Vätternrundan 2017

[James72911]

Would welcome some assistance/opinions please. Have just signed up to do the Vätternrundan - it is a 300km ride around a lake in Sweden in June next year. Apparently 20,000+ people take part!

Issue isn't so much the distance, but that we have been given a start time of 22.25 - so riding through the night - not particularly keen on this... anyone have any experience of riding through the night on this or indeed any other similar events.

Many thanks

[CoolC]

Remember, there is only a couple of hours of dark at that time of year up there.

A club mate has done this for the last two years and will be doing it again next year. He loves it as an event.

[TwistingMyMelon]

Done plenty of night rides, here is what I found

My body can ride through the night, but my stomach less so!! I found my stomach goes on strike about 3am and Ive got cramps before. To get round this I just ate inoffensive food, which helped, but its difficult doing a 150 mile ride through the night as I had to eat all the time as didnt fancy bonking

Good lights and lots of spares. Last night ride I did, I have 2 x rear lights and and 2 x spare rear lights. Within 100 metres of starting one rear light fell off and broke, 5 miles later the second rear light fell off and broke in a cattle grid!! Thank god for spares

Otherwise same as any other long ride

[SixPotBelly]

Only ridden all through the night on the Dun Run (unless you count the night stints at Rad am Ring) but I love it. Any wind that was present in the day normally disappears, it's more peaceful and because you can't see 10 miles into the distance you won't get bored waiting for the scenery to change. Just be mindful that even in summer it'll get chilly once the sun goes down. Dress accordingly and you'll be fine.

Oh, and remember to take off your sunglasses. You can laugh but I was halfway to Dunwich before I realised I still had them on. Ah, so that's why I can't see beyond my light's beam...

Edited by SixPotBelly on Tuesday 8th November 10:57

[Seek]

James72911 said:

Would welcome some assistance/opinions please. Have just signed up to do the Vätternrundan - it is a 300km ride around a lake in Sweden in June next year. Apparently 20,000+ people take part!

Issue isn't so much the distance, but that we have been given a start time of 22.25 - so riding through the night - not particularly keen on this... anyone have any experience of riding through the night on this or indeed any other similar events.

Many thanks

Yeh - I rode it a few years ago.

You'll only need a light for the first few hours.
Just get some cheap LED stuff that you throw out on the way.

The lights are needed more to be seen by cars and other cyclists than anything else.
The roads are nice and wide so you don't need the lighting as such.

Wot Six says on the chilly bit. Dress warmly - something cheap you can toss out.
Otherwise you can leave stuff at stops on the way which is brought back to the start line.

Edited by Seek on Tuesday 15th November 06:03