Help an experienced hiker prepare for a cycle tour
July 17, 2015 5:04 PM Subscribe
I'm an experienced hiker and runner with a reasonably good level of fitness. A friend of mine has a big birthday coming up, so I have agreed to join her for a cycle trip in Myanmar/Burma at Christmas. How do I prepare when I don't have a bike, and don't live in an area where road cycling is easy? (Difficulty Level: I live in Hong Kong.)
The cycling trip seems pretty moderate and the road conditions are supposedly good. There aren't more than 5 days on the bike, and the longest day is around 80km. I lived in the Netherlands for 17 years, so I've spent plenty of time on bikes-- but that was much more just scooting around A'dam than really doing any serious time on a bicycle.
If you were me, how would you prepare? I should be able to rent bikes for riding on a few weekends, but I won't be able to do it often. Can I use the exercise bike in the gym to good advantage, or is that just silly? Suggestions gratefully accepted.
(Note: There will be support vehicles available in case I really suck.)
The cycling trip seems pretty moderate and the road conditions are supposedly good. There aren't more than 5 days on the bike, and the longest day is around 80km. I lived in the Netherlands for 17 years, so I've spent plenty of time on bikes-- but that was much more just scooting around A'dam than really doing any serious time on a bicycle.
If you were me, how would you prepare? I should be able to rent bikes for riding on a few weekends, but I won't be able to do it often. Can I use the exercise bike in the gym to good advantage, or is that just silly? Suggestions gratefully accepted.
(Note: There will be support vehicles available in case I really suck.)
I'm in crappy shape and I do a cycle tour every other year or so, because when I was younger I was in OK shape and loved biking. You'll be fine. You'll also have a lot of fun. With no need to do anything but bike, 80 km (around 3.5 hours of time on a bike) is less challenging and more relaxing than it would seems while your trying to squeeze "training rides" into your real life.
As GuyZero says: A sore butt will be your main problem. I would worry about that a little because you will not want to take two days off if the soreness hits serious levels. I don't know how hard this is in Hong Kong, but if possible I would try to do at least one real (ie, street) ride where your butt is in the saddle for an hour two each week in the few weeks before the trip.
posted by mark k at 5:53 PM on July 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
As GuyZero says: A sore butt will be your main problem. I would worry about that a little because you will not want to take two days off if the soreness hits serious levels. I don't know how hard this is in Hong Kong, but if possible I would try to do at least one real (ie, street) ride where your butt is in the saddle for an hour two each week in the few weeks before the trip.
posted by mark k at 5:53 PM on July 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
Here is a serious way to avoid serious ass misery:
1. Spend some time at a bike shop or two choosing the very best saddle for you. WTB saddles are a good place to start. Lots of women I know like Terry saddles. Sette is another good brand.
2. The harder part: find a gym that will let you bring and use the saddle. Spend -quality- time, like at least an hour at a go, in that saddle. This is going to have logistical barriers; worth it.
3. Bring that saddle with you and use it on your tour.
I did a shorter tour in Provence two years ago and brought my own saddle (and pedals and shoes, but I'm a die-hard). This made a big difference. It made what would have been a very uncomfortable bike much more like home.
Take chafing cream with you, and keep the ass as dry as you can off the bike.
posted by Dashy at 7:13 PM on July 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
1. Spend some time at a bike shop or two choosing the very best saddle for you. WTB saddles are a good place to start. Lots of women I know like Terry saddles. Sette is another good brand.
2. The harder part: find a gym that will let you bring and use the saddle. Spend -quality- time, like at least an hour at a go, in that saddle. This is going to have logistical barriers; worth it.
3. Bring that saddle with you and use it on your tour.
I did a shorter tour in Provence two years ago and brought my own saddle (and pedals and shoes, but I'm a die-hard). This made a big difference. It made what would have been a very uncomfortable bike much more like home.
Take chafing cream with you, and keep the ass as dry as you can off the bike.
posted by Dashy at 7:13 PM on July 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Butt butter. Every ride. Normally you can get away with not using it for spin class, but in your case I'm going to suggest you use it. Mostly because once you get a little bit chafed you really have to stay off the bike for a while until that spot heals. I like Hoo Ha Ride Glide but there are tons of brands. I make sure I get one that's paraben free. There's no reason to have parabens on your most thin skin for hours at a time.
Be careful with Terry saddles. I've ridden on Terrys for years and in the last two years they've had a major manufacturing defect. The rails under the saddle are frequently not level. What that means is you're constantly putting to much pressure on one side of your body and it's misery. If you can get a used Terry saddle then absolutely do it. The old ones are awesome. I don't know what I'll do one the leather on one I'm riding on finally gives out. With the new Terrys you really need to check to make sure that they are absolutely level. Set them on the counter at the store and use the level on your phone to check or ask to use the shop's level. They will have one to do bike fits.
posted by 26.2 at 10:47 PM on July 17, 2015
Be careful with Terry saddles. I've ridden on Terrys for years and in the last two years they've had a major manufacturing defect. The rails under the saddle are frequently not level. What that means is you're constantly putting to much pressure on one side of your body and it's misery. If you can get a used Terry saddle then absolutely do it. The old ones are awesome. I don't know what I'll do one the leather on one I'm riding on finally gives out. With the new Terrys you really need to check to make sure that they are absolutely level. Set them on the counter at the store and use the level on your phone to check or ask to use the shop's level. They will have one to do bike fits.
posted by 26.2 at 10:47 PM on July 17, 2015
Response by poster: Spinning classes are a great idea, thanks!
posted by frumiousb at 7:53 PM on July 18, 2015
posted by frumiousb at 7:53 PM on July 18, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
That said, a sore butt is not the end of the world. Can you sign up for a spinning class? That's a really intense cycling workout that will push you a lot more than you probably could by yourself. It seems like there are spin studios in Hong Kong.
posted by GuyZero at 5:17 PM on July 17, 2015 [3 favorites]