Distance Cycling

by John Hughes, Daniel Kehlenbach, Dan Kehlenbach

Century, brevet, cross-state, ultradistance—there is only one book that covers them all. Distance Cycling is a comprehensive guide for planning, training, and competing in long-distance events. Long-time distance cycling great John Hughes, an endurance coach and sport science expert, and coach Dan Kehlenbach team up to cover the sport from every angle. Combining sport science, including the latest research on training and conditioning, with hands-on advice for planning and performance, Distance Cycling will ensure you get the most from every ride. With Distance Cycling , you will learn how to •select the distance events best suited to you; •prepare yourself for the physical and psychological demands of the sport; •train for century rides and brevets using the 8- and 15-week conditioning programs; and •conquer grueling ultradistance rides. You’ll also learn how to fuel properly before, during, and after events; how to select the best equipment for your ride; how to perform basic roadside maintenance on your bike; and how to avoid the most common injuries in distance cycling. Before you ride, read this book. As the ultimate guide for the ultimate sport, Distance Cycling will help you ride longer, stronger, and more comfortably in every event.

Genres: Cycling, Nonfiction, Sports, Fitness

272 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2010

About the author

John Hughes has been an endurance cyclist since 1975, spending 15 of those years as a coach and trainer. For 12 years he served as the managing director of the UltraMarathon Cycling Association (UMCA), the founding organization of the transcontinental Race Across America (RAAM). As UMCA director, Hughes developed the popular century challenge, encouraging cyclists to ride 100 miles every month.

Hughes has twice competed in RAAM and has twice won the Furnace Creek 508, a 508-mile RAAM qualifying event. Among his other accomplishments are seven 1,200-kilometer randonnées, including a course record for the Boston-Montreal-Boston route. For 10 years Hughes organized and led supported tours of the West and Southwest. He also explored the West on self-supported tours on a loaded touring bike.

Hughes has been certified as a USA Cycling sport coach and a National Strength and Conditioning Association personal trainer. Hughes has coached numerous riders, from people preparing for their first centuries to dozens of top RAAM finishers. He lives in Boulder, Colorado.

Reviews

[Steve Smits · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a long-time cyclist more interested in distance riding than competitive events, I found this book very suitable to my cycling preferences and practices. The book is really comprehensive with detailed advice on conditioning, equipment, nutrition and training schedules. Rather than just riding and assuming you are getting optimum conditioning, the book guides you through thoughtful and efficient practice routines to prepare yourself for the really long rides. Riders interested in a "century" or "200k" will find step by step instructions for very long rides. Multi-day rides are fun, but challenging and the authors give great guidance on how the get ready for and achieve a satisfactory ride, whether you do it alone or with a group.

The book is a good investment for cyclists of all levels, beginers to old hands. All riders will find useful information in this very complete and well-organized guide.

[Marcus Goncalves · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a practical guide to long-distance riding, covering planning, training, mental skills, nutrition, equipment, and technique. It offers clear, week-by-week training plans, making it useful for riders aiming at century rides or ultradistance events. While I found the fictional cyclist narratives distracting, the straightforward advice and accessible style make it a valuable resource for endurance cyclists seeking to improve performance and avoid injury.

[Mauro Botelho · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about endurance cycling

The author goes beyond just providing training programs and expand on concepts that one can use to come up with training plans.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a thoughtful book with a lot of good information for anyone considering riding more than a few miles.

[Serge Pierro · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning of this compendium started off a bit slowly, highlighting basic information and exercises, but then quickly shifts gears, and presents excellent information on the subject matter. It covers all aspects of Distance Cycling - from nutrition, gear, training methods, and more! If you are interested in riding a century, or even across the country, this book will help you to achieve your goals. Recommended.

[Daniel Seifert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Distance cycling provides some good skill building strategies and templates for training (planning, training, mental skills, nutrition, equipment, and technique). I recommend this text for both all road cyclists at various levels.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comprehensive guide to the physical and psychological preparation for the sport of long-distance bicycling. This new book will be my reading companion as I follow this year's Tour.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of those books where the authors try to cover EVERYTHING, but briefly, and in the process tell you very little. (book by committee?)