Altitude training is indispensable if you want to do bicycle tours in the mountains (for instance, in Colorado); or, of course, if your ambition is to be a rider in Le Tour. More specifically, if your aim is to make KOM!

We know that oxygen is in rather short supply when you’re thousands of feet up; and the principle of altitude training is to make the body more efficient at using oxygen. Many years ago I visited Denver, Colorado (“Mile High City”) for a week; and I felt out of breath the entire time. I wasn’t even riding a bicycle! I’ve lived at sea level my entire life, which didn’t help. How do riders manage the Leadville 100?

Training at high altitude may very well help to develop the cardiovascular system; but what can you do when you live far away from any mountains; and don’t have the resources to go to the mountains for a prolonged spell of training?

Some riders use a hypoxic mask to simulate high altitude. If I had ambitions to tackle that Leadville 100, or the Alpe dHuez, I’d need one! The thing looks very smothery, though, and I don’t enjoy the thought of using it in this heat; so I’m glad I have no plans to ride at altitude!

How about high altitude fueling? Here is some info on the subject. I remember reading many years ago that it’s normal to burn more calories at higher altitudes; and I can understand needing more hydration when you’re up high. That’s especially true for a low-lander like me. At high altitude I’m gasping for breath; and that dries out my mouth and throat.

It’s lucky I have my Camel-Bak! Hot weather only complicates matters.

Thinking about it makes me tired; and, as I’m lazy, I think I’ll stick with sea level.