Tapering for a tour?

Sean01

Hi,

Hoping somebody might be able to help: I'm doing a bike tour round Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany at the end of April totalling around 600miles in 6 days and have been wondering about tapering. When I did a marathon the tapering was the best bit of the training! but obviously this is a very different form of exercise. So my general question is should I be tapering for such a ride or because it is so long any taper would only make a difference for the first day and I might get out of practice being on the bike every day? At the minute I'm averaging about 250-300miles/week (difficult to fit much more in whilst working all day!) I'm not planning on racing round the route, taking it at a reasonably leisurely pace say a daily average of 15-16ish mph. Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Sean

Down the Road

Just ride your bike as often as you like.

There is never a need for amateur riders to taper

Pokerface

If it's not a race, no need to taper.

An amateur rider WOULD benefit from a taper - but only if it was for a big event they are targeting (like a championship, etc).

Just don't overdo it leading up to the event - but keep riding!

vorsprung

Sean01 wrote:

Hi,

Hoping somebody might be able to help: I'm doing a bike tour round Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany at the end of April totalling around 600miles in 6 days and have been wondering about tapering. When I did a marathon the tapering was the best bit of the training! but obviously this is a very different form of exercise. So my general question is should I be tapering for such a ride or because it is so long any taper would only make a difference for the first day and I might get out of practice being on the bike every day? At the minute I'm averaging about 250-300miles/week (difficult to fit much more in whilst working all day!) I'm not planning on racing round the route, taking it at a reasonably leisurely pace say a daily average of 15-16ish mph. Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Sean

I agree with the other points in a general sense

But if you have a "heavy" week two weeks before the off and then a week of not riding the week before you go then your legs will be fresh. You should go well for the first few days. After the first few days you should be adjusted to the daily pace and find it ok.

Although you are not in a race if you are "fit" then the tour will be easier. So the same techniques that are used for training for races, like tapering, will work for you.

rick_chasey

For most amateurs, most tapering seems to start a good 2-4 months before said event, normally around the time they book it.

Pokerface

vorsprung wrote:

But if you have a "heavy" week two weeks before the off and then a week of not riding the week before you go then your legs will be fresh.

A week of not riding at all the week before the event isn't tapering nor is it beneficial.

However, a week of LIGHT riding leading up to the event will keep your legs fresh. No riding and they will go stale. You'll spend the first few days back on the bike trying to get them going again.

chrisw12

For me, and I can't emphasise the ME bit a mental taper would be very much needed. You're going to spend a week living on the bike, you want to be mentally fresh going into that, you want to be desperate to get on that bike at the start so yeah I'd take a few days off before, but certainly not a week.

vorsprung

Pokerface wrote:

vorsprung wrote:

But if you have a "heavy" week two weeks before the off and then a week of not riding the week before you go then your legs will be fresh.

A week of not riding at all the week before the event isn't tapering nor is it beneficial.

This works for me. On multiday tours. Call it tapering or idleness, I don't mind

Pokerface

vorsprung wrote:

Pokerface wrote:

vorsprung wrote:

But if you have a "heavy" week two weeks before the off and then a week of not riding the week before you go then your legs will be fresh.

A week of not riding at all the week before the event isn't tapering nor is it beneficial.

This works for me. On multiday tours. Call it tapering or idleness, I don't mind

Yes, but have you tried light riding prior instead?

vorsprung

Pokerface wrote:

vorsprung wrote:

Pokerface wrote:

vorsprung wrote:

But if you have a "heavy" week two weeks before the off and then a week of not riding the week before you go then your legs will be fresh.

A week of not riding at all the week before the event isn't tapering nor is it beneficial.

This works for me. On multiday tours. Call it tapering or idleness, I don't mind

Yes, but have you tried light riding prior instead?

Yes, I have. I find not riding at all is better. Anything up to 10 days is fine. Any more than that and I get too relaxed.

Touring is not the same as a 10 mile time trial with a pointy hat on, so while the same technique of "taking it easy" the week before ( note: I am not saying tapering ) is applicable, what exactly is appropriate depends on what you are preparing for. I'm not saying you are wrong, I'm just telling you what works for me.

Pokerface

vorsprung wrote:

Touring is not the same as a 10 mile time trial with a pointy hat on, so while the same technique of "taking it easy" the week before ( note: I am not saying tapering ) is applicable, what exactly is appropriate depends on what you are preparing for. I'm not saying you are wrong, I'm just telling you what works for me.

I'd be surprised if Tour de France riders take the week before the Tour off completely - but point taken. If it 'works' for you, then so be it! 8)

Sean01

Thanks all for your input. Thinking I was really trying to find an excuse to reclaim a bit of my weekends in the up coming weeks! Whilst I do enjoy being out on my bike back to back century rides doesn't half wipe out most of my weekend! Did 225miles (fully loaded up with stuff) last weekend and no stiffness/aching on Monday so feeling a lot more confident about the full distance now. Think I'll just do gentle rides to work (25mile round trip) in the week leading up to the trip after reading your thoughts.