Tapering before a long event is rather like coming down to the point, isn\’t it?

I\’ve done four self-supported centuries, and I rode in Tour de Cure five times. Did I taper correctly? I\’m far from sure.

The idea of tapering is to maintain fitness, but to lose fatigue. I can\’t seem to lose fatigue, unfortunately. I have a sleep disorder, and don\’t even remember what it\’s like to feel well-rested and energetic.

Therefore I\’m always tired. If I want to do things, such as working to improve my cycling pace — or even simply going for a ride — I just have to do them, tired or not. But when I\’ve been working up to a special, long ride for months, what should I do in the last week before the big day?

I\’m sure that tapering for a recreational cyclist like me is very different from tapering for a serious racing cyclist. I don\’t doubt that his/her day-to-day training in the months leading up to an A race (i.e. a high-priority, important race) is a much heavier workload (discussed in The Cyclist\’s Training Bible) than my day-to-day rides.

Most sources say that work volume should be considerably reduced, but it\’s necessary to keep up some intensity. This can mean doing just a few very short, very hard efforts, maybe only 10 seconds long; mixed in with a modest amount of riding at a moderate intensity. And don\’t do the hard efforts every day during that final, pre-event week. Also, be sure to get plenty of rest. No late nights during taper week!