With the explosive power of the worlds best one day specialists showing how it should be done at the Spring Classics. It’s now time for the tour riders at the 3 week Grand Tours, Giro d’Italia, Tour de France & Vuelta Espana. If your heading to Europe and looking for training for bike tours then consider Portugal and the French Alps part of your cycling preparation. Like the Practice Bicycle team it’s time to turn the pedals and dial in the cycling for the biggest tour in the world.
What does training for bike tours really mean? The week-end warrior smash fest, one day hit outs, just won’t cut it anymore! Now is the time to change from riding a bike to becoming a bike rider!
Training for bike tours is about regular outings, 3 or 4 times per week, quality endurance rides 3+hours would be the ideal preparation for those experiencing Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, Vuelta Espana Cycling Tours. Look no further than the roads of the Algarve and Serra Estrela, Portugal to prepare for your bike tours, with over 30 challenging & epic 4 hour routes available you can understand why it’s Europe’s Secret Cycling Destination. It’s certainly not Majorca or Tenerife it is a natural riding arena, flat, undulating and climbs (900m) and Mountains (2000m) the ideal combination for preparing you to be a bike tour rider.
Training for bike tours ‘Bread & Butter’ rides or should we say ‘Sun & Shine’ rides leave Portimao on the small chain-ring, following the Arade River, heading inland towards the Monchique mountain range. Not straight to the summit of Foia (900m) which is a popular amateur cyclist option, it’s one of the other 8 great climbs today! Why not just head straight to the climb you ask, it’s the balance that makes a great tour rider, an hour of undulating traffic-free roads puts us in the groove, intriguing landscape and reservoirs make the hours feel like minutes.
Climbing is correct technique with positive attitude (and altitude), select the gear, hold the rhythm and practice bicycle. There is no TV screen or imagination needed we are really preparing for the Tour de France cycle tour and enjoying every minute. Once we are on the ledge the pain disappears, each pedal stroke as the panoramic view of the blue Atlantic coastline distracts us with every curve, it could even be Australia with the eucalyptus trees lining the roads.
It’s a quick cafe stop, although that’s not always the case, we have the wind on our back and we are flying. 3 hours have passed and magic is in the making, bike and body become one and we are know on our way to becoming a….bike tour rider
