How to train for a 200 km brevet in 7 months ... from 40 km fast trekking biking?

just build slowly as everyone as said.

I started cycling again at the end of sept with a view to being able to cycle lejog and back in may - first ride was just 4 miles long!

upping the rides every week by time was my strategy, keep a comfortable pace and just ride for 30 mins longer each week - it soon adds up!

100km ride came after 22 days
100mile ride came after 43 days

just gently pootling along! have fun

I have to disagree with the "just stack up the miles" theory.

In combination of having a long ride during your week you should also look to do some interval training, depending on the interval structure you can increase anything from your maximum air intake to the co-operation between your lungs and heart.

I know its not a "race" per say, but interval training is a very effective way to get in shape, and if you do it right you will start to feel changes in 2-3 weeks of training.

Its nice to be in good shape when you are cycling 200km because it means you'll have a greater capacity to do so - in my opinion.

I find that www.training4cyclists.com has some nice free interval programs, but you'll also find them across the web

And the great thing about intervals - it doesen't take you more than one hour.

No problems. Also just enjoy it. Don't get caught up in the regimented mindset of training!! Hop on the bike take in the scenery the fresh air and you'll find you'll eat up the miles. And most important pace your ride. You don't want to be bonking half way through a ride in the middle of nowhere. Listen to your body

I think you'll surprise yourself with how quickly you build up the distance, especially if you join a club - it's more difficult if you don't.

You seem to have plenty of time to train. Your 2-3 hour midweek ride will be about 50km? and your weekend rides will be around 80km?

From my own and my wife's experience (when we started many years ago), once you have done a couple of 80Km rides you will be able to step up to 100+km without noticing it.
Then after a few weeks (make sure you include some hills) you'll be able to get to that magic 100mile (160km), and then the rest will be history.

I started in February 1983 by riding a 40km commute (2x20km) twice a week for two weeks. Then went on a club ride where I packed after 50km.
Not to be deterred I did another 2 weeeks of 3 commutes a week with a 50km ride at the middle weekend. Back out with the club and managed 80km just 1 month after I started cycling - but I was knackered.

I made sure I went out each weekend with the club and soon the mileage stepped up to 100km by early April. In May I did my first 100mile ride and in June I managed to ride the 240in24hours (400km) ride with ease having never ridden more than 160km.

Riding that bit further is easy - just ride steadily. You can do it, and sooner than you think.

Was going to say the same as fringe. The brevet/audax isn't a 'race' even sportives are not races yet many treat them as such. Get the miles in your legs. If you commute, extend your commute by a couple of miles. Build up your weekend ride so you're maybe doing a 70k and chuck in a 2/3 hour mid-week ride. Be aiming for 200k a week. If you don't commute then aim to get several 2/3 hour rides each week. By the time you get to the summer you should quite happily be rattling out a 100k weekend ride. Also keep on top of your diet and you'll be grand. Hope this helps.

you have plenty of time (months wise) and easily enuff time (bike wise) and as its an audax (i presume) its not a race as such so a steady pace all round is all you need to focus on. just keep increasing the mileage by a comfortable amount every couple of weeks and remember to eat and drink (little and often). by july/august if you can get, say two 150km rides in each month then by sept. that extra 50km will be no problem..

any help?