A cycling vacation can be a thrilling adventure, offering the chance to explore new landscapes, challenge yourself physically, and immerse yourself in different cultures. For avid cyclists, destinations like the French Alps, the Dolomites in Italy, California's Pacific Coast Highway, the Spanish island of Mallorca, and New Zealand are among the most popular options.
Whether you’re self-planning a cycling trip or working with a travel agency, proper preparation is key to ensuring a fun, memorable (and safe) experience.
With that in mind, we’ve put together some essential tips to help you get ready for your cycling vacation. And if you’re still in the planning stages, down below, we’ve included some bucket-list-worthy hotspots you should consider.
Physical preparation for your cycling holiday
It goes without saying that, to make the most of your cycling vacation, physical preparation is key. Begin a training regime well in advance of your trip to strengthen your legs and build endurance. (Not to mention getting your rear end reacquainted with time in the saddle!)
An indoor cycling app like ROUVY is an excellent tool to use when prepping for your trip. Having the ability to ride indoors offers the flexibility to train regardless of weather conditions or time constraints. This allows you to maintain a consistent training schedule, which is crucial for building fitness.
Climbing and interval training are essential components of preparing for a cycling holiday, especially if your destination includes hilly or mountainous terrain. ROUVY lets you select real routes that match the gradients of the routes on your itinerary, helping you build leg strength and the endurance needed for long ascents. Additionally, interval training sessions on the app can improve your power and cardiovascular fitness, making you more versatile and resilient. (Take a minute and check out “How To Climb Like A Pro Cyclist,” by Robbie Ferri, an ultra cyclist.)
Beyond the countless real routes on ROUVY, the app’s workouts and structured training plans designed by pros, performance tracking, and engaging features provide a comprehensive and effective way to build both fitness and confidence.
One cool thing about cycling workouts on ROUVY is that they’re done on real routes, so you can simultaneously train for and preview some of the rides you and your group will be doing on your trip.
ROUVY workouts to build endurance: Increase your riding distances gradually to build stamina. Aim for long rides on weekends and shorter, more intense sessions during the week. Recommended workouts: SURGE ENDURANCE | PUNCHEUR'S PLAN, ENDURANCE BUILD UP and HILLY ENDURANCE
ROUVY workouts to improve your climbing: Incorporate hill training and interval sessions to improve your climbing ability and overall power. Recommended workouts: ATTACK TO THE CLIMB | CLIMBER'S PLAN, MOUNTAIN TIME TRIAL and TORQUE ENHANCER | CLIMBER'S PLAN
