RAGBRAI Training

This six-week periodized training plan is specific to long gravel races like USA Cycling's Gravel Nationals, Unbound Gravel, Gravel Worlds, The Mid South, and more. (We have specific training plans for each Belgian Waffle Ride event and SBT GRVL, so check those out if you are registered for BWR and/or SBT.)

Each week centers around a looooong gravel ‘simulation’ ride on Saturday. You’ll start with a field test to get your threshold power and heart rate to plug into your Optimize Training Zones calculator.

Choose the Hilly option for a course that has a lot of climbing or choose Flat for one without.

There are even tips on nutrition & hydration that you can practice on these simulation rides! Since gravel races are super hard, long events, we recommend building as big a base as you can beforehand with our Sweet Spot plans.

For a more custom training solution that includes a custom training plan design, regular coaching feedback Hire a FasCat Coach! We will waive the $99 start up fee if you have previously bought a plan.

• Start this plan on July 8th, 2024 💪
• Includes long simulation rides on the weekends
• Shorter Advanced Endurance training, Tues-Thurs

Steamboat Gravel is going to be a tough race! With expected finishing times 8 plus hours you'll want to put the time in the saddle but have a plan in place to be smart about your recovery. On Saturdays, gravel simulation rides will test out your endurance, equipment, your pacing your nutrition and hydration as Coach Frank and Jackson have podcasted about.

Mid-week you'll complete shorter rides concentrating on advanced aerobic endurance (sweet spot > tempo > zone 2). Consider following the Gravel Plan if you are beyond 8 weeks out! And our sweet spot plans if you want to begin your training Jan - March because this six week plan officially begins July 8th, 2024!

This Six Week Steamboat Gravel Plan is available within your FasCat Subscription where in APP Coaching is included along with unlimited training plans. 

Our Gravel In-Season Training Plan is for the athlete who's already raced one of their big gravel races and wants to train for their next gravel event later on in the season. This gravel plan focuses on helping you recover from the weekend's training and balances the mid-week structured sweet spot and tempo interval workouts. On Saturdays the Gravel simulation rides will test out your equipment, your pacing your nutrition and hydration as Coach Frank and Jackson have podcasted about.

• This plan will put you on the start line prepared to crush some massive climbs!
• Tempo, SS & Threshold intervals during the week + group rides and/or harder efforts on the weekend

Whether it's Strava PR's or a race with some serious vertical gain, this six week climbing training plan will put you on the start line well prepared. You'll start with a 20min Field Test to set your Functional Threshold Power and Heart Rate, then use your training zones to ride just hard enough to get faster & stronger without burning out so you can go hard again the next day! That means lots of Tempo and Sweet Spot as well as Threshold intervals during the week and group rides or other harder efforts on the weekends.