Road Bike Action Magazine

26 www.roadbikeaction.com
Jump-starting the new
year with big miles

Yes, indeed, it’s that time of the year again when we’re hard at work assembling our annual Euro issue. As usual, it will be chock-full of all the latest Euro bikes and products worth talking and dreaming about. ■

COMING NEXT ISSUE:

Where does a successful season begin? For many elite and pro riders it begins with their team winter training camps, but what about those of us without teams that can provide such conveniences? Our answer to that was to create our own mini training camp called 4 Days to Fitness. Starting on New Year’s Eve day we planned 300 miles of riding in four days around Santa Clarita Valley, and over 100 riders showed up each day to spend their New Year’s weekend preparing for the 2016 season. During the 20-or-so quality hours we spent on the bike over those four days, we felt there were five specific things that could be passed along to benefit others wanting to put together their own version of 4 Days to Fitness.

1) An overload block of training followed by adequate recovery will provide a noticeable jump in fitness that will allow you to further increase training load and thus continue fitness growth.

2) To get through such a training block, intensity needs to be minimized since the miles alone will take a huge toll after a couple days. Adding high intensity will simply reduce your chance of finishing, and wear down your immune system.

3) Some of the biggest gains riders
made was in their ability to maneuver
within the pack while staying efficiently
the draft. Practicing pack skills is
something few of us don’t do nearly
enough of.
4) Testing your nutrition and hydration
program during a training block will help
you determine weak links in your fuel-
ing strategy. If you’re finishing each day
slightly dehydrated and under-fueled,
this will add up significantly and cause
noticeable under-performance after a
couple of days. Seeing this can help you
make the necessary adjustments.

5) Make sure your bike is in good working condition before you show up for a group ride. Mis-adjusted derailleurs and brakes, loose headsets, and under-inflated tires can all contribute to dangerous conditions for you as well as the other riders in the pack. And last, be sure to bring spare tubes.