Here in DaVita’s Lone Star Division, we have formed a training team made up of four of us who live relatively close to each other. Knowing others are making the commitment to show up really helps get me on my bike.
I have loaned my old road bike to one of the unknowing souls who just went into this blindly (and with my intense coaxing). She is STILL talking to me, can you believe it? (Gaylee, I love you!)
We try to ride three times a week in the evenings…last month it was a challenge to do that in JULY in HOUSTON, TEXAS, as the heat index averaged about 106, and the humidity was always at 110%. Nice weather if you enjoy mixing biking and saunas.
We don’t have that problem anymore: it has been raining for a month now in Texas!! I am thinking of trading my bike in for an ark! (I am really starting to freak out about not being able to get out and ride!)
We have been doing some local sponsored rides on the weekends. We hope to kick our ride up to 50 miles this weekend! (That is, if that pesky rain I just mentioned ever lets up). We hope to kick in a 100 mile ride before we head to the Tour DaVita. (OK, maybe that’s wishful thinking!)
I have convinced my fellow riders about the importance of pedal clips. It can make a big difference when you are going long distances. We also use a bike computer to monitor our mph and our cadence.
There is a great book by Lance Armstrong (you know, our fellow Texan) The Lance Armstrong Performance Program: 7 weeks to the Perfect Ride. It has great tips and good ideas on how to prepare for such an event. The section on riding hills and mountains is very informative. We know NOTHING about hills here in Texas. We have been practicing on nearby freeway overpasses!!
I also work out with a personal trainer two to three times a week (oh yeah, money also motivates me…I make sure I get up and sweat if I know I am paying someone whether I show up or not!). I think strong core muscles also benefit a rider. My trainer is my cheerleader and has been really stepping up the workouts to get me ready.
A lot of people go to spinning classes…I think that is SOOOOO BORING! And it is nothing like being on a road bike. But to each his own, some people swear by it.
And finally, I pray a lot. I am in my forties (definitely not the new 20 when it comes to biking…or anything else in my case!) and I can use all the help I can get!
August 7, 2007 at 9:04 pm
Wow! I wish we had some rain in LA – we have no practice biking under pouring water … or pouring humidity…
For those who have never biked more than 50 miles – I’d like to very strongly recommend to do at least once even 60-70 miles – it is a very different experience and it is helpful to put yourself in the right mind set and see how it REALLY feels to be on that bike for 6-7 (more?) hours. Having good buddies with you makes a big difference – so don’t bike alone if you could help it!
Good luck and happy biking!
–Vania.
August 9, 2007 at 1:20 pm
Just a suggestion about trying a 50+ mile ride……. look for a charity or bike club one-day event. One-day events offer many distance options and they provide food, drink and mechanical support along the way. The roads would be well marked, and there would be lots of other riders along the way.
Riding 60-70 miles is awesome fun, but you definitely want the support of other riders, and easy access to water and fuel. The longer you are on the road, the more tired you will be and the more important it is to take care of yourself. (I once bonked after a 77-mile road within sight distance of the finish. A gel pack got me back on track, and I was able to ride in with a smile.)
Drop me a line if you would like more information about event rides. I live in the Philadelphia area, and I’ve traveled as far as Maryland for an event ride, and the trip was well worth it.
Can’t wait to get out and ride the tour. DaVita is truly special and reading the blog and your posts is inspiring. Take care! Kathleen
August 9, 2007 at 6:21 pm
Call me ACE. Not because I’m a veteran rider – only because I have both knees wrapped with bandages of this brand name. I’ll be out there with my heart, head, hands and what’s left of my knees.
Love biking. Never did it like this, but I love it! Can’t wait to hit the Southern open road.
Blaise “Ace” Tracy
Village Communications
August 11, 2007 at 2:03 am
Southern California couldn’t be better for training for a ride like Tour Davita. The weather has been great. The mornings have been cool and overcast though you wouldn’t want to ride in the afternoon or evenings with over 80 degree heat. I’ve been getting up at 5:30 to 6:30am in the mornings on my days off so I can get my ride in before it gets to hot.
I’ve gradually been progressing my ride length and speed. I started my first ride on June 12th. It was 2 hrs and I only went 20 miles. When I first started my training program, my 14 year old daughter was all excited and wanted to ride with me so I bought a tandem bike to train. As long as the ride was limited to that length she was good to go. However, when I started progressing to 2 1/2 and 3 hours the 3rd and forth week extending the distance to 24 to 33 miles she lost interest. Which is ok because she has been complaining of knee pain, but now I do most of my riding alone. There aren’t too many people who want to ride those distances or I haven’t met them on my schedule. Sometimes I’ll meet someone on the trail to ride with for awhile. You can bet they get an earfull about Tour Davita and The Kidney Trust. I hope they visit the sites. Maybe they will even make a donation.
By the end of my first month of training, I was riding 3 1/2 hours and fourty miles. I also started riding to and from work and home at lunch. This adds up to 15 miles on work days. My signiture uniform now is my cycling clothes with a lab coat. Don’t worry I go to work by 6 am and home before it gets dark so most of my riding on work days is during the cool hours which my co-workers appreciate. At lunch my biking shirt is sleeveless and I only have to bike 3 1/2 miles each way.
The beginning of August, I have really started my long rides. 8/4 50 miles in 4 hours. 8/7 60 miles in 4 hrs and 45 min. 8/9 70 miles in 5 hours and 20 min.
I have also put in 5 hours of campaigning door to door distributing Kidney Trust brochures and information about the websites and the Tour Davita. My local bike shop, opthamologist, and and country club have also put out our information for the public to receive. The Sheriff’s Department may put something in their newsletter. Long Beach police have brochures in their lobby.