Tom's Training Tips & Plan

Although we're having a virtual ride this year, it doesn't mean that you can't ride your bike 65 miles. Ride veteran, Tom Zapalac provides you with tips and a training plan in navigating a 65 mile bike ride experience.

 
Tom's Training Tips

Safety First
Always wear a helmet while riding and make sure it fits. If you don’t know how to adjust the straps, go to your local bike shop for assistance. If you're buying a new helmet, it should have the proper fit before you leave the store. Do not wear headphones while riding. You need to see as well as hear everything around you.

What to put in your bike bag and on your bike
2 spare tubes
ID
Cash
Tire tools and mini-tool kit
2 water bottles
Air pump or CO2 cartridges
Knowledge of how to use the tools to change a flat

Bicycle Safety
Make sure you have a bicycle that fits you properly and is in good working condition. Take it to a local bike shop for a quick tune up. Not only is this mandatory to participate in The Ben to The Shore Bike Tour, they may be able to make some adjustments which will make your ride more comfortable. Visit one of our certified bike shops to have this done for free, and some stores offer discounts on merchandise - cycling shorts with pads are a must!

Bicycle Fit
As you train you may need to make adjustments to your bike. Consider going back to your bike shop and ask about refining your bike position. You should not be stretched out or too cramped. Your legs should be slightly bent at the bottom of the pedal stroke. Stay relaxed. Hold the handlebar lightly. Keep elbows bent. Locked elbows lead to fatigue in your arms, shoulders, and neck. Smile. This will help you relax.

Nutrition for Training
Drink water or sports drink. Rule of thumb is to drink at least every 15 minutes. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty. On hot days, you will want to drink more. On short training rides you probably will not need to eat during the ride. Eat a light meal an hour or two prior to riding. During your longer weekly ride, bring a light snack and eat half way through the ride. Experiment with different drinks and snacks to find what works best for you. You don’t want to experiment the day of the ride.

Nutrition for Race Week
During this week drink plenty of water. No need to Carb Load. You get enough carbohydrates in regular balanced diet. Stay away from fatty or highly processed foods. Eat foods high in fiber and slow to digest. Vegetables, fruits, chicken, fish, and lean meats are ideal.

Morning of the Ride
Eat a light meal consisting of foods such as oatmeal, cream of wheat, fruits, juices, eggs or whole grain breads or bagels. Eat at least 2 hours before the start.

During the Ride
Drink at least every 15 minutes. There are four rest stops along the way. When you stop for a break, keep it short. 10 minutes at the most. The longer you wait, the more your muscles will begin to tighten. Refill water bottles, get a snack, stretch and get back on the road.


Tom's Training Plan

The main principle of training for a long ride is to increase your mileage gradually over a number of weeks. By doing it that way, you help avoid injury, burnout and fatigue. Plus you will also be able to detect any issues with your body or bike that you want to discover before the big day.

For the first week: Start out by riding for 30 minutes at a time. Don’t worry so much about the miles. If you are not comfortable on streets, try riding on one of the many local paved trails. The idea is to increase the mileage of your long ride gradually until you can comfortably ride 50 miles in a day.

Midway through the training schedule: Start to increase the intensity and speed of your rides. Get your heart rate up. Ride hard for one minute, and then recover for the next. Do this several times during a ride. These are called intervals. Interval training will increase your endurance. If you have limited time to ride, interval training will build endurance without consuming a lot of time.

The final week: You will taper down. Ride 2-3 times. Slow your pace. Stay loose and do about 15 miles each ride. You’re not going to gain any more endurance this last week, but you don’t want to lose what you’ve learned over the past nine weeks. The ride is on Sunday, so rest and relax on Friday and Saturday.

     
Click here for a printable version of Tom's Training Tips & Plan

A great cyclist once said about training, "Ride Lots."

For questions about training e-mail Thomas Zapalac at bike@FBBCF.org.