By all I’ve read, you need to taper during the last week before a big event; whether it’s a race or a long recreational ride. The trick, they say, is reducing mileage while maintaining some intensity.

Of couse, don’t go out the day before your event and do a workout packed with lots of hard intervals; but a few short, hard bursts keep your muscles sharp.

I’ve even read that it’s better to be slightly undertrained than to be overtrained. The latter is apt to mean you go into your event tired; and that means you probably can’t give your best performance. So don’t forget to taper.

And the weather for event day? I just hope your forecast isn’t a discouraging word.