Off on a really long bike ride`
Discussion
Tomorrow morning I am getting picked up and driven to Land's End where I will start a ten day LeJog bike ride, averaging about 95 miles a day.
A group of us made up of work colleagues and Rugby team mates are taking part. I suspect the challenge for all of us is to pace ourselves, normally if you take part in a sportive or similar your aim is to finish as quickly as possible, here the aim is to be able to keep riding day after day.
I have got a couple of spare inner tubes and a few packs of Haribo packed. Training has been some long weekend rides and extending my commuting daily total to around 60 miles, culminating in 800 miles during August so I think I am fit enough. The main issue I can see is the dearth of hills in Cambs may mean that they come as a bit of a shock.
Anyone else on here done a similar ride and if so any tips?
Ben
A group of us made up of work colleagues and Rugby team mates are taking part. I suspect the challenge for all of us is to pace ourselves, normally if you take part in a sportive or similar your aim is to finish as quickly as possible, here the aim is to be able to keep riding day after day.
I have got a couple of spare inner tubes and a few packs of Haribo packed. Training has been some long weekend rides and extending my commuting daily total to around 60 miles, culminating in 800 miles during August so I think I am fit enough. The main issue I can see is the dearth of hills in Cambs may mean that they come as a bit of a shock.
Anyone else on here done a similar ride and if so any tips?
Ben
Just enjoy it!
As you have guessed , pacing yourself and listening to your body.
Keep up the food, be careful not to bonk out, make sure you eat decent stomach friendly food once past 50 miles up to the end of each day
Also legs tire before lungs! Spin a lower gear than you usually might, even moreso up hills , keeps your legs fresh. My longest ride was 150 miles, I stayed in the smaller 39 front ring most of the ride and my legs felt quite fresh at the end of the ride and managed to get a near 17 mph average when I wasn't really trying I just fancied a long chilled day ride
As you have guessed , pacing yourself and listening to your body.
Keep up the food, be careful not to bonk out, make sure you eat decent stomach friendly food once past 50 miles up to the end of each day
Also legs tire before lungs! Spin a lower gear than you usually might, even moreso up hills , keeps your legs fresh. My longest ride was 150 miles, I stayed in the smaller 39 front ring most of the ride and my legs felt quite fresh at the end of the ride and managed to get a near 17 mph average when I wasn't really trying I just fancied a long chilled day ride
Awesome, enjoy it, eat as much as you can 
This is a good read: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Free-Country-Penniless-Adv...
You'll be looking forward to the wind returning to normal SW about Sunday then
This is a good read: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Free-Country-Penniless-Adv...
You'll be looking forward to the wind returning to normal SW about Sunday then
Back in the mid 90s I did LEJOG and JOGLE (the latter on a tandem). It is a fantastic thing to do and I know you will enjoy it overall and retrospectively (even if you aren't enjoying it at a particular moment on a particular day!)
As you are riding with a group, here are some things to think about
- take it in turns to ride at the front and make the most of the shelter available when its not your turn
- try to stay together and ride at a pace that you can all handle, let slower / weaker riders stay in the pack and not ride on the front
- make sure you know the route, going the wrong way is very annoying
- keep well fed and watered
- rest well, go easy on the beer
For 95 miles, I find it easier to get it all done pretty much in one go. Maybe a 10 minute stop halfway to eat and refill bottles etc. and the obligatory pee stops / puncture stops / photo stops (there is some nice scenery on the route), but largely keep going. I always find that a stop longer than 10 minutes makes the first couple of miles after setting off again very tough.
But there is no right and wrong way, it is your group's ride and the main thing is to get it done and enjoy it.
As you are riding with a group, here are some things to think about
- take it in turns to ride at the front and make the most of the shelter available when its not your turn
- try to stay together and ride at a pace that you can all handle, let slower / weaker riders stay in the pack and not ride on the front
- make sure you know the route, going the wrong way is very annoying
- keep well fed and watered
- rest well, go easy on the beer
For 95 miles, I find it easier to get it all done pretty much in one go. Maybe a 10 minute stop halfway to eat and refill bottles etc. and the obligatory pee stops / puncture stops / photo stops (there is some nice scenery on the route), but largely keep going. I always find that a stop longer than 10 minutes makes the first couple of miles after setting off again very tough.
But there is no right and wrong way, it is your group's ride and the main thing is to get it done and enjoy it.
I did it the other way round a few years ago in nine days. As has already been said, keeping on top of your food intake is really important - keep in mind that you're not just eating for now but for tomorrow and the day after that too. Probably a bit late if you haven't got one already but I bought a handlebar-mounted bag thingy which was dead handy as I just filled it with food and grazed the whole time I was in the saddle. Other than that just enjoy it and take it easy the first few days, I absolutely loved my Jogle trip and plan to do it again in the next few years.
richardxjr said:
This is a good read: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Free-Country-Penniless-Adv...
I can second that book recommendation a really good fun read, they took a bit more time than I have.Those that know me can confirm that 'carbo loading' is more or less my default dietary state so I should not have a problem eating enough. I am going with a really good bunch of people so I know it will be fun.
Looking at the forecasts the wind is not behaving as advertised, Jogle looks like a better option this week.
My ride blog is here: http://bigbenslejogblog.blogspot.co.uk/
Cheers
Ben
I completed this in 2010 with a team of 8 of us. Food, hydration and recovery each day is without doubt the most important points to make it successful. Also as mentioned above we took it in turns of 20 mile stints as the lead rider to help with pace. We also stopped for 5 mins after each 20 mile stint as our support vehicle met us at checkpoints to re hydrate etc etc. ( In hind site this was probably too often as later in the day it was hard to get going again.
For me I found The first 2 days the hardest. Coming out of Cornwall, Dartmoor etc the hardest part. I just remember the hills being a nightmare ( Push through it). After that its easier coming through the rest of England, Scotland was an absolute pleasure especially when you ride along the lochs. Scotland was also surprisingly easier compared to the first 2 days coming out of Cornwall, whether that was down to the views, the fact we where nearly finished or even they build roads around the hills lol.
There is also a right treat waiting for you in Scotland, I cant remember the exact place but it is a really long stretch of down hill madness, high speeds can be attained for miles if you have the nerve. We had a rider who had an off and couldn't carry on until the next day. Luckily he was ok.
I went through 2 or 3 inner tubes, and had one fall off on the last day coming through Wick, Slow speed into the back of a mate, oops.
Enjoy it.
For me I found The first 2 days the hardest. Coming out of Cornwall, Dartmoor etc the hardest part. I just remember the hills being a nightmare ( Push through it). After that its easier coming through the rest of England, Scotland was an absolute pleasure especially when you ride along the lochs. Scotland was also surprisingly easier compared to the first 2 days coming out of Cornwall, whether that was down to the views, the fact we where nearly finished or even they build roads around the hills lol.
There is also a right treat waiting for you in Scotland, I cant remember the exact place but it is a really long stretch of down hill madness, high speeds can be attained for miles if you have the nerve. We had a rider who had an off and couldn't carry on until the next day. Luckily he was ok.
I went through 2 or 3 inner tubes, and had one fall off on the last day coming through Wick, Slow speed into the back of a mate, oops.
Enjoy it.
If you start to feel something isn't right, stop and check it, even if it's raining!
I rode from Peterborough to Dundee in 5 days in July. On the first day I felt a pull in my knee but it was raining so I thought I would just get to the next pub.... in the fens.... it was about 15 miles away! The rain kept it cool so I didn't really feel it until I stopped and then the pain set in, quick dose of Ibuprofen (this is important, bring some) to ease the pain and reduce swelling and I managed to finish the day.
The next day I could barely walk but the bike was ok as long as I wasn't pushing it too hard. So I did every hill between Hull and Whitby using only my left leg. That caused me to get Patella Bursitis in my left knee and made the rest of the trip pretty painful. I still really enjoyed the trip though, but it was a steep learning curve in managing your body properly, we took a lot more breaks for the rest of the trip.
I rode from Peterborough to Dundee in 5 days in July. On the first day I felt a pull in my knee but it was raining so I thought I would just get to the next pub.... in the fens.... it was about 15 miles away! The rain kept it cool so I didn't really feel it until I stopped and then the pain set in, quick dose of Ibuprofen (this is important, bring some) to ease the pain and reduce swelling and I managed to finish the day.
The next day I could barely walk but the bike was ok as long as I wasn't pushing it too hard. So I did every hill between Hull and Whitby using only my left leg. That caused me to get Patella Bursitis in my left knee and made the rest of the trip pretty painful. I still really enjoyed the trip though, but it was a steep learning curve in managing your body properly, we took a lot more breaks for the rest of the trip.
don't over eat is my advice, where people are saying eat loads.
yep if you bonk you are in big trouble
but have good hi carb meals at night for recovery, and eat 1 gramm of carbs per minute, that's all your body can process
most people over eat and then have pains.
say it's a 6 hour ride the 1st hour will use carbs which are in your body inc breakfast, the rest of the 5 hours will only need 300 grams of carbs.
or 15 grams of carbs every 15 minutes MAX , that's 1/2 a banana or 1/4 of a small flapjack.
people over carb on long rides !!! even taking >100gramms per hour esp now people down gels !!
4 hours later you then over Carb and feel ill. !!! Carb loading = fail on long rides !
yep if you bonk you are in big trouble
but have good hi carb meals at night for recovery, and eat 1 gramm of carbs per minute, that's all your body can process
most people over eat and then have pains.
say it's a 6 hour ride the 1st hour will use carbs which are in your body inc breakfast, the rest of the 5 hours will only need 300 grams of carbs.
or 15 grams of carbs every 15 minutes MAX , that's 1/2 a banana or 1/4 of a small flapjack.
people over carb on long rides !!! even taking >100gramms per hour esp now people down gels !!
4 hours later you then over Carb and feel ill. !!! Carb loading = fail on long rides !
Edited by PorscheGT4 on Tuesday 8th September 10:27
Three days into the ride now, average of about 100 miles per day.
Riding through Cornwall on day 1 was mental, I grew to hate going down hills as they were inevitably followed by a climb immediately afterwards, no fun at all. Day two was almost as hilly but big hills with longer descents which felt more fun, today was more or less flat so like a rest day.
Eating quite a lot but not necessarily that much more than I usually would, but I am a fat b*stard who eats a lot anyway!
Ben
Riding through Cornwall on day 1 was mental, I grew to hate going down hills as they were inevitably followed by a climb immediately afterwards, no fun at all. Day two was almost as hilly but big hills with longer descents which felt more fun, today was more or less flat so like a rest day.
Eating quite a lot but not necessarily that much more than I usually would, but I am a fat b*stard who eats a lot anyway!
Ben
Getting into the swing of things, I am now over half way to JoG and am barely noticing the pain.
Blog updates here
http://www.bigbenslejogblog.blogspot.co.uk/
Ben
Blog updates here
http://www.bigbenslejogblog.blogspot.co.uk/
Ben
I did 116 miles in a day two years ago, aged 60, despite never having sat on a bike for 35 years, with no practice whatsoever, not even a couple of miles.....
Mind you, it did take me around 22 hours and I pushed the bike over 60 miles due to saddle soreness.
I did it though.....
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Tip:-
Don't wear normal clothes and shoes on the hottest day of the year.......
Mind you, it did take me around 22 hours and I pushed the bike over 60 miles due to saddle soreness.
I did it though.....
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Tip:-
Don't wear normal clothes and shoes on the hottest day of the year.......
Wacky Racer said:
I did 116 miles in a day two years ago, aged 60, despite never having sat on a bike for 35 years, with no practice whatsoever, not even a couple of miles.....
Mind you, it did take me around 22 hours and I pushed the bike over 60 miles due to saddle soreness.
I did it though.....
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Tip:-
Don't wear normal clothes and shoes on the hottest day of the year.......
I would have been bricking it, pushing the bike along those kind of roads in the pitch black with no lights! Good effort though Mind you, it did take me around 22 hours and I pushed the bike over 60 miles due to saddle soreness.
I did it though.....
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Tip:-
Don't wear normal clothes and shoes on the hottest day of the year.......
budgie smuggler said:
Wacky Racer said:
I did 116 miles in a day two years ago, aged 60, despite never having sat on a bike for 35 years, with no practice whatsoever, not even a couple of miles.....
Mind you, it did take me around 22 hours and I pushed the bike over 60 miles due to saddle soreness.
I did it though.....
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Tip:-
Don't wear normal clothes and shoes on the hottest day of the year.......
I would have been bricking it, pushing the bike along those kind of roads in the pitch black with no lights! Good effort though Mind you, it did take me around 22 hours and I pushed the bike over 60 miles due to saddle soreness.
I did it though.....
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Tip:-
Don't wear normal clothes and shoes on the hottest day of the year.......
110 miles today in grey wet Scotland. Not sure it is my idea of fun any more but quitting is not an option, I am way over half way now.....
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