first tour--undertrained and nervous

Make sure and stay hydrated, and properly fed. Use something with plenty of electrolytes to replenish what you use up, especially if it's warm. Stay out of the wind until you get an idea of how you're feeling, and don't try to keep up with the fitter riders on hill-climbs and the city limit sign sprints.

Use a heart-rate monitor if you have one to stay in your "endurance zone" (if you know it) as much as possible. Warm up your muscles in easy gears first thing and Stretch your legs while you ride, and use your bigger muscles in your glutes and hams, as well as your quads. Stay warm in the mornings if it's cooler, and peel off the layers as it warms up.

Use some warming embrocations on your legs if needed and don't forget the bag balm, or other chamois creme. Change your shorts as soon as you can after the riding is over in order to avoid saddle sores, rashes etc...

Make sure and cool-down well after harder efforts, and do some passive stretching and massaging at the end of the day. A little "active" recovery usually is better than just collapsing, so take a walk, or easy spin.

Have fun!

kungufcycler said:

First off, I should mention that I am planning on leaving on my first tour in about a week and a half. I feel nervous because, although I am in excellent shape for someone my age (20 years old), I am unsure whether I am in excellent shape for someone planning an approximately 850 mile tour for the first time. I have always been able to pull off 40-50 mile day rides with ease but none that I can recall have been in succession. I workout at the gym regularly and maintain a healthy diet with the occasional snack food. I don't drink alcohol or smoke.

To be honest, this tour is somewhat impromptu and as yet not finished being planned. I know this sounds foolish, but it is the only chance I see myself having within the next 5 or more years to take on a ride of this magnitude. I would love to spend months training ahead of time but it has not been possible with my current academic schedule (six mathematics and engineering classes, all with comprehensive finals next week).

Anyway, I need some advice from seasoned veterans before I blindly charge out. Do you think I can do this? I am willing to endure hardship and misery, in fact that challenging aspect of this ride is what motivates me to go through with it.

Hi, I did my first tour last year (3000kms) with a little bit of training (not realy needed as I ride often) and it was great.
I'm 46 now and my wife and I are leaving next week for a 2000km tour from Holland to Spain (her first).
We have only trained for about 700kms as the weather has been really bad.
For us it will probably be a bit hard for the first few days than we will be used to it. For someone your age and a regular at the gym you won't have a problem.
Don't worry so much just do it.
Good luck and have a great ride 🙂

Thank you both for your support, I appreciate your advice and comments very much. I was hugely discouraged by a response I got from my local cycling club to a similar post made on their message board, although it was more so due to their attitude toward me (they have never met me) than anything else.

Odd, I just noticed how poorly I spelled my screenname...oh well.

i've never trained for a tour in my life. my first ever trip (age 17) was about 3 or 4 days, rhode island to martha's vineyard. i remember being really sore on days 2 and 3. next, up to nova scotia, about 10 days or so. on my 18th birthday, i left for mexico, a bit over 2 months round trip. other than having a vague plan to stop by at a few relatives along the way, absolutely no planning whatsoever.

about the only requirements needed are the will to do it, the ability to take things as they come, and enough common sense to stay out of too much trouble. (well, if you can also handle some basic repairs, that's good too). don't worry about what the bike weenies say.

i'm sure you'll have a great trip. 😉