mpact of Jetlag, Change of Clima and Food during Training Camp

Hi everybody

I have a question to you well known coaches and experienced Cyclists around here:

The Issue: I live in Switzerland and plan to do my 2 Week-Training camp in February in Thailand instead of Mallorca, where i usually did it, which meens getting a Jet lag of about 7hrs, a way hotter Climate and different Food.

My former Trainer used to say that you shouldnt train "into" a Jetlag, which meens she ordered me to take it easy the first 3-4 Days after the flights to acclimate my body and to recover from the Jetlag, getting into the "new" rythem of Sleep-Awakeness.

i m really not so concerned about the Food - Chance because i know Thai-Food pretty well, but the weather and the Jetlag, could the knock me down?

this question should not only be regarded in terms of immediate Impacts on Performence, but also in terms of impacts for the whole proceeding season...

What are the opinions around here? (hope you got the point my english is not that good..)

thanks alot
fabian

Why Thailand? Quite big jet lag, risky hygienics, climate that's way different than european..Are you targeting for high humidity high temperature racing? Jet lag hits harder when going east.

You can train with rollers or trainer inside without fan, to get your body to stand high temperatures. Then again you have risky days in front of you when flying back in chilly dry aeroplane interior air or risky days in chilly eouropean winter weather. Bigger climate change = bigger health risk for (hard training) endurance athlete

thanks for your interresting answer. I only chose thailand because a friend of mine will go so i could go with him rather than riding in rainy and cold mallorca in February.

the races i do are actually all in switzerland and start at late march, until sept.

kind regards
fabian

I live in Texas. I've taken my bike on business trips to Japan, Italy, and France. Those trips to France got me in the mid-morning. I'd get to the hotel, take a little nap, take a light ride in the afternoon, and the next day hit it hard. No training impacts. Trips to Japan? Get to the hotel at night, put the bike together, and at daybreak I'd get in a hard workout before going to meetings. I have zero issues with picking up my training. If anything, I find it helps my sleep pattern. Get on your normal routines as soon as possible is my method.

So from your perspective, if you "Get on your normal routines as soon as possible " there is no problem with my training camp in Thailand... at least, you never made negative experiences with long trips, time and clima changes concerning training, right?


regards
fabian

Correct. In fact, I use the workouts to get myself better acclimated to the time change.

Thailand is a long way to go to ride a bike for pre-season training although it is a lovely country for sure. The fact that you are going for two weeks will certainly help, it's too far to go for anything less than that in my opinion.

I hear you about the weather in Majorca, whether it is a blip on the average trends or effects of climate change who knows - but it has been poor the last 2-3 years. Other alternatives are to stay on the Spanish mainland which tends to have a milder winter than the Balearic islands or travel for another couple of hours to the Canary islands - if it's good enough for Lance etc. etc.

The reason that a high number of the pro teams flock to mainland Spain from Jan-March is that historically the weather is mild and the roads excellent as well as quiet. If it was cold and wet they would go elsewhere so here's hoping it is a blip in the weather patterns. Please note, by mainland Spain I do not include Majorca. Instead most of the pros head for the Costa Blanca - including Saxo Bank, Liquigas, Astana and all Bruyneel's previous teams.

If you want to give that area of Spain a go, check out www.traininspain.net, they have all-year round camps and cycling breaks - and only an hour or two away from Switzerland!