400k

[Ian H]

If you've done a 300 it's not really such a big step. Leaving aside questions of terrain, there are two types of 400: those that start early morning and those that start around Midday (and of course there's Vorsprung's, but he's just awkward). It's possible to finish the former within a day if you're fairly fast, but the latter will probably involve a period of involuntary doziness. A few good nights' sleep and an early night before the event will help. There'll often be a control where you can snatch some rest.

Equipment: I generally carry rather less than Greenbank, but his list is a pretty good basis to work from.

 

[Tynan]

spare brake blocks?

I know what they are but what's going to happen to brake blocks, assuming you've decided they're good for the distance before starting?

genuine question

 

[Ian H]

spare brake blocks?

I know what they are but what's going to happen to brake blocks, assuming you've decided they're good for the distance before starting?

genuine question

Some people are cautious descenders, and even more cautious on mucky, wet roads. It's possible to get through a set of blocks quite quickly in those circumstances.

 

[Tynan]

I'm a big bloke with a pannier and I try to ride fast in London which means a lot of braking but a set of blocks still lasts me a couple of months, a set going in a day seems rather extreme

suppose, I certainly wouldn't set my inexpert opinion against the likes of gb

 

[Banjo]

Big thanks to GB and Frank. Pro plus seems like a good idea. I'm doing a 400 just because I haven't done one before (a 300 being my max).

My longest so far is 160 am entered in a 200 in 2 weeks which I am fairly confident about. I am allready thinking along the lines of if I can do 200 why not 300, how much of a step up did you find it?

 

[frank9755]

My longest so far is 160 am entered in a 200 in 2 weeks which I am fairly confident about. I am allready thinking along the lines of if I can do 200 why not 300, how much of a step up did you find it?

I found the biggest factor to be how comfortable my bike was. I did quite a few tweaks between my first 200 and 400, and I found the 400 to be easier. I really struggled on the 200 because of sore feet and back/shoulders and I think saddle sores too.

With any distance there will be a constraint. You have to remove that constraint (by adjusting your bike, getting fitter, whatever), but then you will run up against another one when you go a bit further - and so on.


I'm with Tynan on brake blocks. It's not that they're heavy but I can't imagine wearing out a set on a 400km unless they were worn at the start!

 

[Tynan]

perhaps you're not a nervous descender frank

 

[Greenbank]

Carrying spare brake blocks wards off the magic pixies that could ever require me needing to use them.

In other words, if I take them out of my bag then I'll somehow manage to need them on the next ride I do.

I should carry less, but I can get round with what I do carry, so I just keep on with the same old equipment bag.

 

[Banjo]

I found the biggest factor to be how comfortable my bike was. I did quite a few tweaks between my first 200 and 400, and I found the 400 to be easier. I really struggled on the 200 because of sore feet and back/shoulders and I think saddle sores too.

With any distance there will be a constraint. You have to remove that constraint (by adjusting your bike, getting fitter, whatever), but then you will run up against another one when you go a bit further - and so on.


I'm with Tynan on brake blocks. It's not that they're heavy but I can't imagine wearing out a set on a 400km unless they were worn at the start!

I live in a hilly part of the world and seem to get at least 2 to 3 thousand miles out of brake blocks/ cartridges.If doing a long ride and they were worn I would fit new ones then put the old ones back on after until they were worn right down,Couldnt be bothered carrying spare ones.

 

[Ashaman42]

I've managed to go through a set of blocks in under 300 miles so can see the logic of carrying some.

Alternatively I could stop buying cheap pads made of cheese

 

[Nuncio]

I go through (front) brake pads quickly in the Winter because - in no particular order - a) I just have the one bike, b) I use it daily for commuting (plus the odd Audax) in all weathers, c) I have a hilly commute, d) I descend like an old woman, e) I'm not light, f) I am lazy about cleaning rims and brake blocks and g) I am very much a front-brake-only braker. Having said that, I'm usually aware of what wear is left in them so don't start a ride if there's a chance that they will wear out, and to date I have never been embarrassed by Greenbank's brake pad pixie.

It doesn't matter in this case, but I wouldn't normally take any notice of advice that Ian H gives about braking. He seldom bothers with it, apparently.

 

[Greenbank]

I go through (front) brake pads quickly in the Winter because - in no particular order - a) I just have the one bike, b) I use it daily for commuting (plus the odd Audax) in all weathers, c) I have a hilly commute, d) I descend like an old woman, e) I'm not light, f) I am lazy about cleaning rims and brake blocks and g) I am very much a front-brake-only braker. Having said that, I'm usually aware of what wear is left in them so don't start a ride if there's a chance that they will wear out, and to date I have never been embarrassed by Greenbank's brake pad pixie.

+1 to all of the above AND:-

d) I descend like a scared old woman
h) I'm lazy and a cheapskate so I will start a ride with almost worn out blocks as I know I can fit the new ones during the ride because I'm carrying them (still haven't ever had to though)
i) I'm usually riding fixed, so on big descents I'm often covering the brakes to help prevent my legs falling off during prolonged periods of 180rpm+

 

[DooBlood]

My longest so far is 160 am entered in a 200 in 2 weeks which I am fairly confident about. I am allready thinking along the lines of if I can do 200 why not 300, how much of a step up did you find it?

Hi,

Have done 2 x 300k now and to be honest did find it a big step from a 200. On my first 300k I hallucinated at about the 3/4 mark but felt better after I had eaten and drank lots. The 2nd 200k was fine. I completed the first in 15 hours, the second in 16 hrs and 40 mins - maybe the faster pace on the 1st one wasn't such a good idea.

Cheers,

Doo

 

[Tynan]

'a scared old woman'

not seen the 'scared' addition before, excellent

 

[Greenbank]

"Descending like Thora Hird in a Stannah Stair Lift" is the other one.

Think I managed 175rpm for a while on yesterday's 300 but I doubt I got near the magic 200rpm, but the last 80km from Lewes up through the Ashdown Forest, Edenbridge and back to Harvel (via Jib Jacks Hill, Ide Hill, Old Terry's Lodge) took too much out of my legs to be able to enjoy the descents properly.