Curious how to train for 850 Mile bike tour along HWY 101.?

bike helmets 101 image

James K

I am embarking on an 2 week 850 mile Astoria, OR to SF, CA bike tour along HWY 101 3 weeks. This is my first major tour, we (4 of us) will be carrying all of our own gear, roughly 30lbs. We will be riding approximately 50 miles per day, with two 70 mile days.

I'm a 21 y/o male in pretty decent shape. I commute about 10 miles round trip to work (20 mph) daily. I rode 50 miles yesterday on mildly hilly terrain at a rate of about 15-17 MPH consistently and was very sore at the end of the day, I felt fine today.

What I would like to know is what sort of training I should undergo over the next 3 weeks. Should I ride 50 miles or more every day, or perhaps every other day to allow for my muscles to rest?

Also, if anyone knows anything about cycling HWY 101 (hilly terrain?) feel free to chip in the knowledge.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Answer
As soon as I get back from errands, I will give you some tips. I did this very route back in 2000. For now, just keep riding. Serious training including weight training should have started about 6 months ago.
But we will deal with the here and now shortly.
Back for a few minutes.
It is less stressful riding in Oregon than California. Highway 101 in Oregon is setup with very wide shoulders. When you cross into California the shoulder is about 6 inches wide. Boo on California.
While traveling in Oregon take all the scenic routes off of 101. You will not be disappointed.
One rider picked up a copy of the book "Bicycling the Pacific Coast." Very good information on the road and the sights. One of the sights you have to see is in California just south of Scotia. Turn left on 254 marked "Avenue of the Giants." Some of the best scenery of the trip. You will be in the heart of a Redwood forest.
One of your big climbs is outside of Leggett, CA. This is the point Highway 1 spits off from Highway 101. This is about a 1,000 foot climb in 2.5 miles. Another big climb starts 5 miles south of Crescent City, CA.
I have all my cue sheets from my trip back in 2000.
One other big point I want to make. Wear bright clothing. Cannot overstate this point. Neon green, orange, or yellow are highly recommended. Attach the slow moving vehicle triangle to your bike or on the back of your hydration pack. You will encounter fog and/or rainy and cloudy conditions. Being visible can literally be a life saver. Attach a couple of flashing yellow and red lights to back of bike. We used them and are very effective. Have the means of attaching a small flashing light to back of helmet. Anything to improve your visibility.
If you need more info, let me know. Can work out a way of contacting each other.
This is a fantastic trip you have planned. Watch your diet, keep riding, be certain you are very good friends with your saddle, and bring a camera and a good sense of adventure.
Good Luck
Max Cruise
Seattle to the southern end of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA. Three weeks, 1,000 miles. Memories for a lifetime.

Thinking about a Bike, What do you think?

Tommy

Ok here is the situation:

I will be moving in the next couple months and currently own an Audi A4 that is getting pretty old and expensive to repair. The commute to work will go from 2 miles round trip to 40 miles.

Because of this sudden jump in mileage I figure a motorcycle would be financially smart in the long run. I have never owned one, have had little and far spread experience riding one, and worry that despite how careful I am some crazy driver will plow into me somewhere along the way and I will regret the whole thing(my mom has always told me horror stories about her brothers and their bikes).

My commute takes place at 3:30am and I return by noon. The freeway I would take is never heavily congested even on a sunny weekend(if you want to check out the road its highway 101 in between San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria in California)

For those of you experienced riders, what do you think about this riding situation. Should I not worry too much?

Answer
I think a motorcycle would be good for you. You should first get proper training at a training facility. Then buy a beginner bike(seeing as you live in America, buy a 500cc or similar capacity to start with) and full gear: Helmet, jacket, pants gloves and boots. Play it safe. Before you start riding to work, take some time; as long as you need, to get used to the handling characteristics of the bike. for a 40 mile long trip buy a type of bike that is comfortable for that purpose. I'd pick a cruiser or sport tourer in your case. I ride standard/naked bikes for myself. When you ride always be vigilant of traffic because car drivers will make mistakes. Always give drivers plenty of room. My reflexes and vigilance saved me more than once on the road. My own mom worries about me riding but i ride anyway for the same reasons that you are looking into motorcycling(Sold a V8 toyota soarer gas guzzler). At the end of the day all we can do is to take as many precautions as we can and protect ourselves to the best of our ability. Just dont get a bike thats too powerful to begin with. Thats a big mistake.

Anyway good luck with your decision. If you do choose to ride then ride safe and take it easy.

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