Charity Cycle for a New Cyclist

[Danny91]

Hello,

I am thinking of doing a charity cycle from Liverpool to Lancaster.

First of all, I have a mountain bike in my shed that could be fixed up in working order. Would this be suitable for the 50 mile journey I plan? I'm sure it has 20 odd gears and big thick tires with a suspension on the front wheel.

I am relatively fit although I have not rode a bike on a road properly. What safety precautions should be taken as I am wary about riding on roads with cars going 60mph past me.

Is it a sensible route to take or should it be reconsidered? This is the route:

Maghull to Preston: http://g.co/maps/gtnzy
Preston to Lancaster: http://g.co/maps/898wa

Also, with it being such a long ride, how do i make sure I don't get lost?

Any help is much appreciated, thank you.

 

[Theseus]

Hello,

I am thinking of doing a charity cycle from Liverpool to Lancaster.

Hello &

Will the ride be organised & supported, or just off your own bat?

First of all, I have a mountain bike in my shed that could be fixed up in working order. Would this be suitable for the 50 mile journey I plan? I'm sure it has 20 odd gears and big thick tires with a suspension on the front wheel.

It may be tough going, it will be set up for bouncing down hillsides. Big thick tyres and suspension are there to even out the bumps. On smooth roads, all they do is convert energy put into pedalling into going up and down when it should be converted into going forward.

I am relatively fit although I have not rode a bike on a road properly. What safety precautions should be taken as I am wary about riding on roads with cars going 60mph past me.

Plan a route that is not busy, wear high viz and have working lights for dark/dim conditions. Try to avaid riding in the gutter, this only encourages close overtakes. Riding a bit further out helps to get drivers to enage thier brain.

Is it a sensible route to take or should it be reconsidered? This is the route:

Maghull to Preston: http://g.co/maps/gtnzy
Preston to Lancaster: http://g.co/maps/898wa

Avoid the A roads. Make use of B and lesser roads that go towards your goal. Far less traffic and a more pleasant ride. Try to avoid steep hills unless you like them.

Also, with it being such a long ride, how do i make sure I don't get lost?

Some would suggets SatNav, personally I prefer a full set of maps and directions along with a few hours going over the route in my head several times before I go. Streetview helps to show useful landmarks at the junctions.

Any help is much appreciated, thank you.

You are welcome.

Don't forget to take plenty of fluids, energy snacks and something to replace the salt you will sweat out. Lots of drink and salts will help to avoid getting cramp.

 

[Danny91]

Thanks for a great post.

It would be of my own accord, I guess, as I am planning the route myself and will take online donations and promote it through facebook etc.

If necessary, what sort of bikes would you recommend for this journey? Would a hybrid bike suffice? I am interested in going on more so country rides on cycle paths with nice scenery - so I am trying to bear this in mind if I have to make a purchase.

Budget wise, what is the cheapest I can go to get something that won't either break or hinder my riding? I would not be after something top of the range, just something that is value for money really.

Seeing as Lancaster is quite hilly, would a mountain bike be advantageous after all or do they only benefit on bouncy surfaces?

I do have a sat nav that could be used, although I'm sure it would run out of battery a few hours into the journey.
Thanks!

 

[Nebulous]

It really depends what you want a bike for and how much use you are going to get from it. Fundraising is very difficult. You could find that you spend more money on a bike than you raise for the charity, which is fine if you use the bike, but if it then just sits in a shed you might be better allround just bunging the money to the charity.

Here's my story for what it's worth. About 4 years ago some people I know did a 4 day sponsored cycle. I had a mountain bike in my shed, rarely used and had grown bigger and bigger (okay fatter) over 20+ years until I had topped out at over 18 stone. I agreed to join them for one of the days - a 60 mile leg. I found myself a 10 mile route around town and did it no more than 10 times in a couple of months running up to it, although I did see some improvement even with that. I think I lulled mysaelf into a false sense of security that if everyone else was doing 4 days I would surely manage 1!

On the day I started well, did fine until about halfways and then blew up quite spectacularly on a huge climb - we're talking one of best known climbs around here - if it isn't in the top 100 climbs in Britain then it should be. I got to the top with some help and continued on to complete the rest of the day feeling pretty good about myself, got up really early the next day and drove for 6 hours.

So although it may not be recommended, it might well be possible to do it on your mountain bike with a bit of training in advance.

 

[JohnHenry]

Hello,

I am thinking of doing a charity cycle from Liverpool to Lancaster.

First of all, I have a mountain bike in my shed that could be fixed up in working order. Would this be suitable for the 50 mile journey I plan? I'm sure it has 20 odd gears and big thick tires with a suspension on the front wheel.

I am relatively fit although I have not rode a bike on a road properly. What safety precautions should be taken as I am wary about riding on roads with cars going 60mph past me.

Is it a sensible route to take or should it be reconsidered? This is the route:

Maghull to Preston: http://g.co/maps/gtnzy
Preston to Lancaster: http://g.co/maps/898wa

Also, with it being such a long ride, how do i make sure I don't get lost?

Any help is much appreciated, thank you.

Good for you. I started cycling again, after a twenty-five (!) year break, last year and my first challenge was the British Heart Foundation London/Brighton in June which is 56 miles. I bought a second-hand hybrid in March and started gentle rides around home, building up to 30 miles. I found it helpful to ride with others - if you haven't ridden for a while the encouragement is invaluable and also, should you fall off or have a mishap, there is some support available. We have some National Cycle Routes near us where you can practice with no traffic on old railway lines and such which I love. I did try Ditchling Beacon (which is a nasty hill in my opinion) as part of my training and nearly gave up after it (I had a "bonking" episode because I hadn't eaten or drunk enough before it) but carried on. Very glad I did - loved the day of the ride and raised over £1,500 which gave me a buzz. I then went on to do a 75 mile off-road ride (again organised by the BHF) from Roehampton to Hove in September on the hybrid and wished I was on a mountain bike as the tyres were not up to the terrain.
I think I would try to be part of an organised ride to start with - being 25 miles from home with no backup is a lonely place to be and using a mountain bike on road (although many do it) is making things harder than they need to be. + 1 to the advice on keeping out of the gutter plus lights and a hi-vis. Best of luck

 

[Danny91]

How did you find buying a second hand hybrid? Was it something like gumtree and what must be looked out for when doing this? This would be a good way of me getting a decent bike - I'm not fussed about it being new! My dad knows a bit about bikes so I could do it up with him if there are any obvious problems.

 

[Scoosh]

It has been mentioned about proper 'fuelling' - eating and drinking during the ride.

You should aim to be drinking a mouthful (quick swig from your bottle) about every 15-20 mins** and having a bite to eat every hour. This will not be easy to do (exercise diminishes appetite), so will require practice when you are out training .

Have something more substantial to eat every 2-21/2 hrs, when you will be needing to refill your water bottles anyway. Repeat until finished the ride.

Be wary of the various gels, bars and other products on the market: make sure you have tried them beforehand (during training), so you know you and your system can tolerate them. = !


** this is not nearly as easy as it sounds - I have to keep a close eye on the time to ensure I take the swig, even more so after the first hour. I use plain water on first bottle; electrolyte in second; plain in third etc . A fizzy drink (Irn Bru , Lucozade etc can be a good choice after a couple of hours)

 

[Danny91]

Didn't think of that, thanks! Surely if you drink that much though it's going to have consequences... toilet breaks every 15 mins?!

 

[snorri]

You don't say when you intend to do your charity run, but it would ease your pain on the day if you break yourself in gently to this cycling lark.
Once you have got a roadworthy bike, get out on it as often as you can for short trips, say 20-30 mimutes at a time, don't keep going until exhausted. You will gradually discover you can stay on the bike longer without becoming tired or sore.
Don't worry about your speed, just get the time in on the bike.

 

[the snail]

Ditch the knobbly tyres and put some road tyres on and you'll be fine. You might not be quick, but it'll get you there, and the low gears should get you up the hills nicely. As far as back-up goes, take a mobile and basic tools/inner tubes, and if you've got someone to come and pick you up then you should be ok. If you do regular weekly rides and build up the mileages you'll be able to do 50 miles no trouble, maybe after a few weeks - it's not as hard as you might think. In fact before long you might want to be a bit more ambitious!

 

[rollinstok]

Hi from another newbie. If you are looking to buy a used bike off online sites like ebay or gumtree etc ( check preloved as well ) look at those that are nearest to you and, if interested, take a friend who could check the bike over for you. I have completed many a tour in the past with a mountain bike but would recommend at least to put some road tyres on it as others have suggested. A hybrid would definitely make things easier for you. A road bike would make things easier still..the downside of a road bike is they are not suitable for many of the trails that are available to ride nowadays.

 

[Danny91]

I think if anything I would look at a hybrid bike - although when you say new tyres does anyone have a link to a new tyre that would be suitable so I can price it up?

Also any models to look out for? If I could get a decent hybrid for under £150 I'd be made up