Aftermath of 100mile cycle attempt...

[del]

So i was supposed to cycle a rather ambitious 100miles yesterday with a mate.

We picked up our Surly LHT (such an amazing bike!) and had google mapped our route avoiding A roads.

Well we got lost, back tracked our route, got lost some more, cycled and got lost some more, before deciding about 6pm that the A roads was probably a good idea as at least these would have sign posts compared to some of the country lanes which had no signs!!

So eventually after sticking to a roads and b roads we made some progess in the last few hours of daylight and ended up in ipswich where we got the train.

We were quite badly prepared in terms of physical training, as i had pulled my hamstring twice in the last month so my cardio was non existent.

However, i worked it out today and we did around 65miles! and although we failed to hit the 100mark, 65 wasnt too bad considering the hellish wind and lack of fitness...

Although it did come at a cost, my bum is sooooooo sore! it was agony sitting down on it after 3 hours of cycling, let alone 10. We had quite heavy backpacks which caused some shoulder pain, but i was prepared for worse, same with the neck, i thought it would be aching more. I didnt however expect my quads to be in such a state, im guessing it was the lactic acid build up causing the burning, hurting and ceasing up.

So in summary it was a good reality check, a very steep learning curve and overall pretty much a nightmare full of torture! but strangely i feel an urge to jump back on my surly and cycle some more... just not today

 

[lulubel]

Sounds painful! How far had you cycled in the build up?

 

[apollo179]

Thanks for posting - makes me feel better about my own limitations. I do find i spend half my time checking maps if i go off main roads. Just the other day i found myself struggling through thick undergrowth to a dead end under the m25. I managed to get back to the proper track and discovered that it veers of without warning on a 90 degree tangent. Not "too bad considering the hellish wind and lack of fitness" is about right.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

So i was supposed to cycle a rather ambitious 100miles yesterday with a mate.

We picked up our Surly LHT (such an amazing bike!) and had google mapped our route avoiding A roads.

Well we got lost, back tracked our route, got lost some more, cycled and got lost some more, before deciding about 6pm that the A roads was probably a good idea as at least these would have sign posts compared to some of the country lanes which had no signs!!

So eventually after sticking to a roads and b roads we made some progess in the last few hours of daylight and ended up in ipswich where we got the train.

We were quite badly prepared in terms of physical training, as i had pulled my hamstring twice in the last month so my cardio was non existent.

However, i worked it out today and we did around 65miles! and although we failed to hit the 100mark, 65 wasnt too bad considering the hellish wind and lack of fitness...

Although it did come at a cost, my bum is sooooooo sore! it was agony sitting down on it after 3 hours of cycling, let alone 10. We had quite heavy backpacks which caused some shoulder pain, but i was prepared for worse, same with the neck, i thought it would be aching more. I didnt however expect my quads to be in such a state, im guessing it was the lactic acid build up causing the burning, hurting and ceasing up.

So in summary it was a good reality check, a very steep learning curve and overall pretty much a nightmare full of torture! but strangely i feel an urge to jump back on my surly and cycle some more... just not today

Directions? What are they? When on the roads I either ride on A roads or make sure I ride with somebody with a good sense of direction . When doing my MTB Tech Leaders Course I was pleased to be able triangulate my location to 200 yards. Sadly the required accuracy was 10 yards (I failed the course BTW!!)

 

[Globalti]

Why the heavy backpacks?

 

[monnet]

65 miles is a good start. Sounds like you need to build up your distance a bit more steadily. 100 miles is quite a distance and you have to be pretty fit to just go out and ride it straight off. A bit more base training and you'll soon find it much easier to pace yourself.
One thing that will help in future, I would guess, is to ditch the back packs. A cycling jersey with 3 back pockets should carry your food, money and phone. A wedge pack under your saddle will take care of spare tubes and other tools for minor repairs and two bidons on the frame (which can be refilled en route if necessary) takes care of liquid.

You shouldn't need a heavy back pack for a days cycling. If you are someone who likes to have all eventualities covered, think about using panniers instead. But really, for a days cycling more experience will teach you that it's surprising how little you need to take.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

65 miles is a good start. Sounds like you need to build up your distance a bit more steadily. 100 miles is quite a distance and you have to be pretty fit to just go out and ride it straight off. A bit more base training and you'll soon find it much easier to pace yourself.
One thing that will help in future, I would guess, is to ditch the back packs. A cycling jersey with 3 back pockets should carry your food, money and phone. A wedge pack under your saddle will take care of spare tubes and other tools for minor repairs and two bidons on the frame (which can be refilled en route if necessary) takes care of liquid.

You shouldn't need a heavy back pack for a days cycling. If you are someone who likes to have all eventualities covered, think about using panniers instead. But really, for a days cycling more experience will teach you that it's surprising how little you need to take.

I wonder if the OP is a MTBer like me. We tend to prepare for all eventualities with what we carry in out backpacks! I will find it hard to pare down my kit I must admit.

 

[Hip Priest]

That's pretty good going I'd say. I've just done 13 miles and I'm f....lippin' knackered.

 

[sdr gb]

Look on the bright side, you rode over 100km (65miles=104km). So in a way, you still managed a century ride

.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Look on the bright side, you rode over 100km (65miles=104km). So in a way, you still managed a century ride

.

That's a great way of looking at it

 

[Baggy]

We picked up our Surly LHT (such an amazing bike!) and had google mapped our route avoiding A roads.

Although it did come at a cost, my bum is sooooooo sore! it was agony sitting down on it after 3 hours of cycling, let alone 10. We had quite heavy backpacks which caused some shoulder pain, but i was prepared for worse, same with the neck, i thought it would be aching more. I didnt however expect my quads to be in such a state, im guessing it was the lactic acid build up causing the burning, hurting and ceasing up.

From your ealier posts it looks as if this was the first time you'd ever ridden your LHT - so I take my hat off to you for riding that far on a new bike!

If you've not got much bike-fitness at the moment that's one of the main reasons your quads will be aching and as your fitness increases the aches will get less. As it's a new bike it may be that your position needs a few tweaks (saddle possibly too low?) but hopefully the shop helped you with your set-up before you left.

And if it's a Brooks saddle you've got on there, am impressed you managed to sit on it for 5 mins, let alone 10 hours! Did you have padded shorts?

 

[gbb]

Look on the bright side, you rode over 100km (65miles=104km). So in a way, you still managed a century ride

.

Bugger, you beat me to it. I liked the idea i'd done a 100, even if it was kms..it's still a good achievement. Well done Del

 

[Cyclopathic]

Look on the bright side, you rode over 100km (65miles=104km). So in a way, you still managed a century ride

.

Excellent, so the 100 metres I rode to the shop counts for something.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Excellent, so the 100 metres I rode to the shop counts for something.

LMAO

 

[Alembicbassman]

I did 90 on my road bike last Sunday in the hot weather, drank 3 litres of water, never peed in 5 and a bit hours of cycling

I travelled light.

9kg bike plus 2 spare tubes, phone, pump, trye levers and cash

1.5 litres water (bought fresh water on ride), packet of Jelly Babies, glucose tablets.

Went OK, averaged 17.5 (up to 43 mph down Markham Moor) mostly on the main A57 in Notts Lincs, scary but quick.