Advice for my first long distance ride

[littledan77]

Hi All,
I've just joined this forum and I'm looking forward to all the advice you can give me regarding my up-coming ride. I'm cycling from Edinburgh to Paris at the end of may and I was hoping to get some tips from people who've cycled that kind of distance before. As this will be my first long distance ride I was hoping to get those all important insider tips on things like avoiding injury, keeping up the stamina levels and, of course, what's essential for dealing with mechanical problems.
As you can see, I'm totally new to this so all advice is good advice

I look forward to hearing from you

(the link below is my blog of the event I'm planning on doing)
http://edinburghtoparis.blogspot.com

 

[snorri]

There's a heck of a lot to read in that blog, and I couldn't be bothered to read it all, but it would be good idea to lay off the beer until your first night on the road.
Will you be camping, hostelling or staying in hotels? Have you got a bicycle? have you toured before? Do you have a passport? Perhaps you should have posted in the Touring and Expedition section, unless you are having someone follow you in a car
We need more info. before we can give advice.

PS You will manage it no bother.

 

[littledan77]

Hi Snorri,
thanks for responding so quickly. I know there is a lot in that blog so I'll give you a brief outline of the plan.

• I'm going to do this solo. No one will be following me in a car (unless I pick up a few bike spotters on the way)
• For accommodation, I'm going to be couch surfing so I'll have houses to stay in on the route.
• I have a bike, It's not a road racing bike, it is a mountain bike with slick tires and is up to the job of cycling that distance. It is a bike I've been using for a year now and I am very comfortable with it.
• I have never toured before
• I do have a passport, I've booked the ferry from newhaven to dieppe for the outgoing trip and a flight from CDG back (any info on taking bikes on planes would be great)
• The route will be (roughly) day 1 Edinburgh to York, day 2 York to Bedford, day 3 Bedford to Newhaven and day 4 Dieppe to Paris assuming all goes well. It is a route that gets progressively shorter each day. Something I think will help

There is one thing that I would be greatful if anyone knows the answer to. I know about dynamos for lights but is there a similar device for powering/charging other electrical devices. The donations I'm recieving for the charity are for bad songs that I have to listen on the way to Paris. If I could keep a charge on my PDA then I could use it for the songs and updating my blog en route to paris.

 

[wyno70]

The first and second days mileages look seriously ambitious to me. Wouldn't that work out at a first day of 200 miles, followed by a second day of 150 miles???

Are these consecutive days or are you having a rest.

I'm assuming you know you can cover this mileage comfortably in a day? Only reason I say that is day 1 is (my guess) at least 13 hours in the saddle, obviously you'll need to allow time for a break.

Good luck, I'm thinking I'd need it if I was taking that on!!!

 

[Crackle]

What distances are you cycling now? Rule of thumb is you can manage in a day what you ride in a week if you build up to it. Stringing several of those days together requires a bit more effort again. Of course you can always do one-offs and there are always people who seem to manage the impossible - are you one of them?

 

[littledan77]

Hi guys

You are right, the first two days are very ambitious. I am confident that I can do it and I am under no illusion that it will be hellish too. I'm 100% determined to do the distance, I think mental stamina is as important in this as physical stamina.
I have build up rides for preparation and I have considered plans should day one/two be too much for me.

Does anyone have any good tips on avoiding injury, i.e. tendon/ankle strain, dehydration, even (and importantly) a sore bum?

@User3143 - I can see where you are coming from on that. When I say I'm totally new to this I really mean I'm totally new to a huge distance like 700 miles, I am physically fit enough for long bike rides and a seasoned enough cycler to have developed the right muscles in the right places

 

[speccy1]

Good for you littledan if you can do it, but I`ve been well into cycling for 5/6 years now and there`s no way I could do 200 miles in one day. I did my first ton a fortnight ago and that was a long hard slog (but it is very hilly here in Devon) which took me 8 1/2 hours. Could I have started again and repeated the whole thing.......never!!!!

Best of luck anyway and I hope you do well

 

[littledan77]

Hi Crackle
I'm cycling between 100 and 150 km a week at the moment, will be building that up considerably in the coming weeks

... and yes I am one of those people that seem to mange the impossible against the odds (though I'm not relying on that type of luck this time. I'm really preparing for this one!)

 

[littledan77]

What is the longest ride you have ever done in one day?

so far 53 miles but it wasn't a training session just a jaunt.

 

[littledan77]

having seen some of your responses I might have a look at reducing the first day, no need to kill myself is there

 

[littledan77]

and you want to do 200 in 8 weeks time? pain suffered goes up exponentially after about 120-130 miles. As for doing yourself an injury-this is the best way doing a distance that is way way to long.

Thanks for the concern, and the advice. Clearly I need to do some serious long rides to discover if I have the ability to do what I've set out to do. I am determined but not irresponsible. If adjustments need to be made then they will be.

 

[wyno70]

My advice would be to get out on a 100 mile ride ASAP so that you can see what is involved. If you get through it okay, then I'd either go further or try 100 mile rides on consecutive days.

There is a big big difference between doing 53 miles and the kind of distances you are talking about. As you say, 53 miles can be a 'jaunt', however, doing 350 miles in 2 days is going to be the quickest way you can imagine to get an injury.

Saddle soreness . . . . . . well thats all part of the training. Whatever you do, on a ride like you are planning, your arse is going to hurt. Get some seriously good shorts and a saddle that you know you can ride in all day.

What I'm saying is that there is no quick way round this, or easy way of doing what you are planning. You have to get out there and see if you can hack it. Then you'll find out if what you are planning is achievable.

 

[bonj2]

don't even think about doing it without getting a brooks saddle. they rule.

 

[Crackle]

Hi Crackle
I'm cycling between 100 and 150 km a week at the moment, will be building that up considerably in the coming weeks

... and yes I am one of those people that seem to mange the impossible against the odds (though I'm not relying on that type of luck this time. I'm really preparing for this one!)

Well if you've got a good base you can build on quickly then you should be OK. People do ride very long distances, 200/300/600k audaxes but probably don't repeat it again the next day, which you will. Best way to avoid injury is for your body to be used to those distances.

Do you have kit. I'd say cycling shoes and shorts are essential, a comfy saddle and look up how to treat saddle sores. Make sure your bike position is good, tweak it now. A wrong position will show itself on a longer ride and a sore knee could put paid to your attempt.

 

[Crackle]

don't even think about doing it without getting a brooks saddle. they rule.

Bonj, is that you, are you feeling OK?