From 0 to 52 miles. Help!!!

[paulds]

In around 2 months time I have a 52 mile ride to complete.....

Currently I am of less than average fitness, I don't even have a bike and I have a very low budget to get one (hello ebay).

In my favour are a gym membership and the fact I WILL DO THIS.

If anyone could throw in some training and nutrition advice, I would really appreciate it.

 

[Zoiders]

If it's more of a social ride then you don't have to reach that figure as you can almost double your range on an all day ride if you are going below your normal comfortable pace.

 

[format]

Get hold of a bike and cycle as much as possible. If it's a casual ride then fitness doesn't matter too much but getting your arse used to being on a bike seat does!

 

[aberal]

Start with a ride of 10 miles then up it by 5 miles at a time on a weekly basis, but factor in some shorter mid week rides. 8 weeks will get you to around 50 or so.

But lack of bike seems a fundamental drawback. Make sure you buy a road bike, not a mountain bike with full suspension. Make sure it fits properly - work out your size in advance, preferably by visiting a local bike shop and get them to set you up. Buying on ebay doesn't sound like a good idea, given your time frame. I'd suggest that you buy a decent budget bike from your LBS. I appreciate that budget is an issue, but if you do some homework, then a half decent bike will last you years.

 

[ramses]

Wow, 2 months.

Well you need to build your distance up and not just go full steam ahead into really long rides.
Perhaps start with a 10 miler and see how you get on, and slowly build up from here.

I personally wouldn't worry about achieving the exact distance in training, try to get to 40 - 45 miles and you should be ok. Also I would avoid a long ride the week before. If you have achieved say 40 miles, then the week before go for about 25 miles.

On the day of an event, adrenaline and your attitude of I will do this will get you to the finish line.

Make sure you fuel yourself properly, carb load, so eating pasta and all the usual stuff. Get some fuel drinks, SIS do some good drinks that will give you a good boost and help you along the way.

Normally when I train I don't fuel my body as much as I do on an event, this is for a reason, it builds endurance and programmes the body to operate on less, then when you do give it that extra boost on event day, you have more than enough in the tank. However as you only have 2 months you might need to fuel yourself a little more.

Above all else, get on the bike asap try and get out a couple of times a week to eek out the distance, but keep it regular and just keep cycling. It will come to you.

52 miles? is this London to Brighton by chance?

 

[snorri]

If anyone could throw in some training and nutrition advice, I would really appreciate it.

After getting a bike you will need to take some time to get it set up to your requirements. Small seat adjustments can make all the difference beteen pain and pleasure on the road.
Get out on a bike at every opportunity, at least daily, twice a day if possible, even if you are only out for 20-30 minutes. Don't push the mileages, as this could result in aches and pains which will perhaps keep you off the bike for a day or two.
After a few weeks you will find you can cycle longer and further without pains and without being exhausted.
Regarding the 52 mile day, that could be broken down to 21 miles in the morning and 31 in the afternoon,sounds easier that way!
Normal healthy eating should get you through OK, make sure you carry water to drink before you feel thirsty, a banana and jam and cheesy pieces can be good for an energy boost out on the road.

 

[buggi]

my boss has just done a 50 mile ride and he said his ass hurt! that was his main concern. so whatever bike you buy, make sure you get a nice new saddle to fit you!

other than that, as said, start off with a small distance and build up 5 miles a week. You could even start with 5 miles if you want. If you can do 30 mile before the day, you can do 50 mile on the day. As said you can almost double your furthest distance if you ride a bit slower than normal.

if the ride is on the road, as said, make sure you get a road bike or a city type/hybrid with skinny road tyres. If it's off road, you'll need a mountain bike, and if it's on and off road (ie. canal paths, bridal ways) you'll need a city type/hybrid or cross bike (looks like a road bike but with straight handlebars and fatter knobblier tyres than a road bike would have)

try and get some hill work in. if you're doing 50 miles at some point you're going to meet a hill.

 

[StuartG]

Pump up your tyres! Amazing how much energy you waste otherwise. Get a track pump (from £5 at Lidl/Aldi to £20 at Evans). Best value accessory you can buy. Max pressure will be stamped on tyre. I put in about 80% of that. Less chance of puncture on the road.

Downside is it makes the ride harder so your bum will be an issue as you haven't time to break in your saddle fully. Just make sure it is a good one, the height is right and you are fairly comfortable before you start. May be worth some padded shorts!

Clothing can make a real difference over 20 miles. Lycra is worth it to eliminate friction. And watch your cadence. Not too fast or slow. Use your gears to keep it fairly constant. Oh and get a computer so you know how far you have gone and how fast. At this stage max out at 10/12 mph.

You may find building up to 10 miles is harder than moving up from there to 50. Be very gentle at the start. Stop as soon as anything aches. Then next time aim to go just a little further. The body takes a little time to adapt to the new type of exercise. Then you can push it. But if you overdo at the start then you can be carrying an ache that will make further progress hard and painful. Somewhere along the line you will find the extra mileage is much easier. 50 miles in 2 months is`quite a target. But 100 in a year will be easier if you continue ...

 

[Beebo]

fitness doesn't matter too much but getting your arse used to being on a bike seat does!

+1

IMO Most people could cycle a causual paced 50 miles in a day with very little training especially if you already go to the gym.

The first thing to hurt will be your bum, there is nothing more painful to a novice than stopping after 20 miles for refreshments and then getting back in the saddle with 30 miles to go. So make sure you have broken in your bum with a few good training rides. I made this mistake a few years ago my legs would have carried me faster but the final 20 miles felt like I was sitting on a red hot poker!!

 

[Paul_L]

Cancel your gym membership which will save you what, £40 / month?

Find a LBS which sells bikes on 0% finance.

Buy a nice bike in the order of £500, and you'll pay for it over 12 months.

You'll have a new toy to play with over the summer months, which will make building upto 52 a joy and a pleasure.

Simples.

 

[Norm]

I'm 47 years old, weigh nearly 125kg and I'm a long way from average fitness, but I did 64 miles off road 2 weeks ago having not done anything more than 20-25 miles in about 6 months. The only thing I'd recommend is, as a few have already said, get a comfortable saddle. (BTW, comfortable doesn't mean soft! Comfortable and soft are usually mutually exclusive if you spend more than about 30 minutes riding.)

Drink lots, then drink more, and take your time. Plan on 8-10mph average and you'll probably be pleasantly surprised at how far and fast you can travel.

 

[ian turner]

What is the nature of this journey ?
Why did you agree to do it ?

Okay scratch the first question. According to your other post

I haven't cycled for around 20 years now and have just signed up to do the 52
mile London Bikeathon in 2 months.

. So that's 26th of June. So why did you agree to the longest distance (just out of curiosity)


Now about that low budget. Might be a good idea to mention how low as Decathlon might be
within range and diving into ebay and buying a bike with no knowledge may be somewhat risky.

 

[paulds]

Thanks for te replies guys.

To clear a few points up; The ride is the London Bikeathon, the reason for opting for the longest distance is it will hopefully generate more sponsorship and I love a challenge.

I have chosen a road bike, it isn't new or flash but it is functional.

10 years ago I finished the London to Brighton in 4hrs 30 with very little training but that was 10 years ago.

As soon as I have the bike I will start weekly long rides as well as hitting the bike in the gym in the morning for an hour a day and throwing in heavy leg weights twice a week.

I dont just want to finish this ride, I want to finish well and make as much money for Charity in the process.

Thanks again folks

 

[BrumJim]

Suggest at least 3-weekly rides given the weather at the moment. Two on a weekend, and one mid-week. Make one of the weekend rides a long one (longest ever tried, stepping up the distance gradually), and the two other ones as shorter, noticing how they don't seem as long now that you are getting fitter.

You will need to fuel for 52 miles. Carry plenty of water and some nibbles, but stop for a good bite (e.g. big slice of cake, bacon buttie at 30 miles max.

Enjoy yourself.

 

[exbfb]

I'm doing something similar in June.
56 miles for Marie Curie cancer care.

My approach so far has been to be pretty much obsessive about it.
I'm not covering huge distances yet, but as I know how long my particular ride is due to take, I'm making sure I'm good for the various chunks of the day rather than seeing the 56 miles as One Big Mountain.

On the basis that the pace of our day is a sub 10mph average on a predominantly flat course, I'm training for 15mph with hills.
Read on, it'll make sense - I hope.

I do a bit of commuting every day and it's not long distance, so I hammer the easy outwards route and aim for speed, that's my own way of getting the muscles used to a bit of that.
I can't make the route longer than it is and don't see the point in toddling along gaining nothing from it so I go flat out.
On the way home, I am for consistently acheivable pace on the hills back home.
I don't aim for anything other than a pace I can keep up, I'm pleased to have worked up a first class sweat on the way home. Totally different to my outwards journey.

I'm a very very low standard cyclist, so my average is around 14.9mph for my 12 mile Saurday or Sunday circular route. That involves a bit of hills and I do it in a bit under an hour.
My own challenge in June involves lower speed and less hills.
I'm hoping that make it much less of a big deal than what I'm doing in training for it.

All the best with your event, remember and enjoy it.

I hope at least some of the above made sense.

P.S. I would gladly welcome correction on anything I've said if I'm doing it wrong.