Miles per day continuous
Discussion
I'm after some help from the experienced road riders amongst you.
I'm planning a stupidly long charity bike ride. I'm still at the stage of working out if it's even feasible or not.
I'm after an indication of what would be a sustainable mileage per day if a fit cyclist were to be riding most days for, say, 6 weeks or so. Also ideas as to what break patterns to take would be good. Is it best to do 5 days then 1 day off, or something like 3 and 1 off, or moderate the mileage to a lower daily target and eliminate such frequent break days.
Any input you've got would be great.
I'm planning a stupidly long charity bike ride. I'm still at the stage of working out if it's even feasible or not.
I'm after an indication of what would be a sustainable mileage per day if a fit cyclist were to be riding most days for, say, 6 weeks or so. Also ideas as to what break patterns to take would be good. Is it best to do 5 days then 1 day off, or something like 3 and 1 off, or moderate the mileage to a lower daily target and eliminate such frequent break days.
Any input you've got would be great.
I did 11 days of 7-9hrs a day over 1000 miles from John O'Groats to Lands End. It was about 80-120 miles a day.
After Day 11 I was broken. However after day 12 off i think I could have carried on day 13.
I think you'll be surprised how hard you can push yourself and how much you'll get out of a days rest.
After Day 11 I was broken. However after day 12 off i think I could have carried on day 13.
I think you'll be surprised how hard you can push yourself and how much you'll get out of a days rest.
Dudd said:
I did 11 days of 7-9hrs a day over 1000 miles from John O'Groats to Lands End. It was about 80-120 miles a day.
After Day 11 I was broken. However after day 12 off i think I could have carried on day 13.
I think you'll be surprised how hard you can push yourself and how much you'll get out of a days rest.
I'll echo this. I did JOG to LE when I was 14 with my 49yr old dad, averaged 80 miles/day but some of those days were 100+ and somewhere around day 5 we had a short 45 mile day and spent half the day relaxing. I did 123miles from Bath to Bude a few weeks ago and felt fine the next day, but not sure I could have continued much further or got back the next day very easily!After Day 11 I was broken. However after day 12 off i think I could have carried on day 13.
I think you'll be surprised how hard you can push yourself and how much you'll get out of a days rest.
I did a 550 mile from Montreal to NY a month or so ago with the wife, we are both pretty fit and ride quite a bit, we did it in 11 days with 2 days rest 4/2/3 - averaging 60 miles a day (some longer some less), this was with 2 panniers each and staying in hotels with some flat days some hilly. I was sad on the last day to be finishing and I think this a good place to be.
In my opinion you can do huge milage and you will do it.. but if you want to enjoy it, protect yourself from injury (I have issues all over my body), averaging 60-70 miles a day seems a resonable amount to be doing regularly, it is also worth having regular time off, every 3/4 days seems sensible (to me). You have to allow for mechanical issues, slow days, weather and stopping for proper food as you can't live on bars and gels, if the miles are high it can seem like a chore everyday.
As mentioned this seemed to suit us well and we both really enjoyed our holiday, it is also perhaps worth noting that you will certainly get stronger, so you could up the miles later in the trip, I certainly felt I could sit on the bike all day long at the end of the trip.
In my opinion you can do huge milage and you will do it.. but if you want to enjoy it, protect yourself from injury (I have issues all over my body), averaging 60-70 miles a day seems a resonable amount to be doing regularly, it is also worth having regular time off, every 3/4 days seems sensible (to me). You have to allow for mechanical issues, slow days, weather and stopping for proper food as you can't live on bars and gels, if the miles are high it can seem like a chore everyday.
As mentioned this seemed to suit us well and we both really enjoyed our holiday, it is also perhaps worth noting that you will certainly get stronger, so you could up the miles later in the trip, I certainly felt I could sit on the bike all day long at the end of the trip.
Thanks for that guys. This is looking more encouraging.
My plan is to do the 4 points of Britain, and finish in the supposed centre. This works out at just under 1700 miles. So assuming 60 miles per day with every 5th day off it would take the best part of 35days. I'm dyscalculate though so that could be complete arse, anyone care to check my working?
The only problem I see is that of breaking even on the costs, as I don't fancy camping. I'm constantly coming back to the concept of just giving the not inconsiderable costs to charity instead an not bothering
My plan is to do the 4 points of Britain, and finish in the supposed centre. This works out at just under 1700 miles. So assuming 60 miles per day with every 5th day off it would take the best part of 35days. I'm dyscalculate though so that could be complete arse, anyone care to check my working?
The only problem I see is that of breaking even on the costs, as I don't fancy camping. I'm constantly coming back to the concept of just giving the not inconsiderable costs to charity instead an not bothering
To give you an idea of what is possible, albeit not by 'normal cyclists'
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/AroundOz2010
Peter Heal did an average of 304km a day for 49days to do the lap of Australia (14913km) in record time recently.
http://explorersweb.com/trek/news.php?id=19492
Alan Bate is currently trying to break the round the world record, and do it in about half the time that Mark Beaumont famously did it in (he seemed to be averaging around 100 miles a day, so similar pace to Peter Heal, I guess).
The LEJOG record is nuts, albeit on a streamlined trike. 861 miles in a smidge over 41 hours.
http://www.windcheetah.co.uk/record.htm
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/AroundOz2010
Peter Heal did an average of 304km a day for 49days to do the lap of Australia (14913km) in record time recently.
http://explorersweb.com/trek/news.php?id=19492
Alan Bate is currently trying to break the round the world record, and do it in about half the time that Mark Beaumont famously did it in (he seemed to be averaging around 100 miles a day, so similar pace to Peter Heal, I guess).
The LEJOG record is nuts, albeit on a streamlined trike. 861 miles in a smidge over 41 hours.
http://www.windcheetah.co.uk/record.htm
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