18 Week Training Plan
Training schedule to prepare you to cycle from London to ParisAs you can see, weeks 1-5 are aimed at those starting out with little to no cycling experience. Weeks 6-18 are aimed at all levels of cyclists and will help you be ready to complete and importantly enjoy your London to Paris bike ride.
Please note that average speeds are there just as a guide and should be adjusted according to your fitness level and personal targets, whether you’ll be carrying luggage and, of course, which route you take.
The beauty of the London to Paris bike ride is that there is no official route, no set number of days; it’s all up to you (unless you choose to take part in an organised ride).
If you are cycling one of the shorter routes independently over 4 days, then a slower target pace is, of course, perfectly fine (you’ll also benefit from more time to experience the places you pass through on the way).
If, however, you are completing one of the longer routes in just a couple of days or aim to cycle from London to Paris in 24 hours, then targeting a consistent average speed of 16 Mph may make sense for you.
For those cycling London to Paris independently, carrying your luggage on your bike, then you’ll likely be targeting a lower average speed. In this case, it would be a good idea for you to get used to carrying luggage as you cycle longer distances, and therefore we would suggest you take your luggage with you on some of your long weekend training rides as you get closer to your London to Paris cycle trip.
Finally, whichever route you take, you’ll likely be full of energy on the first day with fresh legs, but after consecutive days in the saddle, fatigue will set in, so expect your power output to drop and, therefore, your average speed to lower.
18-Week London to Paris Training Plan
Week 1 (Average speed of 6 mph)
- Monday:
- 25 Minutes (Approximately 2.5 Miles)
- Wednesday:
- 25 Minutes (Approximately 2.5 Miles)
- Saturday:
- 1 Hour (Approximately 6 Miles)
Week 2 (Average speed of 6 mph)
- Monday:
- 25 Minutes (Approximately 2.5 Miles)
- Thursday:
- 25 Minutes (Approximately 2.5 Miles)
- Saturday:
- 1 Hour 30 Minutes (Approximately 9 Miles)
Week 3 (Average speed of 8 mph)
- Tuesday:
- 30 Minutes (Approximately 4 Miles)
- Thursday:
- 30 Minutes (Approximately 4 Miles)
- Saturday:
- 2 Hours (Approximately 16 Miles)
Week 4 (Average speed of 8 mph)
- Monday:
- 40 Minutes (Approximately 4 Miles)
- Wednesday:
- 40 Minutes (Approximately 4 Miles)
- Friday:
- 40 Minutes (Approximately 4 Miles)
- Saturday:
- 2 Hours (Approximately 16 Miles)
Week 5 (Average speed of 10 mph)
- Monday:
- 40 Minutes (Approximately 6 Miles)
- Wednesday:
- 40 Minutes (Approximately 6 Miles)
- Friday:
- 40 Minutes (Approximately 6 Miles)
- Saturday:
- 2 Hours (Approximately 19 Miles)
Week 6 (Average speed of 10 mph)
- Tuesday:
- 15 Miles (Approximately 1 Hour 30 Minutes)
- Thursday:
- 15 Miles (Approximately 1 Hour 30 Minutes)
- Friday:
- 5 Miles (Approximately 30 Minutes)
- Saturday:
- 30 Miles (Approximately 3 Hours 30 Minutes)
Week 7 (Average speed of 12 mph)
- Tuesday:
- 10 Miles (Approximately 50 Minutes)
- Thursday:
- 10 Miles (Approximately 50 Minutes)
- Saturday:
- 20 Miles (Approximately 1 Hours 40 Minutes)
Week 8 (Average speed of 12 mph)
- Tuesday:
- 10 Miles (Approximately 50 Minutes)
- Thursday:
- 10 Miles (Approximately 50 Minutes)
- Saturday:
- 25 Miles (Approximately 2 Hours 5 Minutes)
Week 9 (Average speed of 14 mph)
- Monday:
- 8 Miles (Approximately 35 Minutes)
- Tuesday:
- 10 Miles (Approximately 45 Minutes)
- Thursday:
- 10 Miles (Approximately 45 Minutes)
- Sunday:
- 40 Miles (Approximately 2 Hours 50 Minutes)
Week 10 (Average speed of 14 mph)
- Monday:
- 10 Miles (Approximately 45 Minutes)
- Tuesday:
- 20 Miles (Approximately 1 Hour 25 Minutes)
- Thursday:
- 20 Miles (Approximately 1 Hour 25 Minutes)
- Sunday:
- 55 Miles (Approximately 3 Hours 40 Minutes)
Week 11 (Average speed of 15 mph)
- Monday:
- 10 Miles (Approximately 40 Minutes)
- Tuesday:
- 15 Miles (Approximately 1 Hour)
- Thursday:
- 15 Miles (Approximately 1 Hour)
- Sunday:
- 45 Miles (Approximately 3 Hours)
Week 12 (Average speed of 15 mph)
- Monday:
- 10 Miles (Approximately 40 Minutes)
- Tuesday:
- 20 Miles (Approximately 1 Hour 20 Minutes)
- Thursday:
- 20 Miles (Approximately 1 Hour 20 Minutes)
- Sunday:
- 55 Miles (Approximately 3 Hours 40 Minutes)
Week 13 (Average speed of 15 mph)
- Monday:
- 10 Miles (Approximately 40 Minutes)
- Wednesday:
- 10 Miles (Approximately 40 Minutes)
- Friday:
- 15 Miles (Approximately 1 Hour)
- Sunday:
- 60 Miles (Approximately 4 Hours)
Week 14 (Average speed of 15 mph)
- Tuesday:
- 10 Miles (Approximately 1 Hour 20 Minutes)
- Thursday:
- 15 Miles (Approximately 1 Hour 20 Minutes)
- Sunday:
- 60 Miles (Approximately 4 Hours)
Week 15 (Average speed of 16 mph)
- Tuesday:
- 10 Miles (Approximately 1 Hour 15 Minutes)
- Thursday:
- 15 Miles (Approximately 1 Hour 15 Minutes)
- Sunday:
- 60 Miles (Approximately 3 Hours 45 Minutes)
Week 16 (Average speed of 16 mph)
- Monday:
- 10 Miles (Approximately 40 Minutes)
- Wednesday:
- 15 Miles (Approximately 1 Hour)
- Saturday:
- 20 Miles (Approximately 1 Hour 15 Minutes)
- Sunday:
- 55 Miles (Approximately 3 Hours 30 Minutes)
Week 17 (Average speed of 16 mph)
- Tuesday:
- 15 Miles (Approximately 1 Hour)
- Thursday:
- 25 Miles (Approximately 1 Hour 30 Minutes)
- Saturday:
- 25 Miles (Approximately 1 Hours 30 Minutes)
- Sunday:
- 70 Miles (Approximately 4 Hours 30 Minutes)
Week 18 (Average speed of 16 mph)
- Tuesday:
- 25 Miles (Approximately 1 Hour 30 Minutes)
- Wednesday:
- 15 Miles (Approximately 1 Hour)
- Thursday:
- 25 Miles (Approximately 1 Hour 30 Minutes)
- Saturday:
- 25 Miles (Approximately 1 Hours 30 Minutes)
- Sunday:
- 75 Miles (Approximately 4 Hours 40 Minutes)
On the week of your London to Paris ride – short 5-10 mile trips are a good idea with a rest day before the ride itself.
Week 19 – London to Paris Week (Average speed of 16 mph)
Recommended training books
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
The Cyclist's Training Bible: The World's Most Comprehensive Training Guide | 552 Reviews | £21.94 | View on Amazon |
|
Bike Fit: Optimise Your Bike Position for High Performance and Injury Avoidance | 584 Reviews | £18.99 | View on Amazon |
|
The Cyclist's Training Diary: Your Ultimate Tool for Faster, Stronger Racing | 137 Reviews | View on Amazon | |
|
Training and Racing with a Power Meter: Third Edition | 371 Reviews | £19.30 | View on Amazon |
Essential L2P Kit
Here is a list of essential cycling equipment for any London to Paris bike ride (we assume you already have a bike):
Main image : Remy Sharp