Training for Climate Ride Events
The sooner you start, the better your event will go!
Showing up for the challenge
Ever imagined yourself cycling 100 miles in a day? Or hiking 3,000 feet of gain in one day? Or running 20 miles through wilderness along an iconic river? People who thought they never could do those things have done it all with us! From new enthusiasts to those who log thousands of miles on Strava, you’ll find your place on a Climate Ride.
Why are we different from other cycling and adventure travel events? Our goal is to get more people on bikes and treking the miles, regardless of skill level. That’s why we offer so many options for our events. On our events, athletes of all abilities can accomplish their goals and then share their experiences around a campfire each night. Our support staff will be there to back you up along the way.
If you have any questions about training for the event, we’re here to help. You can contact your Participant Manager or email us at [email protected].
1. Start early and get motivated!
Wherever you are on your fitness journey, you’re ready. Get excited!
3. Cardiovascular conditioning
Challenge yourself to workouts to increase your heart rate.
1. Start Early and find your motivation
Most of us need a little motivation to get in shape for a big physical challenge. The good news about training for Climate Ride is that, in a very short time, you will see positive results for your personal health and fitness, and of course, the health of the planet.
Start Where You Are: Get on your bike or break out your new hiking boots, feel the breeze, and start building your stamina at your pace. Every outing counts. Your experience on Climate Ride will be greatly enhanced if you put in the time and effort to be prepared.
Need to borrow or rent a bike? Check out local programs like Bicycle Angels.
2. develop a training schedule
Now that you’ve set your goal, take a few moments to think about why you are participating in Climate Ride and develop your training schedule. With a proper training regimen, nearly anyone can pedal the distances traveled during Climate Ride. Whether you want to sign up for a multi-day hike trip, or a 5-day ride with a century, the sooner you start training, the more fitness you’ll build before the event. Explore charts based on the time you have to train and schedule time in your calendar.
What’s the Terrain? Prep for the terrain you’ll tackle. California Ride? Embrace those climbs. Midwest Ride? Get some long stretches on the saddle. Hiking in Glacier? Make sure your trails come with elevation gains.
3. Cardiovascular conditioning
Weeks 1-6
In order to get your heart and lung capacity up to speed, you need to begin cardiovascular workouts. Using a stationary bike indoors or a normal bike outdoors, begin by cycling for 20-40 minutes, 1-3 times per week. Do other cardiovascular exercises such as running, walking, using an elliptical trainer, or rowing. Any cardiovascular exercise will help you prepare. The duration or intensity matter less than the consistency. To best prepare for your event, just be sure you’re consistently getting active in the weeks leading up to the event.
4. go the distance
Weeks 7-18
You want to continue your cardiovascular exercises, but add in some longer bike rides. Start easy – 3 times per week for 40 minutes to 1 hour. Then add in a long weekend ride. Start out on a 3-hour ride and then extend it by 30 minutes each weekend. Spending time in the saddle or on the trails will also help you discover where you are uncomfortable so that you can make adjustments.
Safety and Comfort First: Consider a professional bike fit to ensure an injury-free and comfortable ride. Also, breaking in your hiking boots or trail runners well in advance isn’t just a pro move – it can save you having to sit out days on you hike because of serious blisters.
5. Ride with friends
Riding with friends not only boosts your morale and motivation, turning each pedal stroke into a shared journey toward a healthier planet, but it also fosters a sense of community and accountability, ensuring you stay committed to your training and the larger environmental cause. This collective experience magnifies the joy and impact of your ride, embodying Climate Ride’s ethos of collaboration and advocacy.
Join a Community: Whether it’s a Climate Ride Meet-Up, local cycling club in your area, or just some friends you’re committing to get outside with twice a week – the research shows you’re training will go better with others.
Leverage tools like Strava to track your progress and gain motivation and ride ideas from others!
6. Get Creative
Mix it up! From high-intensity hill challenges to casual weekend rides or evening hiking, make your training versatile and fun. Every workout counts, even that stroll with your dog. And hey, it’s not a race, so have fun with it!
Consider incorporate training into your lifestyle to make it easier to accomplish. Use your training as a way to update your network on your progress towards reaching your fundraising goal.
- Can you substitute a bike ride or a walk instead of a car ride to the grocery store? Can you challenge yourself to commute to work and take the long way home by bike or by foot? Or maybe take a few lunchtime loops around the park?
- How about a weekend bikepacking trip?
- Can you deliver your fundraising incentives to your donors without using your car?
- Send a follow-up fundraising email with a pic of you on a training ride or hike! Your sweat is inspirational!
You got this!
If you need a little support or have further questions about your training plan, get in touch with your participant manager or email [email protected].
Training FAQs
I’ve never done this before, can I do this?
Yes, you can do this! Our guides and your fellow Climate Riders will be there for both technical and moral support each day of the ride. We take care of all the logistics so you can focus on pedaling the miles. We also have support vehicles to help out if the day becomes too long or the hill too steep.
Is there a training chart I can use as a guide?
This chart is a good general outline for week by week training to prepare for most of our road rides! Looking for a mountain biking chart? Or a hiking/running chart? Check below.
| Week | Total miles/week | Do 2 Long Rides Max Distance | Days/week | Total hours training/week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 20 | 10, 10 | 1 to 2 | 1 to 2 |
| Week 2 | 20-30 | 15, 15 | 1 to 2 | 1 to 3 |
| Week 3 | 25-35 | 15, 20 | 2 to 3 | 2 to 3 |
| Week 4 | 30-40 | 20, 20 | 2 to 3 | 2 to 3 |
| Week 5 | 25-50 | 25, 25 | 2 to 3 | 2 to 4 |
| Week 6 | 45-55 | 30, 25 | 2 to 3 | 3 to 4 |
| Week 7 | 50-60 | 30, 20 | 2 to 3 | 3 to 5 |
| Week 8 | 55-65 | 25, 25 | 3 to 4 | 4 to 6 |
| Week 9 | 50-75 | 30, 20 | 3 to 4 | 4 to 7 |
| Week 10 | 70-80 | 30, 30 | 3 to 4 | 5 to 7 |
| Week 11 | 70-90 | 40, 30 | 4 to 5 | 6 to 8 |
| Week 12 | 75-100 | 50, 40 | 4 to 5 | 7 to 9 |
| Week 13 | 75-100 | 60, 40 | 4 to 5 | 8 to 10 |
| Week 14 | 80-130 | 60, 40 | 5 to 6 | 8 to 10 |
| Week 15 | 90-140 | 60, 50 | 4 to 6 | 10 to 12 |
| Week 16 | 100-160 | 60, 60 | 4 to 6 | 10 to 12 |
| Week 17 | 90-140 | 70, 60 | 4 to 6 | 10 to 13 |
| Week 18 | 80-130 | 60, 60 | 4 to 6 | 8 to 10 |
This chart is a weekly outline for training for one of our mountain biking rides. Be sure to spend a chunk of time on trails and be climbing at least 1,000 feet a week and building up to climbing 5,000+ a week by the end.
| Week | Total miles/week | Do 2 Long Rides Max Distance | Days/week | Total hours training/week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 15 | 7.5, 7.5 | 1 to 2 | 1 to 2 |
| Week 2 | 20 | 10, 10 | 1 to 2 | 1 to 3 |
| Week 3 | 25-35 | 10, 15 | 2 to 3 | 2 to 3 |
| Week 4 | 25-40 | 15, 15 | 2 to 3 | 2 to 3 |
| Week 5 | 25-45 | 15, 17.5 | 3 to 4 | 2 to 4 |
| Week 6 | 30-50 | 17.5, 20 | 2 to 3 | 3 to 4 |
| Week 7 | 35-55 | 20, 20 | 2 to 3 | 3 to 5 |
| Week 8 | 40-55 | 20, 22.5 | 3 to 4 | 4 to 6 |
| Week 9 | 45-60 | 22.5, 22.5 | 3 to 4 | 4 to 7 |
| Week 10 | 50-70 | 22.5, 25 | 3 to 4 | 5 to 7 |
| Week 11 | 60-80 | 25, 25 | 4 to 5 | 6 to 8 |
| Week 12 | 65-80 | 25, 25 | 4 to 5 | 7 to 9 |
| Week 13 | 70-80 | 25, 27.5 | 4 to 5 | 8 to 10 |
| Week 14 | 70-90 | 25, 25 | 5 to 6 | 8 to 10 |
| Week 15 | 75-100 | 25, 27.5 | 4 to 5 | 10 to 12 |
| Week 16 | 80-100 | 22.5, 25 | 4 to 5 | 10 to 12 |
| Week 17 | 90-110 | 27.5, 30 | 4 to 6 | 10 to 13 |
| Week 18 | 80-100 | 25, 25 | 4 to 5 | 8 to 10 |
This chart details a weekly outline to prepare for one of our runs or hikes. For each of these, make sure you are incorporating elevation gain into the mix. Many of our hikes and runs gain over 2,000 feet in a day, so by the end, you’ll want to be doing some long hikes that include climbs. We’ve provided an estimated weekly time for each activity in this chart in the last column.
| Week | Total miles/week | Do 2 Long Hikes/Runs Max Distance | Days/week | Total hours training/week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 5 | 2.5, 2.5 | 1 to 2 | Run: 1 to 2 Hike: 2 to 4 |
| Week 2 | 7.5 | 2.5, 5 | 1 to 2 | Run:1 to 3 Hike: 2 to 5 |
| Week 3 | 8-10 | 3, 7 | 2 to 3 | Run: 2 to 3 Hike: 3 to 6 |
| Week 4 | 10-12 | 3.5, 7.5 | 2 to 3 | Run: 3 to 4 Hike: 3 to 6 |
| Week 5 | 12-15 | 7.5, 7.5 | 3 to 4 | Run: 2 to 4 Hike: 4 to 8 |
| Week 6 | 15-17.5 | 5, 10 | 2 to 3 | Run: 3 to 4 Hike: 6 to 10 |
| Week 7 | 15-20 | 7.5, 10 | 2 to 3 | Run: 3 to 5 Hike: 6 to 12 |
| Week 8 | 17.5-20 | 10, 12.5 | 3 to 4 | Run: 4 to 6 Hike: 8 to 12 |
| Week 9 | 20-25 | 10, 15 | 3 to 4 | Run: 4 to 7 Hike: 8 to 14 |
| Week 10 | 22-25 | 12.5, 15 | 3 to 4 | Run: 5 to 7 Hike: 10 to 14 |
| Week 11 | 25-30 | 15, 15 | 4 to 5 | Run: 6 to 8 Hike: 12 to 16 |
| Week 12 | 27.5-30 | 10, 17.5 | 4 to 5 | Run: 7 to 9 Hike: 14 to 18 |
| Week 13 | 30-35 | 12, 17.5 | 4 to 5 | Run: 8 to 10 Hike: 10 to 20 |
| Week 14 | 32.5-37.5 | 15, 17.5 | 5 to 6 | Run: 8 to 10 Hike: 10 to 20 |
| Week 15 | 35-40 | 15, 17.5 | 4 to 5 | Run: 10 to 12 Hike: 10 to 20 |
| Week 16 | 35-40 | 15, 20 | 4 to 5 | Run: 10 to 12 Hike: 12 to 22 |
| Week 17 | 35-40 | 17.5, 20 | 4 to 6 | Run: 10 to 13 Hike: 12 to 22 |
| Week 18 | 20-30 | 10, 15 | 4 to 5 | Run: 5 to 8 Hike: 12 to 16 |
What if I’m the slowest person?
There are always similarly paced riders to ride with and our guides won’t leave you behind. If you require a little more time to complete the daily mileages, our team will work with you to ride as far as you want, as long as there is daylight to do so safely.
I’m not a mountain biker, can I come on a mountain bike Climate Ride?
Yes! Many of our mountain bike trips are designed for all ranges of cyclists. We won’t take you on trails that are too technical. We recommend developing a base level of fitness regardless of your mountain bike capabilities but have led several Climate Riders on their first adventures on dirt.
What kind of support can I expect on the trip?
Climate Ride’s expert leader staff are some of the most experienced and friendliest professional guides around! We’ll have rest stops each day with snacks and water, a mobile mechanic, and a medic along with us. You can also expect an unlimited supply of camaraderie and encouragement from the Climate Ride staff, and your fellow riders!
I’m a hardcore cyclist, but my partner isn’t. Can we do this ride together?
Yes, many couples of differing speeds have come on our rides and ridden the same routes and shared experiences in camp together at the end of the day.
Do you have a Strava Club?
Yes! And you should join! Strava is a great place to get to know other participants and leverage group motivation.
I’m so fast, will the support vehicles ever catch me?
If you leave early and ride super fast, you may outpace some of our support vehicles. So if this describes you, we appreciate you leaving a little later! Or being sure to bring an extra water bottle, snacks, and a credit card just in case.
Can I ride an e-bike?
We accommodate E-bikes on most of our events, but there are exceptions depending on availability of charging opportunities along each particular rides routes. Please contact us if you have a question about whether you’ll be able to charge and use an e-bike on a particular event.
More Questions?
More Questions? Email us at [email protected]!
