Cycling Fitness / Training Advice

@amey Few points from my experience:

• How you react to heat makes a big difference in the mountains. Some people react well others not so well (me!). Anything you can do to get a sense of this in advance may help you prepare eg if there is a hot weekend before the trip in the UK whether you can get a tough sunny ride in. Has big effect on Water, Salt requirement (and therefore potential cramp), Heart Rate vs Power relationship
  
• Similar to above your calorie requirement will be totally different in mountains it's worth finding a gel you can stomach. Best not to test these things out for the first time if you find yourself up a mountain struggling.
  
• I find 'commuting' has been a good way to build up a capacity for big miles. Ie starting early/riding a road bike/getting laps in. Can do morning and evening and you can build up a pretty big daily mileage figure. This doesn't necessarily make you hugely faster in an FTP way but helps to build the big miles day after day ability. Especially as was mentioned above once the light gets better, its possible to get long evening rides in.
  
• Riding up hill is a good way at getting better at it. Find an area of hills which you can do some reps of and incorporate it into your commute if you can or an hour session.
  
• Enjoy your riding and riding with a group/club can help with the motivation rather than trying to be totally self motivated.
  
  

Hope this helps.