TheSandwichMonster
Junior Senior
- Location
- Devon, UK
Every now and then I get a daft idea in my head and I'm just after a bit of seasoned advice as to whether or not I could sensibly attempt this...
I've signed up for next year's Dartmoor Classic, my local sportive organised by my local club. 106 miles with 3407m climb on 24/06/2012. The following Saturday, 6 days later, I've signed up for the Northern Rock Cyclone around my old stomping grounds: 104 miles with 2374m climb on 30/06/2012. In and of itself, both of those rides represent a decent-sized challenge to someone who only started road cycling in July this year.
HOWEVER... After entering those two, I got to thinking. I'd probably take the Monday off work after the Classic in any case. It's June, the weather should be nice, and so I thought I could maybe take the whole week off. First of all, I considered doing the Devon coast to coast (102 miles) and then I considered doing the Cumbria to Tynemouth coast to coast (~140 miles). Finally, and after a weekend visit back to the North East, I figured that it's about 400 miles door-to-door... Figure it's slightly longer when you allow for avoiding A roads and motorways, but assuming that it's no more than an additional 100 miles (being overly cautious), then it's technically possible.
Right now, it's no more than a pipe dream, but I'd love to try it and to hopefully raise a bit of money for charity on the way. What I'm asking is: with a reasonable base level of fitness (right now I'm able to comfortably ride 60 miles in sub-4h, but haven't ever gone further than that), should I be able to train through the winter and into spring to be able to achieve this? If so, is there anything specific, other than time in the saddle and building up to back-to-back century rides, that I should be looking to cover by way of training?
Your thoughts on the venture would be appreciated!
Thanks,
James
I've signed up for next year's Dartmoor Classic, my local sportive organised by my local club. 106 miles with 3407m climb on 24/06/2012. The following Saturday, 6 days later, I've signed up for the Northern Rock Cyclone around my old stomping grounds: 104 miles with 2374m climb on 30/06/2012. In and of itself, both of those rides represent a decent-sized challenge to someone who only started road cycling in July this year.
HOWEVER... After entering those two, I got to thinking. I'd probably take the Monday off work after the Classic in any case. It's June, the weather should be nice, and so I thought I could maybe take the whole week off. First of all, I considered doing the Devon coast to coast (102 miles) and then I considered doing the Cumbria to Tynemouth coast to coast (~140 miles). Finally, and after a weekend visit back to the North East, I figured that it's about 400 miles door-to-door... Figure it's slightly longer when you allow for avoiding A roads and motorways, but assuming that it's no more than an additional 100 miles (being overly cautious), then it's technically possible.
Right now, it's no more than a pipe dream, but I'd love to try it and to hopefully raise a bit of money for charity on the way. What I'm asking is: with a reasonable base level of fitness (right now I'm able to comfortably ride 60 miles in sub-4h, but haven't ever gone further than that), should I be able to train through the winter and into spring to be able to achieve this? If so, is there anything specific, other than time in the saddle and building up to back-to-back century rides, that I should be looking to cover by way of training?
Your thoughts on the venture would be appreciated!
Thanks,
James
I've started a new thread over in the JOGLE forum over a potential route from SW to NE: 
Go! go! go!go! go!
