Training camps / riding overseas

Morning all,
I am new to this forum and pretty new to cycling. I am looking to take up cycling more seriously having previously rowed at a decent level. Although I am considerably heavier than the average cycling pro and while I cycle in a cadence that is approximately half what it should be I am looking to become a lot better technically and do several sportives this year with the aim of having a crack at etape du tour next year.
I was hoping to try and get ahead of the curve and get some warm weather training under my belt early this year however was hoping to get some help with locations, operators, things to look out for or any recommendations.
I would likely either head out on my own or as a party of group of 4/5 other rowers/runners probably feb/march time. Ideally i would like to find somewhere with guides and or those able to discuss skills and how to improve technically?
Any help from the board would be much appreciated - apologies if this is a common topic if there are any articles that i should look at please redirect me...
cheers
S
I am new to this forum and pretty new to cycling. I am looking to take up cycling more seriously having previously rowed at a decent level. Although I am considerably heavier than the average cycling pro and while I cycle in a cadence that is approximately half what it should be I am looking to become a lot better technically and do several sportives this year with the aim of having a crack at etape du tour next year.
I was hoping to try and get ahead of the curve and get some warm weather training under my belt early this year however was hoping to get some help with locations, operators, things to look out for or any recommendations.
I would likely either head out on my own or as a party of group of 4/5 other rowers/runners probably feb/march time. Ideally i would like to find somewhere with guides and or those able to discuss skills and how to improve technically?
Any help from the board would be much appreciated - apologies if this is a common topic if there are any articles that i should look at please redirect me...
cheers
S
0
Posts
I'd recommend that you contact your choice of possibilities to find out what they offer. Some will have a lot of support interms of talks, advice etc. Some will mainly be a way of people being able to ride in a group. Make sure that there will be a group appropriate for your needs and ability - on some camps the B group can be 2nd Cats!
Names to google and consider will include Andy Cooke, Stuart Hall, Dave LeGrys, Max Hurstler and others.
We went to Lanzarote, going again in Feb 2013. Rain is extremely unusual there, but it's always windy.
Don't be put off taking a bike with you, it's pretty painless, I just use a bike shop cardboard box.
Have fun.
Any tips for convincing the other half to either come with or give me the green light to go with others??
I went to the Pyrenees this summer and am off to the Algarve in 2 weeks....can't wait! Don't be too afraid of just going by yourself with your bike, get a local road map (before you go so you can plan routes), usually available from Amazon and the likes and plan each day. You tend to find that there aren't as many roads as over here and you can follow one for miles and miles before having to check the map again. The Algarve is great if you stay inland from the touristy coastal areas and incredibly cheap. Lots of little bar/ restaurants in each village and a 3 course meal for less than a tenner! Usually great cycling weather in the spring too - November usually 15-20 degrees, with plenty of sunshine, so still pretty good for those of us from northern climes!
Have fun.
PP
http://vueltamallorca.com/mallorca-clas ... ions-2013/
If you want a huge challenge try this one. i think im going to enter for a laugh. Works out at 172 miles I think over a lot of climbing so would be good practise!
http://en.mallorca312.com/home/
Enjoy
If you want to training / coaching, there are plenty of outfits available, my experience was this is it was more of an 'organised ride' than coaching, but i'm sure there are outfits that do more. I really think the best option is to try to find a cyclist who owns a villa / holiday apartment down there. So you get a cheap villa from somebody who knows the roads. Haven't found that yet though, so i've just rented an apartment for £200 for a week.
On the missus, I have struggled with same problem. I suggest if you go on an organised camp it will be hard to convince. If you go your own or with mates, you could probably schedule your rest days around her visit? I did this in france for a race where she flew in a few days after me, and pretty much arrived as I finished the event. I'd be careful on promising great afternoon / evenings together on your training days, after 4 solid days riding i'm pretty much exhausted by the evening!
Weather is generally excellent, better than Majorca and strangely better than further south, especially in the winter, say November to March.
Loads of accommodation available at reasonable prices out of season too. I'm planning on being there for 2 weeks next March.
Last time I stayed here, half board, http://www.granhotelsolymar.com/eng/index.php Bikes were kept on the balcony and they didn't mind bike in the lifts or pushed across the marble foyer!
Some photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fachwen/se ... 680671355/
https://www.strava.com/athletes/303457
Please note: I’ll no longer engage deeply with anonymous forum users
I've been on one of their fully supported day trip rides and it was a brilliant introduction to group road riding which has got me hooked.