50 x 50 x 50 at 51

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by Houxty1 [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]
...My question is, will my body survive without any rest days?

Well that is the big question for a challenge like this. I'd definitely work up to riding seven days a week even if a few of those are easy and short rides. IOW, get used to getting on the bike every day for at least a while. Also work up to rides that are longer than 50 miles well before your event so that 50 isn't a big deal.

Mostly I'd worry about things like saddle sores and chronic knee pain as well as nutrition and hydration. Ride a lot between now and then and do some long blocks where you ride at least a little every day to make sure you're solid on things like a comfortable saddle, good chamois shorts that work for you, chamois creme, eating and drinking on the bike and such. Get a good professional bike fit for that new road bike that includes getting some good cleated cycling shoes and matching clipless pedals and have the cleats adjusted and shimmed or wedged as necessary to avoid knee and hip issues. Find a dedicated bike fitter for this, not just the sales guy at the local bike shop.

It doesn't sound like you have to race this challenge so you could take 4 or more hours each day of the fifty if you need to but you will have to get on the bike day after day so make sure your body can handle that. In the process you'll also likely get faster which helps as it's fewer hours each day of the fifty which means more off the bike recovery time.

Interesting challenge, good luck working up to it and riding it.

-Dave

That sounds like quite the challenge - nearly two months of riding with no rest days.

Dave is right, comfort issues can become huge problems. Saddle sores can cause more riding agony than tired legs ever could; if they are bad enough may even lead to a trip to the doctor. Pick your bike, clothing and other equipment out long before the challenge. Do your test rides and work out any fit / comfort issues before starting off.

Without off-the-bike recovery days you will have to settle for on-the-bike recovery and get sufficient rest in between. Find out what the pros do to keep their bodies strong during long stage races; lots of sleep, pasta, a personal masseuse, ice packs, etc.

Are your rides going to be supported / sagged? Even if you have some support, you should become proficient in basic maintenance: chain lubrication, derailleur adjustment, flat repair.

Hi Dave/Maydog

Many thanks for taking the time to provide such detailed responses, much appreciated.

In terms of rest, I think my best bet is to fit in some morning runs followed by a late afternoon run the next day allowing my weary legs over 24 hours on occasion.

Saddle comfort and sores were my main concern, and I wonder if you've tried gel saddles. I guess it would look a tad incongruous on a road bike but if it gets me through then maybe worth the investment.

The rides won't be supported (unless I can rope somebody in) but I've got a great mechanic for important stuff and can generally fix minor things myself....given time!!

I'm going shopping tomorrow and testing a Giant Defy 1 - I've read great things and it's in my price bracket......exciting!! [IMG]files.cyclingforums.combig smile.pngOpen ↗[/IMG]

Thanks again for all the advice folks, it's got me very enthused.

Regards

Ali

When I read this post yesterday morning I had the same thought as Dave and Maydog and if that were me doing this challenge I would probably fail first from saddle sores before my legs gave out.

Mainly because I have struggled with this issue enough in the past and have learned from experience how to deal with it a little better. Do I have it solved? Not even close, but I have taken some steps to help manage it during the ride/training, post ride hygiene and clothing circulation.

Some of my experience I posted on my blog in 2011 when I started increasing my training time and when I formed a peanut sized lump in the crease of my leg that I thought was going to require surgical removal. Fortunately the doctor I was referred to visit was a cyclist that does over 200 miles a week himself and knew exactly what needed to be done. He also gave me a clue on a pretty good chamois crème that is low cost compared to bike specific crèmes.

Here is that blog post and it is the probably the #1 post that gets the most hits from people searching the web. It may not be the best written or have the best advice, but it just goes to show how many cyclist are out there struggling with this issue.

thecyclingaddiction.blogspot.comknow your sore.htmlOpen ↗

The cool thing about this challenge if you are really serious about it is you will gain experience on how to manage, cope, adjust, pick the right clothes (shorts), crèmes, post ride hygiene, etc. as you put more hours on those legs if you start now. Start increasing the weekly saddle time now since it adaptation takes a while. With this increased saddle time you will get a better feel as how to well the crotch and saddle area is going to hold up.

You mentioned a gel saddle and I am not sure if you are talking about one of those gel comfort saddles found on newbie cruising bikes, but most that do a lot of miles will tell you that the more comfortable saddles for long duration happen to be the ones with minimal padding and generally look like they would be the most uncomfortable in appearance.

For instance my saddles that I find work for me the best are the Fizik Arione and the Cobb V-flow Plus and to look at either you would think they would be the worst. However, both are very narrow in the nose area and my thighs and hamstrings do not touch the saddle, but my sit bones are well supported. It is the pad in my shorts that makes up the lack of padding on the saddle. My preference in shorts has become the Desoto, but that too is something each of us has to determine.

Speaking of finding the right short and cycling daily is to have a good supply of the short/bib you find to work well for you in this challenge. I find it is good to have a supply to keep in circulation especially since we wash my shorts/bibs and then let them air dry to increase the life of the short. (Some of the shorts are not in this picture since they were in the dirty laundry)

[IMG]cyclingforums.com1000Open ↗[/IMG]

My wife has been super supportive that she puts up with me training a lot of hours when I am not at work and she is the one the is washing my dirty bike clothes while I am training.

Best wishes on starting this journey and I think if you start increasing your training time now you will start to form your own path on managing all of these issues and get a feeling if this goal can be achieved. I think it is a pretty cool challenge. Keep pushing forward.

Great advice from the fellas above and I will corroborate on the potential saddle sore issue .

Something to keep in mind that saddle sores can happen because of a poorly fitting or adjusted saddle (in this case tilt mostly), but also on a saddle that feels comfortable as an old catcher's mitt if proper hygiene hasn't been enforced and by proper I mean a clean pair of shorts for every ride, exiting the shorts immediately after the ride, and scrubbing the derriere and tween with suds like you are prepping for surgery. Sitting around in sweaty shorts is a big no no.

I tend to run up a ravenous appetite after rides in that 3-4 hour zone, and sometimes the temptation to skip the shower for an hour or two while I chow down is almost irresistable. I can only imaging the feeling magnified after several consecutive days of that duration. Personally I would have a liquid glucose energy replacement strategy in mind for immediately after the ride, then shower, then eat (fueling as necessary during the ride of course).

Good luck.

And damn Felt, that's some collection you got there! I always chuckle thinking if some laundry thief made off with my weekly load it would cost as much as replacing my bike ;-)

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by danfoz [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]
And damn Felt, that's some collection you got there! I always chuckle thinking if some laundry thief made off with my weekly load it would cost as much as replacing my bike ;-)

.....and that is only part of the collection.....ugh!! I have today off and the sun is out so I am about to go soil another pair :-)

Of the cycling gear I own the shorts/bibs are probably my focused investment. Also I must note that it turns out one of my cycling friends can get these shorts for a discounted price. Most in our group have abandoned the lower half of the team kit because many of us like the Desoto's so much better. I can tolerate the team kit bibs up to about a 60 mile ride. After that I am looking forward to getting off the saddle.

You are crazier than I thought, who considers running as a recovery activity?

A few more thoughts on saddle sensitivity; weight and position are big factors. I am definitely at the heavy end for a high mileage cyclist and I think that takes a toll. My riding days are often limited due to discomfort, which can be made worse by more aggressive seating positions. Staying aero for more than a few hours really starts to burn. On my commuting days, I wear a backpack with 10+ pounds of gear. Even though I am not riding particularly hard on those days, I probably do the most "damage".

Years back, I would do centuries with a lot of gear and I would wear a [censored] pack and/or hydration pack. After several hours in the saddle, I noticed that even a few extra pounds on the body was making me much less comfortable. Now I generally carry less and try to get the bike, not the body, to bear any extra poundage. If it is hot and I will have limited refill stops, I may still wear the hydration pack. When I do, I am sure to empty it out first before touching my bottles.

I also lost a few pounds, which also went a long way to easing discomfort.

Without support on the rides, you should be confident in your roadside repair abilities.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by maydog [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

You are crazier than I thought, who considers running as a recovery activity?...

Yeah, running is no way to recover. A very short and light spin on flat roads on the bike in light gears can help keep your legs loose and help with recovery but I sure wouldn't go running on recovery days.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by Felt_Rider [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]...Mainly because I have struggled with this issue enough in the past and have learned from experience how to deal with it a little better. Do I have it solved? Not even close, but I have taken some steps to help manage it during the ride/training, post ride hygiene and clothing circulation.....

I didn't surf over to your blog on this one Felt, but if you're having trouble with recurring saddle sores, especially the deep pressure based kind (as opposed to ingrown hairs and surface abrasions that get infected) then double and triple check your saddle height and if in doubt try running your saddle a few mm lower. IME, riders that get recurring pressure sores often seem to have perfect saddle height with no obvious hip rocking but must at some micro level be bouncing in the crotch which leads to pressure sores. I've had this issue and several folks I've worked with have had this issue and sometimes it comes up with something as subtle as changing to shorts with a different chamois thickness or wearing extra thick winter tights which effectively raise the saddle. Those pressure sores are some of the worst kind as they take a long time to heal.

Just a thought and maybe your saddle height is perfect but from a performance standpoint there's almost no downside to dropping a few mm on saddle height but some serious potential for problems when it's just a few mm too high. Also FWIW, those subtle but overly high saddle issues seem most common in folks who lack hamstring flexibility which I imagine could be a slight issue for you with your strength training background. Folks with somewhat tight hamstrings often look fine from a knee angles standpoint but are still a tad high and bouncing ever so slightly due to their tight hamstrings.

Food for thought,
-Dave

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by daveryanwyoming [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

I didn't surf over to your blog on this one Felt, but if you're having trouble with recurring saddle sores

Food for thought,
-Dave

Thanks Dave
That blog post was back in 2011. I had some issues that season, but once I got some things figured out and I have not had any major issues since.

Edit: Its been a couple of years now, but I think it might have happened. I have not heard of pressure sore until now, but I sort of recall bumping that area pretty hard on a rough road during one ride before the swelling occurred. Doctor said it was an ingrown hair and treated with oral and ointment antibiotics. Very painful, but It went away in about a week's time after I saw the doc.

25 (days) x 50 (miles) in 50 (days) would be more reasonable, riding every two days, sounds good for a summer project,

You guys are awesome, this is all very useful and motivating.

I'm trying out a new road bike (Giant Defy 1) tomorrow and will make sure I get properly fitted for it if I decide to buy.

I should have mentioned that I'm currently over 15 stone 2 lbs/96kgs (big bones - honest) so I reckon I had better shift some of that before next May's start date:-)

Any advice on gear ratios? The area where I live is fairly undulating but throws in some pretty steep and sharp climbs from time to time. At 15st and 50 years old, they can be, shall I say, challenging!

Ali

It certainly would but it was being 50 years old that gave me the idea so I have to stick to that:-)

25 sounds much more palatable!

The Defy 1 comes with a 34 x 28 low gear. You could climb telephone poles in that gear, if you could get traction. 'If' you are in good enough condition to do 50 rides of 50 miles in 50 days, a 34 x 28 would get you over the Alps.

Good luck with your challenge!

If you're able to ride all winter, and progress as you should, by next May you should be able to average almost 30 kph on a 50 mile ride. Say 17-18 mph. 50 miles a day would be less than 3 hours on the bike. But if you have say 5 hours a day to spend riding, 10-12 mph or 20 kph is a leisurely ride for a fit rider. It's going to depend on how quickly you get fit.

It's feasible. I just turned 60, and while I only weigh about 165 lbs, say 75 kg, I think I could do 50 miles a day for a month.

BTW my new bike came with an 11-28 cassette, and the 28 cog is unused. I'm about to go throw a 12-25 cassette on the thing. [IMG]files.cyclingforums.comgrin.pngOpen ↗[/IMG]

If you go with the Defy, your 28 is there if you need it. You may well need it now. You didn't specify what gearing your Spesh hybrid has, but I suspect that it has a triple crank, and probably a pretty big granny gear (maybe as big as a 36 tooth) on the back. If you're struggling up hills with it in the small ring, you're going to need that 28 right now.

Thanks for your advice, much appreciated. You are spot pin about the hybrid, it can climb vertical walls......slowly. I got the Defy on Saturday and it's a different world - tremendous fun and I'm hitting 16mph on undulating terrain instead of 13.5 on the hybrid. The hills have been less of a challenge too which is a big relief and very satisfactory. I hope to improve gradually. I feel a lot more confident and determined to train through the winter. Thank you all for your advice and support:-) Ali