Fall tours: On the road again
There comes a point in every multi-day bike tour when I just want to put a foot down. The wind is in my face, the sun is cooking, and the hill I'm climbing just doesn't seem to end. I'm ready to call it quits, and then it hits me: the only thing I have to do today is pedal my bike.

For all the suffering and all the toil, there are no e-mails to answer, no phone calls to take, no meetings to attend. Just pedal, eat, sleep and repeat. And suddenly, that hill doesn't seem so bad, I notice how pretty the sky is, and the wind becomes a breeze cooling my body.

That's my favorite moment on any tour. I say that because, when you get right down to it, I'm a wimp. I don't head out on unknown paths carrying fully loaded panniers on a hope and a prayer. No way--for me, touring is all about finding the best roads and riding as long as possible while someone else takes care of my luggage. "Local flavor" is something I find at the hotel bar.

Even so, there are a few things that die-hard touring riders and credit card cyclists like myself have in common when it comes to tackling a multi-day trek. This may not be the Tour de France, but the Tour of Podunk requires the same "three Rs" the pros live by: ride, rest and recover.

That's really where it starts: the recovery. Especially when faced with day after day of riding, make sure to rest and eat enough. Planning for recovery is almost as important as planning for the rides themselves-- you don't want to find yourself stranded in the middle of a cornfield because of bad directions after finishing 100+ hard miles...a hotel or campground nowhere in sight! This goes double for food availability-- you can pitch a tent in a cornfield, but good luck finding something to eat.

Each day, as soon as I'm off the bike, I get cleaned up (even if it's just an anti-bacterial wipe or a sponge bath) and get something to eat. I'll be going again in 12 to 14 hours, and after three or four days something amazing happens: my body adapts, and I start to feel stronger. But that can only happen if I keep myself healthy!

Second, you need to train long distances to ride long distances. Train for a longer mileage than you expect to ride, keeping in mind that any load will slow you down and make for longer days. I ride long on multiple days in a row, and if possible, make a trial-run overnight trip. I try to be realistic--I practice carrying everything I think I need, but reject anything I don't use. This goes for mileage predictions as well--I pay attention to how I feel as I train, and plan the trip accordingly.

Since I'm pretty sensitive to changes in my diet, I also make sure to experiment with food and drink before the ride, not the day of. Picking the wrong thing from a gas station store shelf has spelled disaster for many. There aren't many porta-potties out in the middle of nowhere!

Finally, pay attention to your equipment choices. I love my race bike, but can't imagine spending six or seven hours on it day after day after day. Instead, opt for a more upright position, a little more relaxed geometry and a bulletproof drivetrain. And more importantly, swap speedy road pedals for the trusty ones from a mountain bike. The pedal/shoe combo may weigh just a bit more, but at least you'll be able to walk around without having to waddle!

For all the planning, training, and preparation, though, I know there will be times when I want to stop. But that's when I look around, and remember that all I have to do is push my pedals around in circles. What an amazing way to spend the day!

Chris Strout, a Category I elite racer with Team Mack, can be reached at scstrout@yahoo.com.