If you are like most people, a “Training Tour” conjures up thoughts of a hardcore cycling experience. Being a specialist in Training Tours and Camps, we at Steve Lehman Tours see things a bit differently. Training Camps are smart cycling vacations. Our Training Camps merely mean that the portion of our total vacation package that is dedicated to biking will be “more focused” in a number of different ways. The Camp will focus on the type of ride, time spent on the bike, and perhaps most importantly, recovery and relaxation. The rider’s improvement in the context of a well-balanced vacation is of paramount importance to us. Unlike the typical Inn-to-Inn cycling tour, the route to the next hotel does not dictate the distance and terrain of each day’s ride. We operate out of a central location selected, in part, for its proximity to varied terrain. That means if one day was a particularly tough, climbing day, the next day may be a flat, tempo affair. If it rains, and yes sometimes it does rain in Paradise, we won’t have to slog to the next hotel; we may take the day off or opt for a shorter circuit. I have found that due to our focus, Training Camps actually dedicate less time to riding and more time to non-cycling activities than most tours.
Our Training Camps are operated out of a first-class hotel that’s selected for its location in some beautiful corner of the world. There is no need to pack and unpack each day, and there is no tour-imposed luggage limitation. You can even pack that extra, nice dress or sport coat for the evenings on the town. You also have the opportunity to actually settle in, and when you’re done with the ride, you will return to a familiar and comfortable surrounding. This greatly reduces stress and actually aids in the recovery process. Since we’re not in a new hotel every day, you will be inclined to spend more time off the bike exploring and experiencing the destination, almost like a “normal” traveler.
On any typical Training Camp day, attendees and their non-cycling partners will enjoy a nice breakfast together. After breakfast, say around 9:30 am or so, cyclists organize into two or three homogenous groups so that no rider is held back or continuously stressed by the pace of the day’s ride. The rides are designed by our staff to provide a mix of terrain and intensities to stress different muscle groups and systems to bring each cyclist’s fitness to a higher level by the end of the camp. The rides are usually completed by 1:30 pm, giving plenty of time left of the day to join your non-cycling partner to discover and explore, shop, eat, drink and be merry or simply relax.
