First 100km today
Discussion
Went on a nice ride today. Been keeping up with regular rides of around 30 - 40 miles for a while now with the odd mid-week ride as well as weekend ones. Longest ride in the past was around 40 miles but did 65 today, with just shy of 5k ft elevation.
Felt really good. I knew to drink and eat a lot because that used to catch me out. Still probably didn't eat enough and it would've caught me out on a longer ride but pretty managed it. Just ate an energy bar and had a sandwich.
Prefer confident I could do 80 miles now.
Felt really good. I knew to drink and eat a lot because that used to catch me out. Still probably didn't eat enough and it would've caught me out on a longer ride but pretty managed it. Just ate an energy bar and had a sandwich.
Prefer confident I could do 80 miles now.
Sounds a bit like my sort of riding. 30 to 40 miles regularly, pushing the odd ride out to 50 or 60 miles. I completed my first 100km ride in over 5 years within the last fortnight too. I took a couple of peanut butter sandwiches tucked into a jersey pocket for that one, and a couple of back-up cereal bars and energy gels.
I found that, because my brain doesn't work in kilometres out on the road, it was a lovely surprise to get back after 68 miles and realise I'd completed the metric century without even realising it.
The distance thing can become strangely addictive, though, so be warned! I find myself competing with my own previous best, and adding little diversions to push the distance even further if I have the time/energy.
My biggest problem when riding for more than a couple of hours is disciplining myself to drink enough. Sometimes I leave it until I'm really quite thirsty, but by then the damage is done, and my concentration and pacing implode, leaving me struggling a bit toward the end of a ride.
Well done on your first 100km
Whether it suits you to stick to 100km as your biggest ride, or you 'twist' and kick on to 100 miles or even more, it's a massive achievement and a memorable milestone in your cycling life.
I found that, because my brain doesn't work in kilometres out on the road, it was a lovely surprise to get back after 68 miles and realise I'd completed the metric century without even realising it.
The distance thing can become strangely addictive, though, so be warned! I find myself competing with my own previous best, and adding little diversions to push the distance even further if I have the time/energy.
My biggest problem when riding for more than a couple of hours is disciplining myself to drink enough. Sometimes I leave it until I'm really quite thirsty, but by then the damage is done, and my concentration and pacing implode, leaving me struggling a bit toward the end of a ride.
Well done on your first 100km
Whether it suits you to stick to 100km as your biggest ride, or you 'twist' and kick on to 100 miles or even more, it's a massive achievement and a memorable milestone in your cycling life.
Well done OP, I'll be doing my first on Saturday, The Wooler Wheel 100km.
I'm similar to yourself. I started cycling in 2012 after not having ridden for 20 years since I was 15. I did literally nothing last year due to a house move and project but I'm regularly cycling now doing 30-40 miles on a Sunday and 27 miles a day commute, a few times a week.
My longest ride to date is 54 miles and my shoulders/neck were burning. Still though I'm looking forward to this weekend. I'm fitter than I was then.
Anyway well done, I'm sure it's nothing to the veterans on here but as YellowJack says it's a bit of a milestone in our cycling.
I'm similar to yourself. I started cycling in 2012 after not having ridden for 20 years since I was 15. I did literally nothing last year due to a house move and project but I'm regularly cycling now doing 30-40 miles on a Sunday and 27 miles a day commute, a few times a week.
My longest ride to date is 54 miles and my shoulders/neck were burning. Still though I'm looking forward to this weekend. I'm fitter than I was then.
Anyway well done, I'm sure it's nothing to the veterans on here but as YellowJack says it's a bit of a milestone in our cycling.
Well done OP.
I am doing around 40 miles at the weekend just now, with a smaller ride or 2 during the week in preparation for the Tour O' The Borders in August which is 74 miles.
I hope to hit 50 miles in one ride by the end of this month, 60 by the end of June and 70 by the end of July.
So, based on that, I should be able to join your club some time early July.
Good stuff
I am doing around 40 miles at the weekend just now, with a smaller ride or 2 during the week in preparation for the Tour O' The Borders in August which is 74 miles.
I hope to hit 50 miles in one ride by the end of this month, 60 by the end of June and 70 by the end of July.
So, based on that, I should be able to join your club some time early July.
Good stuff
Agree with what has been said above, however it all depends upon how often you want to be doing these big and increasing distances.
They say go up in 10% increase but depending upon your free time that isn't always possible.
I find that now almost pushing 40 the recovery time between big rides is key if you don't get a good base of big rides banked. I fitted in about 125km/80 miles on Sunday and can feel it in the legs now. As YJ said, despite best intentions I only drank about 1.5 litres in the first 3.75 hours and only had 1 banana, I gel and I bar so I can probably blame that to some extent on the fatigue.
Cool downs, stretching and post ride replenishment will make all the difference for recovery.
They say go up in 10% increase but depending upon your free time that isn't always possible.
I find that now almost pushing 40 the recovery time between big rides is key if you don't get a good base of big rides banked. I fitted in about 125km/80 miles on Sunday and can feel it in the legs now. As YJ said, despite best intentions I only drank about 1.5 litres in the first 3.75 hours and only had 1 banana, I gel and I bar so I can probably blame that to some extent on the fatigue.
Cool downs, stretching and post ride replenishment will make all the difference for recovery.
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