Thinking of Doing a Charity Ride in 2013. Advice for Training Needed

[chrisb1357]

Hi all,

Well not sure if i am classed as a beginner still but thought i would post in this section anyway. I have been cycyling on my hyrbrid for 2 years now only two and from work for the first year and then started to do 10 to 15 miles once a week over the last few months and now i i have done 2 x 20 miles over the last month and plan on pushing it to 25 miles this weekend as i did a 20 mile ride last week.

I am now thinking of singing up for the 100km London Night Ride in June 2013 for a Charity that has helped my family a few times over the year

What is the best way to start training for this as its 10 months away but winter is soon approaching us as well. Am i best to work up to longer rides each month and go out once or twice a week.

Also not sure if my Giant Hybrid will be up for the job of a 100km. I have kept the bike in tip top shape and it gets cleaned and oil after each ride. I have upgraded the tyres last year and just ordered a charge spoon saddle. I am 50/50 on getting a road bike but funds are not great so was just going to train on my hybrid and do the ride on that and maybe just upgrade the tyres for thinner road type to the ones i have now.

Any tips or advice would be a great help

Chris

 

[smokeysmoo]

IMO Chris just get out and ride regularly as you are doing. Up the mileage bit by bit and you should be fine.

I've never followed a structured training plan, and I now ride 40, 50, 60 miles regularly, and I did my first 100 miler a few weeks ago.

You see people on all sorts of bikes at these kinds of rides, from full on carbon fibre weight weenies, to guys on old BSO's you'd frankly be scared to ride to the corner shop on. So you'll be perfectly fine with your well maintained hybrid.

Just check it over in advance of the ride, and if your not confident in 'fettling' it's probably worth getting it serviced before the ride

 

[snorri]

Relax .
Your hybrid will be fine for this, and so will you. Don't think of your build up for this jolly as training, just enjoy your cycling. Keep going out through the winter when the weather allows, but don't push yourself in the adverse weather, we all struggle a bit in wind, rain and lower temperatures. Once the weather improves in the spring you will find it easier to increase your run mileage sufficiently to give you confidence to meet the challenge..
It may well be that you will not actually complete a 100k before the event, but if you have managed 80 or 90, the general enthusiasm on the day will carry you through. It is usually easier to cover longer distances when surrounded by a bunch of people doing the same thing as you.
Good Luck

 

[Brommyboy]

The best training is to just ride as regularly as possible! And the bike should not be a problem - I have known someone do 100 miles on a Raleigh Superb (roadster, heavy with 3 gears) in about 7.5 hours.

 

[Peteaud]

As said above just ride and the distance will go up anyway as you will just ride longer, new routes etc.

Hybrid will be fine for 100k

Saw a chap do a 78 mile ride on a brompton a few weeks ago.

 

[BrumJim]

Advice above is pretty much on the spot.

Only thing I would add is to ride with friends, particularly if they are more experienced than you. If you have no friends (or any who cycle), join up with a social ride on here. That way you will get a better idea as to how to pace yourself on a longer ride. Basically for 100km you need to be able to hold a sensible conversation whilst riding. If you are only able to gasp out a few words before running out of breath, you are riding too hard.

 

[chrisb1357]

Thanks for the Tips people. Just waiting for my new charge spoon saddle to turn up from wiggle. Looks a good seat for distance riding as i have been using he standard giant one for 2 years which has worn flat and i can feel it after 20 miles.

I have spoke to my local cycyle club but the days they go out etc i can never make due to work etc. I did do a 50 mile ride many years back for another chairty and this was on a basic bike before i got into things.

Not sure if to try another 20 or 30 miles this sat

 

[BrumJim]

Not sure if to try another 20 or 30 miles this sat

See how you feel. If its dry with little wind and Friday night wasn't too hard, go for the 30.

 

[chrisb1357]

Been out tonight after all that rain and done a little mid week 13.37miles in 1hr 13min which i still think is slow. For the last 6 months my avg speed has always been around 11mph but in the area i live its full of hills and not much flat runs. Tonights total climb was 1000feet.

 

[Brommyboy]

I have several times exceeded 100 miles on my Brommy! Always in under 10 hours.

 

[chrisb1357]

Cool. So my Avg speed for distance is not that bad then

 

[Part time cyclist]

All good.... I rode to Hastings and back from dartford a grand total of 105 miles on my specialized sirrus hybrid with no problems (bike wise) just me just keep riding and enjoying the miles just go past, you get fitter and the avatar time goes down, don't be fixated on achieving great times, it happens I plan to ride the London to paris ony hybrid maybe next year....

 

[chrisb1357]

Well went out for a cycyle this morning at 8am which was ment to be 20 miles and got back and i had done 32miles which is a first. avg speed was 12mph