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BASE PHASE · 16 WEEKS OUT

RING OF BEARA CYCLE — 16 WEEKS OUT

Aerobic foundation. High volume, low intensity. Don't skip this. Built around the 140km / 2,200m profile of the Ring of Beara in Ireland.

140 km·2,200 m climbing·5-8 hours·May

THE FOCUS RIGHT NOW

BUILD THE ENGINE.

Sixteen weeks out, your job is volume. Forget intervals. Forget Strava. Build the aerobic engine that every later phase sits on top of. 80% of your time should be in Zone 2 — conversational pace, nose-breathing territory. If your base phase feels easy, you're doing it right.

THIS WEEK'S ANCHOR SESSION

THE LONG Z2 RIDE

One 3-4 hour steady Zone 2 ride per week. Flat to rolling route. Cadence 85-95rpm. Heart rate below first ventilatory threshold the whole way. This is where your mitochondrial density grows.

THE WEEK

A TYPICAL WEEK, 16 WEEKS OUT

Monday

REST OR 45MIN Z1

Recovery day — coffee spin only if you want to.

Tuesday

90MIN Z2 ENDURANCE

Steady, controlled, aerobic.

Wednesday

1H STRENGTH + 30MIN EASY SPIN

Squats, deadlifts, core. Builds what the bike can't.

Thursday

90MIN Z2 WITH 3X5MIN TEMPO

Intro to structured effort — don't race it.

Friday

REST

Genuine rest. The adaptations happen now.

Saturday

3-4H LONG Z2 RIDE

Anchor session. Fueled from minute 30.

Sunday

90MIN GROUP RIDE OR SOLO Z2

Social pace. No heroes allowed.

DON'T DO THIS

The #1 base-phase mistake: riding too hard on easy days. If you arrive at Saturday already tired, you'll never build the aerobic depth you need. Discipline the volume, discipline the intensity.

EVENT INTEL

WHAT THE RING OF BEARA ACTUALLY DEMANDS

Ring of Beara is the coastal Kerry sportive — 140km around the wildest peninsula in Ireland, with the Caha Mountains and Healy Pass as the defining climbs. Smaller field than Wicklow 200, steeper climbs.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS

  • ✓Healy Pass — the signature climb, 8% average, switchbacks
  • ✓Exposed coastal sections with unpredictable crosswinds
  • ✓140km is shorter than Wicklow but the terrain is punchier
  • ✓Early May means the road is often wet
  • ✓Small villages for feed zones — plan your stops carefully

COMMON MISTAKES

  • ✕Treating Healy Pass like an easy climb because it's 'only' 9km
  • ✕Packing like it's July when it's May on the Atlantic
  • ✕Cranking the gearing too hard — long compact gearing saves the day

PACING

The first 80km are rolling with two controllable climbs. The Healy Pass at km 100 is the ride. If you arrive at the base feeling fresh you'll finish strong. If you're already ragged you'll crack on the steep section. Pace for Healy, not the flats.

FUELLING

Shorter than Wicklow but more climbing per km. 70-90g carbs/hour. Refill at Kenmare or Glengarriff depending on the route. The Healy Pass has no feed zone — come to it with a full bottle and a gel.

KIT

Gilet and armwarmers even in May. Compact crankset with 11-32 cassette. The descent off Healy is technical — check brake pads before you start.

WANT THIS BUILT AROUND YOUR FTP?

COACHED FOR YOUR EVENT.

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FAQ

COMMON QUESTIONS AT 16 WEEKS OUT

Is 16 weeks enough to train for the Ring of Beara Cycle?+

Yes, 16 weeks is a strong window. That's enough time for a full base phase, build, peak, and taper — the classical periodisation structure. 2,200m of climbing over 140km is built with sustained Z2 volume (base) + threshold work (build) in that order.

What's the hardest part of the Ring of Beara Cycle?+

Healy Pass — the signature climb, 8% average, switchbacks. treating Healy Pass like an easy climb because it's 'only' 9km — so pacing discipline is the single biggest lever most amateurs miss. The first 80km are rolling with two controllable climbs.

How many hours a week should I train at 16 weeks out from the Ring of Beara Cycle?+

Aim for 8-12 hours/week if you're targeting a strong finish. The long weekend ride is the anchor (3-4 hours at late base intensities) plus 3-4 structured weekday sessions. Volume matters more than intensity at this phase.

Do I need a coach to train for the Ring of Beara Cycle?+

You don't need a coach to finish. You do need structure. If you're new to sportives, have a target finish time, have a plateau you can't break, or have a history of peaking wrong, a coached plan pays for itself. Inside Not Done Yet the plan is built backwards from your event date — base, build, peak, taper timed to the week the Ring of Beara Cycle runs. 7-day free trial, $195/mo.

What gearing should I run for the Ring of Beara Cycle?+

Gilet and armwarmers even in May. Compact crankset with 11-32 cassette. The descent off Healy is technical — check brake pads before you start.

OTHER PHASES FOR THE RING OF BEARA

Later phase → 12 weeks out

LATE BASE

Read the full Ring of Bearaguide →