How fit do you need to be to do L2B?
Discussion
I know this is a piece of string question, but how big a challenge is completing London to Brighton for an unexceptional slightly fat commuter/MTBer on an unexceptional low-end hybrid?
A mate of mine is trying to persuade me to do the run in September. Most of my cycling is my commute - 7.5 miles each way and quite hilly, but this would be like doing my entire weekly commute in one go.
A mate of mine is trying to persuade me to do the run in September. Most of my cycling is my commute - 7.5 miles each way and quite hilly, but this would be like doing my entire weekly commute in one go.
You would need to start getting out on longer rides ASAP if you want to be able to complete it in September
Assuming you commute every other day or so now, try a 20 mile ride this coming weekend and see how you go. If ok, then do a 30 miler the following weekend, and the weekend after that. If ok, do a 40 miler the weekend after that. If ok, you should be fine for the L2B
Assuming you commute every other day or so now, try a 20 mile ride this coming weekend and see how you go. If ok, then do a 30 miler the following weekend, and the weekend after that. If ok, do a 40 miler the weekend after that. If ok, you should be fine for the L2B
You have to reckon on 3-4 hours pedalling I would say, and I am guessing your 7.5 mile commute takes about 30-40 mins? You're obviously not starting from scratch, and you might be able to just go and do it, but it will hurt and probably put you off the bike for good!
I'd start by doing some extra rides at the weekend, maybe get on the train and go somewhere 20 miles away and then ride home. Also try extending your commute a bit, maybe do some intervals (where you sprint for 1 min, then relax, then sprint again) maybe find some extra hills. Variety always helps, both physically and mentally!
I'd start by doing some extra rides at the weekend, maybe get on the train and go somewhere 20 miles away and then ride home. Also try extending your commute a bit, maybe do some intervals (where you sprint for 1 min, then relax, then sprint again) maybe find some extra hills. Variety always helps, both physically and mentally!
L2B, with a bit of training is pretty easy. Try and take a longer route to work if its possible, I double the distance between home and work just to get more miles in...
With say a 20 mile a day commute and a good ride at the weekend, th 56 or so miles would be a doddle. Many people talk about Ditchling Beacon at the end. Sure its after that many miles, but at the end of the day, its a tiny climb and not very technical.
Also try a recovery shake during teh day, helps with muscle repair and recovery. I use USN Diet Fuel, which helps you recover, but doesnt build unnecessary muscle mass...
With say a 20 mile a day commute and a good ride at the weekend, th 56 or so miles would be a doddle. Many people talk about Ditchling Beacon at the end. Sure its after that many miles, but at the end of the day, its a tiny climb and not very technical.
Also try a recovery shake during teh day, helps with muscle repair and recovery. I use USN Diet Fuel, which helps you recover, but doesnt build unnecessary muscle mass...
Daveyraveygravey said:
You have to reckon on 3-4 hours pedalling I would say, and I am guessing your 7.5 mile commute takes about 30-40 mins?
High twenties on a good day. I think my record is about 27 minutes.I do pretty much sprint it though and often finish just on the edge of cramp in my legs and stuff, so I'd need to improve my pacing and endurance. Based on this I reckon discretion is the better part of valour on this occasion. I don't have any free weekends (and precious few evenings) to train, so I'll just promise my mate who's pestering me to do it that'll I'll make a date for the main L2B next year!
itsnotarace said:
You would need to start getting out on longer rides ASAP if you want to be able to complete it in September.
No offence but I think this is rubbish.The ridiculous number of unfit numpties who complete the official one shows that you don't need much training at all.
I was told a decent rule of thumb which was that you should be able to complete in a day what you regularly cycle in a week.
In which case the OP is fine to do L2B tomorrow.
Sure, he will probably be walking up Ditchling and won't break any records but FAIL TO COMPLETE IT? Unlikely.
If you are working hard on your commute you will liekly find that if you go a bit more slowly i.e. pace that you can have a nice easy conversation, then on the L2B you will really feel quite comfortable and I'm sure you will surprise yourself with how far you are able to go.
There are quite a few studies out there now showing the surprisingly beneficial effects of interval type training on your overall endurance capability. Your commute every day sound like an interval workout.
Take it steady and with a decent amout of fluids I think you should be able to do it. OK you're not going to be the fastest but you should be able to do the distance.
There are quite a few studies out there now showing the surprisingly beneficial effects of interval type training on your overall endurance capability. Your commute every day sound like an interval workout.
Take it steady and with a decent amout of fluids I think you should be able to do it. OK you're not going to be the fastest but you should be able to do the distance.
t bike' Will for the answer to this one. Doh! Just when I was happy with sitting it out for another year you lot are tempting me to reconsider.
Doing a longer route on my commute is an extremely sensible suggestion that just hadn't occured to me. Also, what's interval training? Is it basically some sprint periods, some gentler ones? I sort of do that already because of the terrain - a varied mix of ups and downs of varying gradients and a couple of flat sections.
Doing a longer route on my commute is an extremely sensible suggestion that just hadn't occured to me. Also, what's interval training? Is it basically some sprint periods, some gentler ones? I sort of do that already because of the terrain - a varied mix of ups and downs of varying gradients and a couple of flat sections.
Chris71 said:
Doh! Just when I was happy with sitting it out for another year you lot are tempting me to reconsider.
Doing a longer route on my commute is an extremely sensible suggestion that just hadn't occured to me. Also, what's interval training? Is it basically some sprint periods, some gentler ones? I sort of do that already because of the terrain - a varied mix of ups and downs of varying gradients and a couple of flat sections.
you dont need to to do interval training for a charity ride ,your commute stop start at lights junctions etc covers that anyhow Doing a longer route on my commute is an extremely sensible suggestion that just hadn't occured to me. Also, what's interval training? Is it basically some sprint periods, some gentler ones? I sort of do that already because of the terrain - a varied mix of ups and downs of varying gradients and a couple of flat sections.
Intervals are just periods of mixed hard and easy efforts. The duration of hard/easy and the intensity of both periods is all down to how you structure your training. IMHO structuring your training is really if want to be more serious about bigger sportives or competing.
For something like a L2B, the informal race that can form between traffic lights with other cyclists is quite a decent interval type workout
For something like a L2B, the informal race that can form between traffic lights with other cyclists is quite a decent interval type workout
Was chatting with some mates last week about doing the 2011 L2B as they didnt think they could do South Downs run. Someone overheard our conversation and said his 77 year old grandad did it on a fold up bike! I would have thought that if you take it reasonably steady any reasonably healthy bod should be ok. That said i would personally want to do a couple of 25-30 mile run outs just to make sure though 
esuuv said:
...
If you want to do it fast then thats quite another issue.
I do If you want to do it fast then thats quite another issue.
I saw Dubbs time last June at 2h10 (Well done!) and would like to be somewhere around the 2h30mark next year.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... Finishers thread
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