Here is a training schedule to get your legs ready for the double century. The program is based upon a 4 or 5 days per week riding schedule with long miles being ridden on the weekends. Midweek laps are the minimum recommended.
You can modify the schedule to fit your needs, but try to keep a balanced program of relatively easy and rest days between the long hard rides. Remember to eat and drink according to your training needs.
If you plan to ride 200 km in a day you will need to be comfortable on your bike. Neck, back, or knee pain, saddle sores, or hand or foot numbness will ruin your ride. They are also signs that your bicycle probably doesn't fit you properly. Good bike fit can also improve your pedaling efficiency and aerodynamics and actually make you faster.
You can modify the schedule to fit your needs, but try to keep a balanced program of relatively easy and rest days between the long hard rides. Remember to eat and drink according to your training needs.
If you plan to ride 200 km in a day you will need to be comfortable on your bike. Neck, back, or knee pain, saddle sores, or hand or foot numbness will ruin your ride. They are also signs that your bicycle probably doesn't fit you properly. Good bike fit can also improve your pedaling efficiency and aerodynamics and actually make you faster.
Midweek Training Program
We will start our midweek training program from Tuesday 12th of October at 5.30h Waterstone Village. This short 6 week training program will give you more climbing power for the DC. It is based on the Polar Training Zones and will focus on Lactate Tolerance and Aerobic Stamina training.
We will start our midweek training program from Tuesday 12th of October at 5.30h Waterstone Village. This short 6 week training program will give you more climbing power for the DC. It is based on the Polar Training Zones and will focus on Lactate Tolerance and Aerobic Stamina training.
For the WE rides we should ride LSD in our Aerobic Endurance zone and include when possible a long climb (Hellshoogte or the Waterstation in Gordonsbay) while staying below 80% of our MaxHR. This will simulate the long climb up the Tradouw Pass.
The polar zones are based on heart rate.
Week 1
12-10 Lactate Tolerance Westridge circuit, 8 x 2 min @ 85-95%
13-10 45 to 60 min recovery ride, small blade and high cadence, route weather depended
14-10 Aerobic Stamina Faure waterworks hill, 4 x 5 min @ 78-85%
Week 2
19-10 Lactate Tolerance Westridge circuit, 9 x 2 min @ 85-95%
20-10 45 to 60 min recovery ride, small blade and high cadence, route weather depended
21-10 Aerobic Stamina Faure waterworks hill, 5 x 5 min @ 78-85%
Week 3
26-10 Lactate Tolerance Westridge circuit, 10 x 2 min @ 85-95%
27-10 45 to 60 min recovery ride, small blade and high cadence, route weather depended
28-10 Aerobic Stamina Faure waterworks hill, 6 x 5 min @ 78-85%
Week 4
02-11 Lactate Tolerance Westridge circuit, 8 x 2 min @ 85-95%
03-11 45 to 60 min recovery ride, small blade and high cadence, route weather depended
04-11 Aerobic Stamina Faure waterworks hill, 4 x 5 min @ 78-85%
Week5
09-11 Lactate Tolerance Westridge circuit, 9 x 2 min @ 85-95%
10-11 45 to 60 min recovery ride, small blade and high cadence, route weather depended
11-11 Aerobic Stamina Faure waterworks hill, 5 x 5 min @ 78-85%
Week 6
16-11 Lactate Tolerance Westridge circuit, 10 x 2 min @ 85-95%
17-11 45 to 60 min recovery ride, small blade and high cadence, route weather depended
18-11 Aerobic Stamina Faure waterworks hill, 6 x 5 min @ 78-85%
Aerobic Stamina Workout Faure Waterworks Hill
• Warm-up 10-15 min @ 50-70% of MaxHR
• 4 x 5 min @ 78-85% of MaxHR. Recovery to 60% of MaxHR
• Cool down 10 min @ 50-70% of MaxHR
It’s important to warm up! Ride from Waterstone Village to Faure Waterworks Hill and do one climb on a small blade to warm up. Next climb push it till you reach 78to 85% of your Maximum Heart Rate and keep it there for the all climb. Don’t go flat out but rather control your heart rate. Try to do at least 3 climbs.
Lactate Tolerance Workout Westridge circuit
• Warm-up 10-15 min @ 50-70% of MaxHR
• 8 x 2 min @ 85-95% of MaxHR. Recovery to 50% of MaxHR
• Cool down 10 min @ 50-70% of MaxHR
It’s very important to warm up! This work out will put a lot of strength onto your joins and tendons. Ride from Waterstone Village to Westridge and do one circuit on a small blade to warm up. Next lap you should start pushing at the bottom of the circuit after turning left into the long uphill. Push it till you reach 85% of your Maximum Heart Rate and keep it there for the all climb. Don’t go flat out but rather control your heart rate. Try to do at least 6 laps.
Estimation of MaxHR
Male Athlete 205 – (0.5 x age)
Female Athlete 211 – (0.5 x age)
Training Target Zones
Target Zone | % of MaxHR | Benefit / Training Effect |
Recovery | 50-64% | Speed up recovery |
Aerobic Endurance | 65-77% | Increases metabolism Improves endurance Base work for high intensity workouts Strengthens muscles, tendons & ligaments |
Aerobic Stamina | 78-85% | Enhances aerobic power Base work for high intensity workouts Increases blood volume |
Lactate Tolerance | 86-93% | Increased tolerance to lactic acid Improves race specific endurance |
