Tapering for a race? - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

10-07-2003, 12:39 PM

You people who race occasionally (not every week!): do you find that
"tapering" your workouts helps your performance on race day? I know
runners and swimmers will taper their workouts as they approach big
races. Do you think it works for cyclists as well? If so, how long
before, and how much do you taper your workouts?

Thanks!
--
Dave Kerber
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10-07-2003, 01:40 PM

"David Kerber" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].net...
> You people who race occasionally (not every week!): do you find that
> "tapering" your workouts helps your performance on race day? I know
> runners and swimmers will taper their workouts as they approach big
> races. Do you think it works for cyclists as well? If so, how long
> before, and how much do you taper your workouts?

I don't race, just commute, but I really notice the difference for a weekend
challenge if I ride hard or easy Thurs/Fri. If I don't ride at all I feel
like King Kong, but I don't know if that translates into good results.

Doug
Toronto

10-07-2003, 02:07 PM

I've noticed the same thing. Skip a day and the next day's ride is likely
faster.

"Doug Purdy" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:5xFgb.138452$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].net.c able.rogers.com...
>
> I don't race, just commute, but I really notice the difference for a
weekend
> challenge if I ride hard or easy Thurs/Fri. If I don't ride at all I feel
> like King Kong, but I don't know if that translates into good results.
>
> Doug
> Toronto
>
>

10-07-2003, 07:03 PM

"David Kerber" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
> You people who race occasionally (not every week!): do you find that
> "tapering" your workouts helps your performance on race day? I know
> runners and swimmers will taper their workouts as they approach big
> races. Do you think it works for cyclists as well? If so, how long
> before, and how much do you taper your workouts?

As you may know tapering is denying the body what it is expecting. The
theory isn't as much rest as it is denial. I haven't been around
competition for years... but as I recall there was a four day period... from
max to mild.

hth

10-07-2003, 09:31 PM

In article <SVFgb.16896$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
Doug Huffman <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
>I've noticed the same thing. Skip a day and the next day's ride is likely
>faster.
>
>
>"Doug Purdy" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
>news:5xFgb.138452$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].net. cable.rogers.com...
>>
>> I don't race, just commute, but I really notice the difference for a
>weekend
>> challenge if I ride hard or easy Thurs/Fri. If I don't ride at all I feel
>> like King Kong, but I don't know if that translates into good results.
>>
>> Doug
>> Toronto

Even if you just have an 'easy' cruise day on a couple days it
seems to peak on the bike, but that might be b/c it's one of
the few types of activities where you're doing it -every- day in
many cases.

I rode with the wife easy on Sat and Sun, and by today, I was
up a gear harder, and really pushing sections I typically labor
on. It was great. I was surprised, especially as I was really
tired from some yard chores and house work, and rode like 4
hours later than usual. I thought I'd be like cutting the ride
in half. Instead I felt like I could do it twice. Neat! ;-)

For running I have to start a taper like a week before and
event. Swimming, 3-4 days. Seems based on demand. You get rest
on a bike. Little rest running, though.

Best,

-B

--
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10-07-2003, 10:39 PM

David Kerber <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>You people who race occasionally (not every week!): do you find that
>"tapering" your workouts helps your performance on race day? I know
>runners and swimmers will taper their workouts as they approach big
>races. Do you think it works for cyclists as well? If so, how long
>before, and how much do you taper your workouts?

I try to not get in a really hard ride closer than four days out, and
try to take at least two days off the bike, or at least keep the
intensity WAY down. Sometimes I feel invincible after only one day
off, but two or three is usually better.

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Home of the $695 ti frame

10-08-2003, 04:10 PM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] says...
> David Kerber <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
>
> >You people who race occasionally (not every week!): do you find that
> >"tapering" your workouts helps your performance on race day? I know
> >runners and swimmers will taper their workouts as they approach big
> >races. Do you think it works for cyclists as well? If so, how long
> >before, and how much do you taper your workouts?
>
> I try to not get in a really hard ride closer than four days out, and
> try to take at least two days off the bike, or at least keep the
> intensity WAY down. Sometimes I feel invincible after only one day
> off, but two or three is usually better.

That's kind of what I was thinking, but wasn't sure about the specifics
of how many days before to stop the hard rides. Thanks Mark and Badger
for the specific suggestions.

The race is Monday morning. I did a short, hard, high-rpm ride last
Monday, nothing Tuesday, and a longer easy pace Wednesday. I was
thinking of doing another hard one on Thursday, nothing Friday, easy on
Saturday and nothing on Sunday. That would seem to fit with your and
Badger's suggestions. Or I may go easy Friday and nothing on both
Saturday and Sunday; I'll play that by how I feel.

--
Dave Kerber
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