Before Training
Before any training is done, riders need to take a realistic assessment of their current physical condition. In fact, The Alaska Ride strongly suggests riders visit their doctor for a physical examination prior to beginning any training program.
However, don’t let your current physical condition
keep you from participating, anyone can participate
in The Alaska Ride.
Riders also need to assess their current bike ability. Again, this is not intended to discourage anyone from riding, it is simply necessary to develop a starting point for your training prgram. Most
people have never ridden so many miles in 6 days.
It is also important that riders understand what they are participating in before getting started. The Alaska Ride is an endurance event. Training
should prepare cyclists to ride
6 days consecutively, in varying weather. The application and completion of an appropriate training program will directly relate to your enjoyment of the event.
Planning Your Training Program
It is first important to note that every training program needs to be designed for the individual. The information listed on this page is simply a general guideline. To assist in designing an individual program, representatives at The Alaska Ride are here to help with that process.
The majority of your training should be accomplished on a bicycle, preferablly the one that will be used on The Alaska Ride. There is simply no subsititute for training on the road. This focus of this training should be twofold: increasingly longer distances based upon your starting point and rides of shorter distance with intensive hill climbs. Alaska is a land of extremes, so training for challenging terrain is necessary. Don't forget the importance of rest during the training process. Any training program should allow for at least one and probably two off-days per week. Rest helps prevent you from becoming burned out and is also crucial in injury prevention.
Another great way to prevent becoming burned out during the training process is by cross-training. Any activity that elevates your heart rate constantly for a minimum of twenty minutes is beneficial to your aerobic condition. Some examples of activites for cross-training are: