So, I’ve made some rookie mistakes on this tour. I thought I’d write these done for the next rookie who comes along.
- Don’t do this alone
Probably my biggest mistake. I’ve got lots of people rooting for me, but out on the road its a lonely hurtful place. You (I) need company.
- Get use to 100km cycle days before you hit out on the tour
I’m a bit fat, but I’m pretty fit. Even then 100km days every day is a ball-breaking demand.
I’m not that fit yet, and in the process parts of your body will hurt and break. Just expect it as true as night follows day. Don’t let the injury experience first happen on the Tour.
- Nutrition, nutrition, nutrition
Constantly eating and drinking got me through the long journeys. Your body is constantly working. It needs constant refueling or else it will stop.
My “secret” is biting off a One Square Meal block and putting it between my teeth and my gums, and constantly sucking it.
Lots of isotonic drinks. Lots of them.
- Equipment
The screw up with my pedals really set me back. But I recovered from it.
Not wearing correctly clothes has hurt me. I’ll recover from that too, but don’t make avoidable mistakes.
- Approach to the TA
Carolina Torres asked on the TA Facebook site: “Hi community, how many days approximate, take to do the north island? I know that depends of fitness level, but just to organize the trip.”
The first answers were 15 days, 14 days and 6 weeks. I wrote:
“Depending on fitness, 100km each day every day for 14 days makes you feel like you’re under the pump.
Aim for 50 km each day for the first week while you’re bum gets used to the saddle. Even little hills become big hills if something about you hurts.
Also don’t forget, you’re not throwing around a road bike – your rig is a mountain bike packed with stuff and it’s heavy.
If you feel like stretching it, more afterwards than feel free.
Remember, it’s supposed to be fun :)”
- Screw ups
Finally, don’t forget the thing about getting experience is it comes from screw-ups. Don’t let constant screw ups kill your attitude.
This is how everyone learns, the difference is that experts no longer make rookie mistakes.