Planning my first cycling event and I need your help!!!!

[Manonabike]

I'm entering the London 2 Bournemouth - 118 miles ride to take place in July.

I know nothing about this type of events. I guess what I see on TV is nothing like these amateurs events so I need some information so I can prepare properly.

I have already made some decisions on how I will tackle this ride.

I have never ridden in a group and I guess that takes practice so, I will start right at the back and avoid riding in groups..... I'm not interested in learning to ride in a group either - this event will probably be my first and last, I'm just challenging myself to do this one.

I'm not concerned about how long it takes me, I just want to finish - the last rider last year came after 13 hours.... it would be nice to come before that but I'm not that bothered.

Training: I have been riding a few times a week for the last 2 - 3 years between 15 and 25 miles. Over the last 3 weeks I have been doing a few longer rides, 32, 52, 55 and 47 miles, as well as the other 15 to 25 miles that I usually do. The good news is that my stamina is OK for those longer rides, I feel I could go on for quite a bit longer ( I don't push myself too hard though ) the bad news is that after the 30 - 35 miles mark I begin to suffer from neckache, however, I think it's getting better (the first time I did over 50 I had a lot of pain but the last time it was probably 1/2 the pain) - I think my upper body is quite stiff so I need to do some exercise as well. Also, I must not forget that I'm 51 and not very sporty

In the longer rides I have been trying to put into practice what I have learnt from other people here on refuelling frequently. I had the bad habit that I would only drink when I stopped and that meant that I probably did 15 miles before I had a drink.... I'm trying to do it more frequently now but I still find it difficult to remember when I am riding in busy streets. The food intake is another thing, I can probably go the first 30 or 35 miles with no food then I have something like a bar of cereal BUT from that point I feel that I need more food every 2 miles - Is that always the case?

Now, things that I'm wondering about and you might be able to help:

1.- Do I need to ride 118 miles before I do the ride in July? I had planned to train so I could ride say 90 miles reasonably comfortable and on the day I could go the extra 28 miles. However, I'd like to make sure.

2.- Will I need a map or a device with GPS on the ride? - I don't want to get lost and end up somewhere in Paris - organisers say the route will be signposted but one could easily miss a sign.... besides, I expect to be riding alone, right at the back .

3.- What should I take with me on the ride, other than the obvious tubes, pump, patches, multitool ... my inhaler. The ride organisers say there will be mechanics available so can anybody elaborate on what they mean by that on a ride of this type? I'm pretty sure they won't fit a chain or a wheel if you don't have a spare one with you....

4.- am I supposed to carry enough water between water stations or you get water, as seen on TV , from the organisers as you ride?

5.- What happens if you have a serious brakedown - something that cannot be repaired.... will there be somebody to pick you up with your bike and all?


Will ask more questions later but if you have any tips please, help me out.


Thanks in advance

 

[rich p]

Eating every 2 miles is unusual! Every half hour maybe after 30 miles but I don't eat that much myself.

1. I wouldn't feel it necessary to do the full distance in training. Extend the length and expended effort in your training runs up to 75 m perhaps and rely on adrenaline and stamina on the day. Train as much as you can though as it's a substantial distance.

2. A map would be useful just in case.

3. You can't carry a spare wheel! Rely on making sure your bike is in tip top shape before you start is best advice. Other possible things are a chain tool, spoke key, boot and powerlink. All lightweight.

4. I don't think you'll have a Skoda handing out bidons so I'd carry 2 bottles and top up from shops, taps and feed stops.

5. No idea! Find out from the organisers or hope for the best. Life's a risk!

I'm sure others will have better and conflicting advice!

Good luck.

 

[Manonabike]

Thanks Rich_P, some pretty useful tips there, carrying a chain tool it's a very good idea.

Isn't an extra 43 miles on the day a bit too much to ask? :-) I will aim for the 90 I had originally planned but in the knowledge that a comfortable 75 miles is still OK. I will also include more hills in my training.


Thanks again rich_p

 

[Arch]

Thanks Rich_P, some pretty useful tips there, carrying a chain tool it's a very good idea.

Isn't an extra 43 miles on the day a bit too much to ask? :-) I will aim for the 90 I had originally planned but in the knowledge that a comfortable 75 miles is still OK. I will also include more hills in my training.


Thanks again rich_p

I went from 70 to 100, thats almost a 50% increase. (Ok, I was wrecked at the end of the 100, but I did it alone. Being in a group, or even a pair, makes a bit difference).

Your 90 mile target sounds good - although you could probably get away with less. But go for it, after all, your 90 milers won't be 'wasted'.


Oh, and on the food every two miles - I could probably manage that, but I'd end up fatter after my rides than before.... Just have plenty of snacks to hand - a bag of nuts and raisins, some cereal bars, some chocolate. The chocolate probably isn't strictly tip top dietary advice, but hell, sometimes you just need some! A little of something you really like gives you a psychological boost.

 

[rich p]

Moab, the more the merrier if you have time to do it in terms of mileage. Build up to it though rather than kill yourself for the number 90. It's training over shorter distances that'll get you to 118m not the fact that you once wiped yourself out on a 90.
Good luck!

 

[Manonabike]

Thanks for the help and support guys.


Interesting point made by rich_p "t's training over shorter distances that'll get you to 118m not the fact that you once wiped yourself out on a 90."

I had always planned to build up the miles gradually, ideally in 10% increments. Hopefully I can overcome the neck pain or learn to cope with it or alleviate it gradually.

I'm very fortunate that I live in an area where I can do about 12 miles with no motor vehicles to worry about, however that sense of security is probing to be a barrier for my training now. Whenever I go on the road for longer rides I spend most of the time riding tense for fear of cars driving too close and too fast. Is this something one can get used to and with time learns to relax?

While I'm on the subject of road riding I have two more questions to ask.....

1.- On some roads I find lost of debris by the side of he road. Am I wrong by riding a little bit on the inside, just enough to avoid punctures with all that debris?

2.- On some routes I find that road gutters are really a nuisance to negotiate. I think it's more dangerous riding in and out so I try to hold a line that is enough to negotiate the road gutters... that way, cars riding behind me are not surprised by me suddenly going inside by a foot while attempting to negotiate a single road gutter. Is that how is done or I'm doing it totally wrong?

Thanks in advance

 

[HLaB]

Mano, it sounds like you are riding to close to the kerb. IMO riding further out (say about 1m, google the secondary position) you'll avoid this cr@p, it makes you more visible and it'll give you more space/ time if you have to suddenly react to something.

 

[Norm]

+1 to that.

I usually ride in the nearside tyre tracks of the cars. I posted some pics a few days ago and haven't had any criticism (yet ) so I think this is what's meant by secondary...



I'm a bit further out in this one, to give myself room at the gates and avoid the solid metal strip, but this is closer to "primary" position, in the middle of the lane.

 

[Manonabike]

Point taken and I will be riding in secondary position 1m from the kerb. That really makes things easier for me. What is the strategy on roads where maximum speed is 40 or even 50 m/h? On these type of roads it might perhaps be too dangerous to ride 1m from the kerb.

 

[Tigerbiten]

Point taken and I will be riding in secondary position 1m from the kerb. That really makes things easier for me. What is the strategy on roads where maximum speed is 40 or even 50 m/h? On these type of roads it might perhaps be too dangerous to ride 1m from the kerb.

Its safer to ride slightly further out on fast roads.

If theres traffic coming the other way and you are in the gutter, then a car from behind might only need to pull out 6" and do a very close overtake to get passed.
A car behind might not notice this slight diversion and you catch him/her by suprise and get an even closer overtake.

If your 1 meter out the car from behind needs to pull at least that far out to overtake you.
Depending on the width of the road, this may force him/her to wait untill there is no traffic from infront untill overtaking you.
If he/her does overtake you and starts pulling in early due to traffic from infront then you have room on your inside to move into.
A car behind the one overtaking you can see the bigger deviation in direction so expects something to be there, again safer.

If theres a same pothole directly infront of you it gives you the option of passing it on the left as well as the right.

Being slightly further out means that you "should" be more visable to cars turning left/right.

Etc, etc.

Luck ..........

 

[Norm]

I hold the same "1m out" position, but that depends on the particular circumstances. In other words, if the road is very wide, I'll go further out but (and this is a tad more controversial!) I do still sometimes move to the left further.

If you have a look at this vid of mine, start watching at about 1 min 55s, that cattle grid marks the move from a 30 to a 60 limit. On that occasion, I stayed out about the same distance on that fairly narrow NSL road but it really does depend on the circumstances and where you feel most comfortable maintaining your safety zone.

 

[Manonabike]

Well, again, excellent points..... it seems I was making life more difficult by riding so close to the kerb. Vehicles had enough room to go by and sometimes too fast and close that is scary. So, by riding further out I will either make then wait for a gap in traffic to overtake (safer for me) or moving inside sufficient to overtake. By riding close to the kerb seems to encourage vehicles to overtake cyclist even when the gap is small.

I will put this strategy to practice next time I go out riding.

I must say that most of the cyclist I see on the road ride very close to the kerb, only yesterday I was riding behind this guy that rode on the yellow like most of the way.

Is it ok for two riders to ride together or is it safer to ride one in front of the other?

 

[HLaB]

Is it ok for two riders to ride together or is it safer to ride one in front of the other?

Yip its perfectly legal, sometimes you are safer to do so as you will present a bigger image to the driver, its also more sociable however common sense will sometimes dictate that you are better to 'single up'.

 

[Scoosh]

I have never ridden in a group and I guess that takes practice so, I will start right at the back and avoid riding in groups.....
If you start nearer the front, you'll get more of the 'feel' of the event and the company will help you along - you'll go faster too.

I'm not concerned about how long it takes me, I just want to finish
I reckon you'll crack 10 hrs

Training: ..... the bad news is that after the 30 - 35 miles mark I begin to suffer from neckache, ... Also, I must not forget that I'm 51 and not very sporty
Sounds like a bike-fit check might be in order, even raising the bars a litle ? A sore neck after 35 miles could be debilitating after 90.
51 ? ... only 51 ?

In the longer rides I have been trying to put into practice what I have learnt from other people here on refuelling frequently. I would highly reccommend using your training rides to learn the discipline of drinking a mouthful or 2 every 20 mins and maybe eating every 30 - BY THE CLOCK. It's taken me a long time to get this discipline into my own riding but I keep a close eye on the clock and do my best to stick to it; it makes a difference too .

1.- Do I need to ride 118 miles before I do the ride in July? I had planned to train so I could ride say 90 miles reasonably comfortable and on the day I could go the extra 28 miles. Should be fine

4.- am I supposed to carry enough water between water stations or you get water, as seen on TV , from the organisers as you ride? Aye, that'd be right Can you fit 2 bottles on your bike ? If not, no worries, you can always buy some from a shop/fill up at a garage

5.- What happens if you have a serious breakdown - something that cannot be repaired.... will there be somebody to pick you up with your bike and all?
Some events have a broom wagon, others don't; Organisers should have this info available.

Thanks in advance

Well Done for setting yourself this challenge.

Don't worry too much about riding in a group - they are unlikely to stay much of a group for very long ! Having company really makes the miles go by, so see if you can 'chum up' with someone of a similar pace and you'll both be assisted.

Signage should be adequate but carrying a map is useful if you have to make any detour etc.

Do use your training rides to clarify your fuelling strategy - what you like, how often etc. 30 miles into a 118 miler is no time to discover that product X doesn't agree with you !

Let us know how you're getting on ....

 

[Manonabike]

Thanks for all the help so far, very handy I must say.

I was rather busy over the weekend so I didn't do any long ride and today I managed to get a 25miles ride, lovely day for that but I had no more time to carry on riding.

I drank one bottle of water and I forgot to drink at all for the last 12 miles or so.... I really need to master the discipline to drink regularly.

I put into practice the advice received here and I must say that I felt good, much more relax riding on the road. I'll try that in some busier roads soon.