Recently I had a medical issue that has taken me out of most physical activity for the past couple of weeks, including biking. But I'm a college student, and my spring break is coming up at the end of March, and I've been really wanting to do my first multi-day bikepacking trip. I won't get another extended break from class until summer, so I really want to make this trip happen.
I'm used to doing singletrack and gravel rides on flat ground, typically I average around 10 mph on a 15 mi ride that's about half pavement and half singletrack. I'd like to do the Wilsons Ramble route on Bikepacking.com, which is 125 miles with 14,000 ft elevation gain. I would try to do it in 4.5 days (get there in the early afternoon and ride a couple hours before setting up camp, then spend 4 days bikepacking).
I have a lot of experience on technical terrain so I'm not worried about the technical difficulty, but I know that's a lot of elevation for someone used to flat ground. I know my physical fitness won't be DESTROYED after just a few weeks off the bike, but I'd like to do what I can to prepare. I don't think I can get back on the bike for another couple weeks, but I can start going to the gym. Do you think I can make any sort of noticeable improvement in my fitness in just a month before the trip? My rough plan is to start going and do things like the stairmaster for a couple of weeks, then taper off for a more gentle week, then take a rest week before the trip.
by Bear2216
4 Comments
I think it’s reasonable to be able to increase your range by 10% per week if you ride a bunch. Ballpark that puts you at a 40% instead in distance by the end of the month. So yeah, I’d say that’s worth it.
Yes absolutely. Sounds fine as long as you set reasonable expectations. Honestly, biking is so low impact, as long as your knees and hips, and most importantly your butt, is used to a good amount of hours you’ll be fine. That’s only like 30 miles a day. Pretty easy on a bike. At ten miles an hour, 3 hours? Halve that to take into account packing, weight, elevation, 6 hours. Not too bad. Spend time on a spin bike, like, 2 hours a couple times a week.
You can do it!
I love that route. It has some steep climbing that makes for long grinds, and plenty technical descent that will be almost as tiring. But if you are reasonable in your time and mileage expectations you can take it all in stride.
Try get some training time just being in the saddle. DM me if you’d like a riding buddy for the first day.
Not trying to talk you out of it. But I ride hills normally, and that was a LOT of elevation gain. Make sure youre gearing is good and low. We did it with a route modification in 3 days. Super Beautiful, my favorite “grand canyon” on the east coast.
[Here’s my video of the trip](https://youtu.be/1YL9EPn6BYM?si=7bmEad0t4cdybq7m) (I learned my lesson about image stabilization).