Any tips/advice

[aerobrain]

Hi

I'm just about to start training for the Ride London 100 mile ride in August. I do spinning once/twice a week and have recently done a half marathon so I'm reasonably fit but I've never done any proper road cycling. I've just ordered the following from my local bike shop:

Specialized Allez Elite
Shoes/pedals
Bib shorts and bib tights
WIndproof jacket
Water/wind proof gloves
Mini tool kit
Bottles and cages
Pump
Computer

I've already got a helmet. Any advice on other essential kit or comments on the above and also any tips on how to go about training or general advice for doing long road rides would be massively appreciated!! Lookign forward to getting into the riding but also feel like a bit of a clueless numpty!!!

Cheers

Lee

 

[Nosaj]

Spare inner tubes/puncture repair kit (repair the puntured tubes at home) and maybe a saddle bag to put it all in.

Training wise literally just get out and ride at this stage, there is no need to overthink it just yet, look to build up your mileage gradually (10% extra each week), find a local loop. As you have a specific goal I would highly recommend joining a local club, tell them your aspirations and join in on their rides.

Good luck

 

[Phoenix Lincs]

You should have had email newsletters from ride100. If not, message me so I can forward you the ones I've got. Lots of useful info contained in them.

 

[aerobrain]

You should have had email newsletters from ride100. If not, message me so I can forward you the ones I've got. Lots of useful info contained in them.

Yeah been getting those ta, like you say some useful tips!!

Have you done many of these types of events?

 

[Phoenix Lincs]

Nope
First biggie! Scarey but a but exciting

 

[Phoenix Lincs]

Sorry. Excuse typo. Scared but a BIT exciting

 

[aerobrain]

Yeah I have no idea how big a challenge it is but I'm looking forward to it!

 

[Iain M Norman]

The training plans in the magazine are a great place to start. 100 miles is a long way if you've never done anything of the sort. But it's perfectly doable by many people if you work up to it.

An important thing to learn is how to fuel yourself, as doing that distance at speed will drain the fuel in your muscles and you will have to be replacing it as you go or you will bonk.

So try to incorporate learning about how your body demands and responds to fueling as you increase your training distances. Find an energy drink that enjoy and your body gets on with, perhaps the same for some bars or gels. There will be food provided at the Pru RideLondon 100, but it's always worth taking some backup, certainly if you know it's something your body already gets on with.

The biggest problem might be the time limit, as the professional race is coming through afterwards. This means they will clear you off the road if you're behind their schedule.

If you've left at the latest, 8am, then you've only got till 5pm to finish I think it is. So 9 hours to do 160km gives an minimum average of 18km/h ( Say 12mph ). It's actually quite achievable, but I certainly wouldn't be making any long stops anywhere.

What's the furthest you guys have ridden so far?

 

[Phoenix Lincs]

My furthest so far is 42.54 miles at average 13.3 mph. I did 40 at the weekend at the Wiggle but my mph was appalling as I was fighting the wind and rain but still did it

 

[Kies]

My furthest so far is 42.54 miles at average 13.3 mph. I did 40 at the weekend at the Wiggle but my mph was appalling as I was fighting the wind and rain but still did it

Keep riding.Your average speed will increase soon enough. Try and ride with experienced riders,you will learn so much about road riding,gears & cadence (how fast you spin those pedals)

 

[aerobrain]

My longest was just over 40 miles last sumnmer at about 11mph but that was on a hard tail mountain bike with some stops and I wasn't in training at the time so hopefully with the new bike and coming off the back of my half marathon training doing it in the 9 hours should be doable. I'd just like to see if I can do it a bit quicker.

 

[Iain M Norman]

Kies is right, riding with other people is something that is worth getting used to. Also on the day you can find your average will be up from normal if you find a faster then normal group to tag onto. There will be 25,000 riders after all.

I was fighting the wind and rain...

Hopefully we won't be facing that in August! Fingers crossed. Although look at the weather the woman had for their road race in the Olympics. Ugh.

My longest was just over 40 miles last sumnmer at about 11mph but that was on a hard tail mountain bike.

The Allez is gonna roll you along faster than that to be sure.

Both of you have anyone to ride with?

 

[aerobrain]

I've got a couple of people who've said they go out but seems they're fair weather riders so haven't started going out yet. I'm picking up my jackect and tights this weekend so I'll be ready to tackle the cold weather :-) I've mapped out a 26 mile route so far that's got some hills in it. I'll probably start with that and some shorter faster routes for now then look to extend them in a month or so.

 

[Iain M Norman]

I've got a couple of people who've said they go out but.

A friendly local club could be worth investigating. They do vary in friendliness. They usually come in two types, those that will wait for newbies and those that don't give a monkey's rectum and leave you were you were dropped. Look for a club that has multiple level rides and join the slowest, then work your way up as your average speed naturally increases.

You'll learn lots about group riding in an old school club. How to follow a wheel, hand signals, various shouts and warnings and all that.

I'd go for a ride with some local clubs and see which one you like best. Clubs are mostly very welcoming and friendly.

Both Fenland Clarion and Peterborough CC look worth checking out, they say they have beginner rides.

 

[aerobrain]

That's great!! Thanks for that, I'll check them out!! :-)