Long Tour Training!

Question
I have a question about what kind of training should be done to prepare for a long bicycle tour.  My wife and I are from Southern Saskatchewan and are planning a bike tour to either Las Vegas, NV or Phoenix, AZ.  We are planning on starting our trip at the end of August, 2010.  I was wondering if you had any hints as to what type of training I should be doing in order to prepare for this type of trip.  I have done a lot of cycling in my life but never anything this long distance.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Answer
Good to hear from you.  I forgot to answer until now as I am not always that organized.  

I don't know that much about training as I don't do anything different than my normal life to stay in shape for my trips.  I'm basically always in reasonable shape as I don't drive a car.  I bike a lot for transportation.  Also I enjoy things like dancing.  Free form ecstatic dance.  It's similar to aerobics.

Shorter trips that you say you have already taken are a good way to stay in shape for the longer trip.  In many ways, a longer trip is similar to shorter trips if one goes the same distance per day in both kinds of trips.  

Some gyms have spinning classes where people ride stationary bikes in a class.  The classes usually have music and an instructor up front edging people on.  

I am not into racing and racing is a bit different than long distance touring.  

I may not be in top shape, but I am in good shape.  When I get back from a long trip, I am possibly in a little better shape than before I left.  

So my regular lifestyle of biking and dancing has kept me in shape.

These parts of my web site might be of interest.

My thoughts on health
http://www.theslowlane.com/opiniontree/health.html

My bike trips
http://www.theslowlane.com/bike.html

My bike touring advise.
http://www.theslowlane.com/other/ltrbike.html

All personal opinions.

Robert Ashworth.