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I am in the happy position of going to Canada with my family to work for three months this summer. Working life combined with long family holiday will prohibit any biking time plus I am going to a really flat bit too, so it would be pointless taking my ride.
I am keen to race at Bristol's Oktoberfest when I return (cause I will miss the summer one) and wonder if anyone has any cunning ideas of how I can train for a race without a bike? Staying out of Hortons and going for a jog when I can is the only idea I currently have...
Something involving exercise bikes comes to mind. Lots of variations and options ranging from soul destroying to dull.
Working life combined with long family holiday will prohibit any biking time
but you have time to train? not sure i follow?
I'd take a road bike.
Running or anything cardio based will help keep you fit altho not Mtb fit. It is a shorter session than bike training so easier to fit into a schedule but it won't be specific enough but it would make it less painful for when you get back on the bike. I guess the only alternative is short hour long bike sessions. Maybe on a road bike or t/trainer.
if you want to be fit to race a bike you need to ride a bike as that is the only way to train all the muscles you need to train. You can be fit and certainly ensure decent overall condition by cross training but running will make you a better runner, swimming a better swimmer etc.
I work away from home Monday to Friday and are unable to bring a bike. I go to the local gym and do spinning lessons, I do 4 a week. Not ideal but you can really work hard and build up a sweat for those 45 minutes.
i trained for my first every race, 24 hours solo, by buying small bottles of beer instead of large ones. That way I walked to the fridge more often.
I broke my hand 8 weeks before race day so couldn't ride
Anyone used an exercise bike to train then?
@thomthumb hit the nail on the head there - I need to train out of a suitcase (no bike not even a road one), enjoy spending lots of time with my kids (who keep me fit), and working my arse off (sat in a dark lab somewhere)! And hopefully come back primed to train up in the 6 weeks before the race...
Like @ti_pin_man - thanks, I guess running is all I am left with cardio-wise or maybe an exercise bike!?!
I once did an XC race after six months of no riding whatsoever, but intensive, intensive rowing (and a background of years of riding/muscle memory) and did...alright. I do remember though not being ready for the prolonged exertion (I think it was a good couple of hours) compared to the shorter, more intense workouts you get with training for a 2000m boat race(no longer than 35 minutes of really hard work at a time, though back to back so on the river for 90 minutes+, usually sprints under 7 minutes, though maybe a few 60 minute rows a week for base). Basically without having done solid work for 2hrs+ in the last 6 mths I was about ready to die at the end of the race. The technical stuff was also problematic.
@Mr_Mojo - some of my wife's friends do 'spinning'... what is it? (assumed it was a chick thing?)
@WorldClassAccident - I think I know this training plan, and I like it!... 🙂
Chick watching maybe 😉
It's done on a fixed wheel exercise bike to music. You control the resistance so you can make it as easy or hard as you want. Basically it's either spinning fast rpm at low resistance or slogging "up hill" to a high resistance either in or out of the saddle or a mixture of both. A good instructor is essential. The Fitness First gym I go to in Manchester is about 50/50 male/female mix.
how long between you getting back and racing?
I am looking up pictures of Canadian women spinning now!
I am a little baffled by the need for an instructor, but if that is what gets you the most from a class, then perhaps it is a good thing! 45 minute class though - that sounds about right!
About 6 - 8 weeks of training before the race, which sounds like a lifetime, but I reckon that if I don't go to Canada with the attitude of keeping fit, then I will come back obese and 8 weeks training won't touch the sides! Can you get bike fit in 8 weeks for an 8 hour race?
yes if you rode regularly before (muscle memory innit).
My team mate went to india for 8 weeks and "just" ran 3 times a week. The weekend after he got back he did a cyclocross race with no running on the course and came 7th!
A good instructor is essential.
+100
The instructor tells you when to hammer it, when to take it easy, when to up the resistance... Basically a good instructor will bring good music (good for the class, that is!) with a logical progression from easy warm up, to "hills" (high resistance) or TT style spinning, then back to a cool down + stretch. There's a massive difference between a decent instructor and a crap one.
just take some running shoes/ shorts. & do some swimming/ anything active to keep the cv up and then have 6-8 weeks to transfer to bikes on return. probably not ideal but it could be much worse.
as above... spin classes /running /bit of swimming should do.
Kev
Thanks everyone... Next October I shall post with "Yes you can" or "No you can't... Time to go eat some doughnuts!