Across France in June

The following is a bit of motivation and plan that I put together for some friends that are planning to do cycling challenge to ride across France via the Pyrenean mountain passes this summer.  we have varying levels of fitness but a common goal six months hence 

 

 

I see us in this picture six months from now…  a time and a place that we will savor in our old age.

 

I want for all of us to have reached this zenith under our own power…  and not in a van.

 

Is it going to be easy?   No

 

Could we do it today?  No

 

Can we do it?  Yes…  only if we are committed

 

So how do we get ready?  I like your enthusiasm but…

 

First of all let's define ready…

 

Ready:

 

Being able to ride a bike in mountainous terrain for 5 hours a day for 6 straight days

 

http://www.pyreneesmultisport.com/2014/pyrenean-traverse/

 

In other words as difficult of a bike ride as we have ever done in a single day in our lives six days in a row? Like riding the Beach Blvd bridge for 5 hours non-stop (hey that sounds like fun! J) every day for a week

 

Are you getting scared yet?  Good.

 

Hopefully you are asking yourself this question:

 

Okay asshole how do we get there?  How do I get started?  What do I do?  How much?  When?

 

Well it just so happens that I have a plan! (surprised?)

 

Month 1:

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=1671

Month 2:

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=1696

Month 3:

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=1720

 

basically we will be going from 3.5 hours per week to start to almost 6 hours per week by March….  And "up" from there…

 

and I mean up as in hills and saddle time…. By may we should be logging 12+ hours of saddle time a week

 

We should plan a weekend trip to Mt Dora…

 

May 15 weekend should be our practice run…  a group from Jax is Heading up to Dahlonega to do the 6 big climbs in the Smokies…   

 

Let's go ride bikes in beautiful places!