Distance Training

How Can I Improve Speed on Long Rides?

I just finished a 600K brevet  with 15,000 feet of climbing. Next, I'm signed up for several double centuries. How can I improve my average speed in these long rides? I hate structured training plans, and don't lecture me about nutrition!

Can I Survive 200 Miles on Minimal Training

I want to ride a double century in four weeks. I did a 6-hour century three months ago. Since then I have ridden 200 miles per month with some interval training, and run 15-20 miles per week. Can I complete the double?

How can I get in shape for a long tour?

I’m in average shape. I currently commute 10 to 20 miles a day. I would like to do a two-week, 1,000-mile ride five months from now, riding a mountain bike on the road. Am I a little crazy or is this possible?

Companion eBooks & eArticles

By Coach Fred Matheny
$14.95

By Coach Arnie Baker, M.D.
$19.95

By Chris Fischer
$10.95

Available to Our Premium Members

How Can I Prepare for a Tough Century in 3 Weeks?

I'm training for an annual century called Blood, Sweat & Gears near Asheville, NC. It has over 9,000 feet of climbing. As I write this, the event is only three weeks away.  I've been commuting regularly (10 miles each way, with some tough little hills) and have ridden a long climb to Skyline Drive, hitting about 3,500 feet at the top, the last two weekends. I'll ride Massanutten Mountain for an 82-mile sufferfest this weekend.  Is this enough, or should I try to get in more mileage on weekdays? When should I do my last long climbing ride before the event? Should I try to lose a few pounds? 

How Should I Train for a Weekend Tour?

How do I train for a two-day, 220-mile tour? I have the time, but I'm 51, fat, female and asthmatic. I've ridden for 15 years and did 2,500 miles last season, but never lost any weight. I want to enjoy the tour rather than suffer through it.

How Should I Prepare for a 24-Hour Event

I've been riding for five years. Next season my goal is 300 miles at the National 24-Hour Challenge in Michigan in June. My previous best is 255 miles. I was drained afterward.  How many miles should I accumulate before the event? Should I focus on long rides or shorter, more intense workouts?

Am I Ready for Brevets?

I want to attempt a brevet series (rides of 200, 300, 400 and 600 km) in the spring to qualify for the 2003 Paris-Brest-Paris. I can do 25 miles pretty comfortably right now, averaging 15 mph 2-4 times weekly. How important is it for me to do rides of 3-6 hours?

What Should Follow a High-Mileage Week?

I just returned from my first PAC Tour Training Camp, which I really enjoyed. How should I build on a high-mileage week like that? How should it affect my overall training plan? Prior to the camp, my weekly routine generally consisted of a 50-mile ride, a 20-mile ride, two high-intensity spin classes and an aerobic weight training class. My goal is to ride at least one century per month and peak for RAMROD at the end of July (150 miles with 10,000 feet of elevation gain). 

Did Endurance Camp Include Intensity, Too

I read that Coach Fred Matheny and Ed Pavelka rode over 600 miles apiece at the PAC Tour Training Camp. That sounds exhausting! Were all rides the same intensity, or were they like  they've been described in  Coach Fred Matheny's eBooks?  Were they riding often in "no-man's land?" Did they  use a heart monitor?

How Did You Prepare for the Huge Camp Miles?

After reading about your 600-mile week in Arizona, I'm wondering how to increase mileage so drastically. I bet that before the camp, neither of you guys had ridden 80 miles in a day since winter started, and yet you averaged 88 miles for 7 consecutive days. How did you live to tell about it?

Can I Survive 200 Miles on Minimal Training

I want to ride a double century in four weeks. I did a 6-hour century three months ago. Since then I have ridden 200 miles per month with some interval training, and run 15-20 miles per week. Can I complete the double?