One day trip - How far?
 

Hi,

this isn't really a cycle touring question (as the trip will only be one day), I just thought I'd take the opportunity to ask the question of experienced long distance cyclists.

I'm hoping to do a 'sponsored cycle' in late september. It's not an organised mass event, just me on my lonesome. I was going to raise money for a charity by doing the Edinburgh marathon this year, but my dodgy hip and knee proved to be a bit too dodgy to complete the training.

So, I've decided to do a section of the Sustrans 'Route 7' that goes through the Highlands and I'm trying to decide how far would constitute a reasonable challenge. I was thinking either do 100 miles or 200km (124 miles).

I will doing it on my mountain bike (fitted with slicks and drop handlebars). It will be on roads and high quality cycle paths. I am currently what I would call 'averagely fit'. i.e. after injuring myself training for the marathon I have lost a lot of fitness, but can still fit into my 32" waist jeans (but not for long if I don't start exercising soon!). My intention is to 'cross train'. 1 40 minute run, 1 half hour swim and two cycles a week, for the next two months. One short cycle (half an hour or so) and one longer at the weekend (building up distance as I go). I am 36.

It's a long time since I did much more than cycle round my local mountain bike park at Glentress, so I'd be interested in what people think. I'd like to do the 200km as it sounds good! :) but will satisfy myself with 100 miles if necessary. How would cycling 200km compare with running a marathon, for instance, in terms of how physically exhausting and difficult it would be.

Thanks,

Matt :)

Matt

If you push yourself hard on the training rides doing 200km on tarmac in a day should be fine. The South Downs way is a 120 mile off road race and a friend of mine has managed to do it both ways in a day (left his car at the start). Admittedly he is psycho-hard and was on the bike for 20 hours....

Eat stupid amounts of food for a few weeks before, start early and don't push hard early on. A long time at a nice leisurely pace will clock up more miles.

Given your dodgy hip and knee it might be worth seeing if you can borrow a recumbant, much much better for tarmac miles. Another friend took a recumbant to Beijing overland and was averaging about 250 miles a day and he reckoned that he wasn't having to try too hard (again he is some kind of super-hero)

I am MASSIVELY unfit and on my few and far between forays into the Peak I can normally manage about 50 kms in about 4 hours (off road though). If you assume an average speed of 30km/h then you could do the 200 in 7 hours which gives you a lot of leeway if you plan for a 14 hour day

It's a good question Matt: you know in your heart of hearts that you can do it if you really want to.
Do you want to do the distance, and be reasonally fit to go home or do whatever, or do you want to do the distance and just collapse in a heap at the end, is one consideration.

The guys I know who road ride regularly think little of putting in 150+ mile round trips for a day out - not my cup of tea, but there you are, it is done regularly by the cycling clubs. When I was much younger and fitter I rode about 70 miles in a day and the chain came off the chainwheel every time I free-wheeled downhill - the moral is make sure that the pushbike is fit for purpose and you should have few problems.

Thanks for the replies folks. You've pretty much got it in a nutshell there, Walkabout. I just want to make sure I'm not setting myself an unrealistic challenge. From what you guys say, 200km should be doable as long as I buckle down and train.

Henry, you know some mad 'uns! Good tip re: the carbo-loading. I'd forgotten about that particular benefit of silly endurance challenges! Although whether my own take on carbo-loading (many pub burgers and pints of heavy) is the same as that of, say, the olympic team, is another thing.

Matt :)

I reckon lager would be better for carbo-loading, but can't stand the stuff.

Guinness is good for you
 

Guinness, and only Guinness hits the spot for me!

ah but 'Guinness for Strength', surely this is more of an endurance event?

Good luck Matt. I have been a keen cyclist since I was about 12. Time trials, road racing and mountain biking. Always wanted to ride a 12 hour event, which I did when I was 40 (about 14 years ago) I managed just over 220 miles, which is relatively mediocre in competition and dropped from nearly 11 stone to just over 10 in 1 day. Although I still enjoy an occasional ride I've not done any serious riding since then.
If you're reasonably fit, used to sitting in the saddle and eat and drink enough 200k shouldn't be a problem.

just back from 2 weeks cycling. I was doing around 50 miles every day (longest 75 miles), which was fairly easy spread over the whole day. I hadn't done any cycling beforehand. 200 km is achievable, I guess depending on the terrain and climbs. just like the marathon though, you need time in the saddle beforehand.

if your seat position and bar position are correct, then it's no more tiring than a motorbike ride for 6 hours. But if you are used to short rides you might not feel, or realise, if your saddle/bar position is correct. Spending a few long rides working this out will give you a better chance of success (well, without extreme pain).

doug

Thanks Harleyrider. That is some effort, 220 miles in 12 hours! I was going to use two 1 litre bottles in cages and will have a small bag on a rack for energy foods: probably energy bars and bananas. Originally toying with using the camelback I use for mountain biking, but reckon it might chafe on such a long day, so reckon old fashioned bottle cages and rack might be a better bet.

How did your trip go Dougie? Hope you had good weather. I have a couple of different bar/saddle options available and am going to play until I find the right combination.

Matt :)

I did about 600 miles over all. I was glad not to wear any rucksack, not only do you have the potential chaffing, you will also sweat a lot as there's no air getting to your back. I bungeed a couple of 1.5 litre bottles onto the rear rack when needed, as well as two bidons in the frame bottle cages. it got to about 30 degrees some days. It was a great trip though, good to see the difference to travelling by moto.

http://www.soogate.com/france/Pages/74.html

have you heard of the london-edinburgh-london? I think the next one is in 2009, if your knees could take it.

there's also this: Pedal for Scotland - Accept the Challenge if you (or any others) fancy this?