am i mad for considering a 70 mile event tomorrow?
Discussion
There is a 60 miler running very locally, I had arranged to meet up for a ride with the local road group tomorrow morning, but instead of the normal ride they are doing the sportive.
60 miles on road, the most I've done so far is 30 on road, although I've done 36 offroad... (Surely that counts double right?)
Honestly in two minds about this. I'm keen to try, very excited (yes its stupid, I'm 34 ffs) about my first sportive, but I'm not sure if I can hack it.
10 miles there and back to the start, then 60 miles.... There is apparently a shorter 40 mile route, emphasis on apparently, it may not be running if not enough people sign up for the short leg.
Plus points, my first century = new bike reward and this would do the metric ton....
So go for it and be prepared to not complete? Or just hit it like a redheaded stepchild and mtfu?
60 miles on road, the most I've done so far is 30 on road, although I've done 36 offroad... (Surely that counts double right?)
Honestly in two minds about this. I'm keen to try, very excited (yes its stupid, I'm 34 ffs) about my first sportive, but I'm not sure if I can hack it.
10 miles there and back to the start, then 60 miles.... There is apparently a shorter 40 mile route, emphasis on apparently, it may not be running if not enough people sign up for the short leg.
Plus points, my first century = new bike reward and this would do the metric ton....
So go for it and be prepared to not complete? Or just hit it like a redheaded stepchild and mtfu?
Ye'll be reet.
If you can cope with 36 genuinely taxing off road miles, a reasonable 60 mile road ride is in you. Plenty of fluids, and some 'emergency rations' in yer pockets should see you through, but make sure you layer up and dress for the worst the weather might bring. If it's reasonably local you should have a good idea of the topography, and the route, so you'll be able to bail out if it looks like being too tough. Doing a ride of that length with company will also give you a psychological advantage over setting out on your own.
The rule-of-thumb that's often trotted out is something along the lines of "most regular riders are capable of riding their average weekly distance in one day" and the step up from 30 to 60 miles sounds bigger than it actually feels out on the bike, if that makes sense? Just don't blast off on the way there - ride gentle to warm up, keep warm and loose if you have to wait for the start, and keep something in the tank for the ride home (or arrange for someone to collect you
)
If you can cope with 36 genuinely taxing off road miles, a reasonable 60 mile road ride is in you. Plenty of fluids, and some 'emergency rations' in yer pockets should see you through, but make sure you layer up and dress for the worst the weather might bring. If it's reasonably local you should have a good idea of the topography, and the route, so you'll be able to bail out if it looks like being too tough. Doing a ride of that length with company will also give you a psychological advantage over setting out on your own.
The rule-of-thumb that's often trotted out is something along the lines of "most regular riders are capable of riding their average weekly distance in one day" and the step up from 30 to 60 miles sounds bigger than it actually feels out on the bike, if that makes sense? Just don't blast off on the way there - ride gentle to warm up, keep warm and loose if you have to wait for the start, and keep something in the tank for the ride home (or arrange for someone to collect you
)Screw it I'm doing it.
There's a 26 mile route (which is frankly too short to be a special event worth doing IMHO).
I suspect I'm going to be dead at the end. But if I'm not it wasn't worth doing.
There is a hog roast at the pub afterwards. Mmmmmm hog roast....
http://www.soldierscharity.org/events/event-item/a...
If anyone else is going give me a shout
Ok I've got:
Food - Jelly babies for emergency rations
Fluids - Water bottle, Litre Camelbak, there are apparently refreshment stops
Clothing - New bibs, short sleeve jersey, arm and leg warmers, long sleeved base-layer, emergency rain top for when the skies open (Doesn't breathe well be damn its waterproof)
Spares - spare tube, tools, pump etc
Just grabbed some crud roadracer mudguards as its going to skies open in mid-afternoon.
Anything I'm missing? *excited grin*
There's a 26 mile route (which is frankly too short to be a special event worth doing IMHO).
I suspect I'm going to be dead at the end. But if I'm not it wasn't worth doing.
There is a hog roast at the pub afterwards. Mmmmmm hog roast....
http://www.soldierscharity.org/events/event-item/a...
If anyone else is going give me a shout
Ok I've got:
Food - Jelly babies for emergency rations
Fluids - Water bottle, Litre Camelbak, there are apparently refreshment stops
Clothing - New bibs, short sleeve jersey, arm and leg warmers, long sleeved base-layer, emergency rain top for when the skies open (Doesn't breathe well be damn its waterproof)
Spares - spare tube, tools, pump etc
Just grabbed some crud roadracer mudguards as its going to skies open in mid-afternoon.
Anything I'm missing? *excited grin*
I had a quick look at the site and I'm pretty sure it flatish around that part of the world so you'll be fine. Distance on its own doesn't tell the full story ... when distanced is combined with elevation, then a ride can be transformed into a gruelling slog of epic proportions.
Just ride within your abilities enjoy yourself!
Just ride within your abilities enjoy yourself!
I'm just back from my first 74.56 mile ride with an elevation gain of 4114 feet with my biggest climb of the day being 1112 feet and I managed to burn off some 2300 calories.
Just go for it and take things slow, it's not as difficult as you think
EDIT...and I'm the wrong side of 55
Just go for it and take things slow, it's not as difficult as you think
EDIT...and I'm the wrong side of 55
Edited by 47p2 on Saturday 14th September 18:41
Personally I would leave the Camelbak in your car just use two water bottles on your bike (check that there are water stops). Again it's me but I would not be fitting mud guards (but I do ride a Dogma 65.1)
Clothing sounds about right you need to make notes afterwards for next time. Air temp, weather and how you felt.
New shorts could rub so you may want to use some cream to keep yourself sore free.
Tescos sell it so not too late but you could do with some Science in sport energy drink or similar to keep you topped up with energy.
Pedal smaller gears then you normally do, so spin, you will last longer than shoving a big gear.
Stay relaxed on the bike only your legs make you go forward, so swinging your body or head around will not help.
At the water/food stops stretch, drink and eat a little.
Pain is temporary quitting is for life, rule 5 to be applied and what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Just some man up thoughts for the ride.....
Enjoy the ride and the achievement afterwards.
Clothing sounds about right you need to make notes afterwards for next time. Air temp, weather and how you felt.
New shorts could rub so you may want to use some cream to keep yourself sore free.
Tescos sell it so not too late but you could do with some Science in sport energy drink or similar to keep you topped up with energy.
Pedal smaller gears then you normally do, so spin, you will last longer than shoving a big gear.
Stay relaxed on the bike only your legs make you go forward, so swinging your body or head around will not help.
At the water/food stops stretch, drink and eat a little.
Pain is temporary quitting is for life, rule 5 to be applied and what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Just some man up thoughts for the ride.....
Enjoy the ride and the achievement afterwards.
agentnomad said:
Personally I would leave the Camelbak in your car just use two water bottles on your bike (check that there are water stops). Again it's me but I would not be fitting mud guards (but I do ride a Dogma 65.1)
Clothing sounds about right you need to make notes afterwards for next time. Air temp, weather and how you felt.
New shorts could rub so you may want to use some cream to keep yourself sore free.
Tescos sell it so not too late but you could do with some Science in sport energy drink or similar to keep you topped up with energy.
Pedal smaller gears then you normally do, so spin, you will last longer than shoving a big gear.
Stay relaxed on the bike only your legs make you go forward, so swinging your body or head around will not help.
At the water/food stops stretch, drink and eat a little.
Pain is temporary quitting is for life, rule 5 to be applied and what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Just some man up thoughts for the ride.....
Enjoy the ride and the achievement afterwards.
Having been stupidly dehydrated after a ride a few weeks ago (much longer than expected) I'd rather err on the side of caution. As I do most of my mileage either on my MTB or on road to my girlfriends or family, then I'm normally carrying a bigger backpack - so the camekbak will feel like a featherweight lol. Also somewhere to stash rain cover etc.Clothing sounds about right you need to make notes afterwards for next time. Air temp, weather and how you felt.
New shorts could rub so you may want to use some cream to keep yourself sore free.
Tescos sell it so not too late but you could do with some Science in sport energy drink or similar to keep you topped up with energy.
Pedal smaller gears then you normally do, so spin, you will last longer than shoving a big gear.
Stay relaxed on the bike only your legs make you go forward, so swinging your body or head around will not help.
At the water/food stops stretch, drink and eat a little.
Pain is temporary quitting is for life, rule 5 to be applied and what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Just some man up thoughts for the ride.....
Enjoy the ride and the achievement afterwards.
Haven't got the hang of stashing everything in a jersey!
Already checked my tesco, they don't sell them unfortunately. Others do but there's a bike I need to watch on eBay *grin*
Otherwise thank you for the hints :-) I will try and remember lol
Seriously, working up to things is over-rated. I went 37km - 200km - 330km... recent jump was 613km - 1419km.
Putting in for scary stuff is the best fun. Great for motivation - nothing like the prospect of some proper suffering to help you say no to the 2nd dessert / 3rd beer.
Hope it's a brilliant day.
Putting in for scary stuff is the best fun. Great for motivation - nothing like the prospect of some proper suffering to help you say no to the 2nd dessert / 3rd beer.
Hope it's a brilliant day.
DrMekon said:
Seriously, working up to things is over-rated. I went 37km - 200km - 330km... recent jump was 613km - 1419km.
Putting in for scary stuff is the best fun. Great for motivation - nothing like the prospect of some proper suffering to help you say no to the 2nd dessert / 3rd beer.
Hope it's a brilliant day.
Have you ever attacked your Scrotum with a nailgun? Strikes me as the sort of thing you might enjoy!Putting in for scary stuff is the best fun. Great for motivation - nothing like the prospect of some proper suffering to help you say no to the 2nd dessert / 3rd beer.
Hope it's a brilliant day.
I did it
Nowhere near as hard as I'd feared. It wasn't easy by any measure though.
5 hours 13 Minutes, not including a ten minute drink and fuel break at the rest stop 42 miles in.
64.75 mile course (plus 7 miles there are back). 4000 feet of climbing.
Putting the nastiest hill I've ever encountered in the last 12 miles after a 5 mile climb was cruel though... that one was just pure evil. I was carrying on two way conversations with myself by the end of it, I swear I sounded like Gollum...
I'm in generally pretty good shape, tired, but still moving. Think I've pulled a muscle in my left leg though, that one is pure agony.
Thanks for the support ladies and gents, I think that without the "go for it" messages I'd have wimped out and taken the short route. Cant think of anything I've done that I'm more proud of!
Nowhere near as hard as I'd feared. It wasn't easy by any measure though.
5 hours 13 Minutes, not including a ten minute drink and fuel break at the rest stop 42 miles in.
64.75 mile course (plus 7 miles there are back). 4000 feet of climbing.
Putting the nastiest hill I've ever encountered in the last 12 miles after a 5 mile climb was cruel though... that one was just pure evil. I was carrying on two way conversations with myself by the end of it, I swear I sounded like Gollum...
I'm in generally pretty good shape, tired, but still moving. Think I've pulled a muscle in my left leg though, that one is pure agony.
Thanks for the support ladies and gents, I think that without the "go for it" messages I'd have wimped out and taken the short route. Cant think of anything I've done that I'm more proud of!
Edited by TheLemming on Sunday 15th September 16:50
Told you you could do it, well done. My next goal is either a 104 mile or 118 mile jaunt at the end of the month. Not sure as yet which I will do as the 114 mile route has a killer climb of over 800 feet at around 62 miles where as if I take the easy option I get a nice climb of around 400 feet
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