all the hills, and let me test out the higher handlebar stem Carolyn at MBS suggested. Much more comfortable.
I keep a printed spreadsheet on my bike room door with daily mileage and weekly totals to inspire me to keep at it. I must admit, it is an effort to head out the door on a cold morning!
President's Day I biked from Bremerton to Bainbridge Island via Poulsbo, about 42 miles including home to and from the ferry terminal. In the week I have bike rides to clinic and my office near Harborview that are 5 and 7 miles roundtrip, respectively, and various meetings and errands. My training isn't very scientific, but my intent is to increase mileage to around 50 to 70 miles per week and then to add trips with full panniers to simulate what I'll be carrying on my trip. The culmination will be biking from our cabin in Mazama up to Washington Pass, down and up to Rainy Pass, then down the other side, and then returning to the cabin. That will be 4 passes with full panniers, harder than any day on my trip. *If* I can do that I should be in pretty good shape for the tour.
Next weekend I'll ride Chilly Hilly on Bainbridge Island. The forecast is for temperatures in the 30s and 40s with rain likely. I've participated in this ride many times and so far I've avoided rain. It always turns out the weather is better than forecast. We'll see if my luck holds.
My luck held and I rode Chilly Hilly with hardly any rain. It was a great training ride because of all the hills, and let me test out the higher handlebar stem Carolyn at MBS suggested. Much more comfortable.
I keep a printed spreadsheet on my bike room door with daily mileage and weekly totals to inspire me to keep at it. I must admit, it is an effort to head out the door on a cold morning!
