What to eat for breakfast before my long ride??

[Dave7]

If I can do that sort of distance, I should think anyone can . Riding with someone else will make it easier. When are you doing it and how many miles are you riding in the roads a week at the moment?

I am DEFINITELY not a poor/bad weather cyclist..........mainly as my eyes water so badly in any cold wind.
So at the moment I am building up strength & endurance on the exercise bike...........doing 45 minutes---15-17 miles 3 times per week.
I plan to get back on the road early March and start with 20/25 miles.........twice per week...........building up from that.

 

[Citius]

Carbs and sugar. Protein not really necessary pre-exercise.

 

[vickster]

I am DEFINITELY not a poor/bad weather cyclist..........mainly as my eyes water so badly in any cold wind.
So at the moment I am building up strength & endurance on the exercise bike...........doing 45 minutes---15-17 miles 3 times per week.
I plan to get back on the road early March and start with 20/25 miles.........twice per week...........building up from that.

Have you tried cycling glasses? Are you using a turbo or exercise bike...as much as the latter are ok for spinning the legs in front of the TV, they don't really help for the road. I'm using mine for rehabbing my knee as per the physio's instruction, but under no illusion that I'll be a wreck when allowed back on the road!

If you can do 40 miles no issue, 68 will be fine if you take it easy. Don't overthink it The big jump for me at least was from 100km to 100 miles (the London Surrey 100 on 2nd August should be fun after a long lay off )

When are you doing the 109km (68 mile) challenge?

 

[Dave7]

Have you tried cycling glasses? Are you using a turbo or exercise bike...as much as the latter are ok for spinning the legs in front of the TV, they don't really help for the road. I'm using mine for rehabbing my knee as per the physio's instruction, but under no illusion that I'll be a wreck when allowed back on the road!

If you can do 40 miles no issue, 68 will be fine if you take it easy. Don't overthink it The big jump for me at least was from 100km to 100 miles (the London Surrey 100 on 2nd August should be fun after a long lay off )
When are you doing the 109km (68 mile) challenge?

1) I have tried various wrap around glasses. I actually need prescription glasses for near & far sight. I have seen 2 specialists who both tell me that the problem is the tear ducts
being blocked. They both said the operation to unblock them is very unpleasant so should be a last resort. It spoils my winter golf as well.

2) I use an exercise bike as that is what we have.........my OH uses it also. It's a good one and I vary the tension so I am a) strengthening the cycling muscles and b) hardening
the old 'bum bones' up ready for the road. I realise nothing prepares for the road like erh .......the road-but it does help. I have it near the window of the spare bedroom and I can
have a good nosey up the close as I listen to Bruce Springfield or similar music.

3) August??? that is a long lay off. Mind you I have done nothing since last September when I had the last 'biggish' operation.

4) As to when...........I am hoping to do it mid to late May but am quite pepared to wait til June/July if I dont feel ready in May.

 

[vickster]

3) August??? that is a long lay off. Mind you I have done nothing since last September when I had the last 'biggish' operation.

4) As to when...........I am hoping to do it mid to late May but am quite pepared to wait til June/July if I dont feel ready in May.

Well I'll obviously be riding before August, hope to be on road by April but depends on knee surgeon and physio (the latter will be less conservative than the former in letting me out on the road). I last rode outside on the 2nd or 3rd Jan, but had been having pain all through October, November, December

 

[Dave7]

Well I'll obviously be riding before August, hope to be on road by April but depends on knee surgeon and physio (the latter will be less conservative than the former in letting me out on the road). I last rode outside on the 2nd or 3rd Jan, but had been having pain all through October, November, December

I hope it is possitive for you.

 

[vickster]

Yeah hope so, I'm not pulling put this year ago, had to last year due to a leg injury following an accident. Some orthopaedic catastrophe has me off the bike for 3 months every year unfortunately. Thank God for Bupa!

 

[Dave7]

"I'm not pulling put this year ago"
Could you translate that part for me please

 

[w00hoo_kent]

"I'm not pulling put this year ago"
Could you translate that part for me please

Typo at a guess - Not pulling out. Last year @vickster went for the option to pull out of the Sportive with injury and defer the entry for a year. It's a handy thing to be able to do as the event is tough to get a place for but they don't want people to ride when they are unfit just because they don't want to waste the entry.

 

[Dave7]

Typo at a guess - Not pulling out. Last year @vickster went for the option to pull out of the Sportive with injury and defer the entry for a year. It's a handy thing to be able to do as the event is tough to get a place for but they don't want people to ride when they are unfit just because they don't want to waste the entry.

Ah.
Thanks for that.
But what sportive is it???

 

[w00hoo_kent]

Ah.
But what sportive is it???

Ride London 100

As others have said, don't fret too much. My routine when doing FNRttC's (Friday Night Ride to the Coasts, generally around that sort of distance, 12-14mph average closer to 100 miles if I also ride home after) is to have a chicken chow mien for lunch and eat a bit during the ride. When I was doing the prep rides for the Ride London 100 I'd have cereal and fruit for breakfast and again take snacks to eat during the ride. Again this was for 60+ miles, I'd really not bother too much about food prep on stuff up to 40 miles. Just make sure you've got something in case you find yourself needing energy during the ride. That can be anything from a bit of cake, to a sandwich, to dedicated sports food.

The important thing when you do your ride is to know what works for you and stick to that. It's a terrible time to suddenly panic and eat differently.

 

[vickster]

Indeed, sorry, phone auto correct...pulling out

This one

http://www.prudentialridelondon.co.uk/The_Events/100.htm

I pulled out last year in June, long before the rain was forecast...my surgeon strongly advised me not to do it as I suffered a lot of muscle loss and lack of fitness following injury and surgery and was knackering myself more (knees and back) trying to train ...I've not yet mentioned to him that I deferred to this year - although he did say I could, but that was before I knackered the other knee, requiring the most recent op! Oops

It's 100 miles with about an 8 hour time limit, but as it's on closed roads, I'm sure it'll be a breeze as long as the other 25000 odd riders don't get in my way

 

[Mummy3monkeys]

I like eating porridge with blueberries or banana, honey and a sprinkle of whatever seeds I have in the cupboard, before whatever distance ride I do.

 

[Dave7]

Indeed, sorry, phone auto correct...pulling out

This one

http://www.prudentialridelondon.co.uk/The_Events/100.htm

I pulled out last year in June, long before the rain was forecast...my surgeon strongly advised me not to do it as I suffered a lot of muscle loss and lack of fitness following injury and surgery and was knackering myself more (knees and back) trying to train ...I've not yet mentioned to him that I deferred to this year - although he did say I could, but that was before I knackered the other knee, requiring the most recent op! Oops

It's 100 miles with about an 8 hour time limit, but as it's on closed roads, I'm sure it'll be a breeze as long as the other 25000 odd riders don't get in my way

You're not having much luck with your knees are you?
I hope it all goes well with you & the ride as it must be quite a battle to regain fitness.

 

[vickster]

You're not having much luck with your knees are you?
I hope it all goes well with you & the ride as it must be quite a battle to regain fitness.

Nope, they're on the way to being knackered and cycling is one of the reasons (for the left a big reason as first buggered coming off a bike)

I just use the exercise bike in front of the TV, I'll get back in the gym to mix it up, I went for a walk earlier etc. Distance is as much about the mental as physical, hence not overthinking it. The long cycles I've done in the past (several 100+ km, a hundred miler) have done without any specific training or preparation (other than going to Poundland for the Haribo jelly babies). I take it easy, stop as needed, have cake and lunch breaks, I'm not racing. Rain is the one thing that dampens my spirit, not because of the wet per se, but because I get very cold and take forever to warm up again.

I am in the process of engaging a cycling focused physio to get me rehabbed and back on the bike, that'll help with mental and physical hopefully. I hope to be back out there in a few weeks if the surgeon is happy when I see him tomorrow

I've come back to cycling from surgery pretty much every year for the last 5 or 6...

2010 - knee ops in Feb and December (following injury in Sept 09)
2012 - elbow op in November (that was a crazy year, I spent about 100 days travelling for work too)!
2013 - minor elbow op in August
2014 - pretty much emergency surgery on infected shin in Feb
2015 - latest knee op (Feb), and I may well need something doing to the other at some point next winter

...so I've got the rehab to cycle down pat. I just have to be really careful not to overdo it, hence wanting professional help from someone who has a focus on cycling!