2 Weeks to Go!
Whether you're aiming for Gold or simply aiming to get round this gruelling Yorkshire sportive, here are a few things you should be thinking about with two weeks to go a Struggle sportive.
1. Decrease your Distance
If you’re serious about the time you cross the finish line on an epic Struggle Yorkshire sportive, this week should mark the start of your taper. Your taper is the freshening-up period in your training.
In the first week of your taper you should still aim to complete a long ride, but limit this to 70-80 miles, reducing the number of hills and the intensity of the ride. The decrease in volume should freshen up your legs in the lead up to the Struggle sportive, one of Yorkshire’s hardest sportives.
2. Massage the Muscles
Book your body in for a full service with a sports massage therapist. Iron out any niggles or tight muscles brought on by the volume and intensity of your sportive training.
You should be stretching religiously after every ride - and stretching is as important now as it is during intensive training. Also try to spend 15 minutes every evening over the coming week manipulating any tight muscles over the foam roller.
3. Pimp your Ride
Both the body and the bike should be in full working order before standing on the start line. This week is your last chance to get your gears changing smoothly, have new brake blocks fitted, run new gear cables through your bike - or even get that 32 cassette you’ve been dreaming of.
Bike checks will be available at Express Sign-on and on the day. However, don’t leave it that late and risk your ride. Pimp your bike now and get the most enjoyment out of your day on a Struggle sportive.
4. Sharpen Up
If you’re completing turbo sessions, Zwift rides, hill reps or other intensity training sessions as part of your sportive training plan, you should still look to complete these - but reduce the length of your intervals and the number of intervals you complete.
The inclusion of shorter, sharper intervals will keep your top-end fitness ticking over without causing unnecessary fatigue.
5. Shave Your Legs!
Aero gains? Pain-free massage? Aesthetics? We’ll take all three if they make us go faster, feel better and look cooler.
It’s time to take a razor to those pins and ensure you’re feeling fast! And as we like to say at Struggle HQ: “If you can’t BE fast, at least LOOK fast!”
Learn more about tapering and how to do it properly in our blog titled: The Truth About Tapering.