am i mad?

You definetly need to go on longer rides. I started doing 5 mile rides about every day. Then when I started doing 10 mile rides, I found that I needed a new saddle. When I finally made the switch from a hybrid bike to a road bike, I had to go on another saddle search. THe one that came with the bike was [censored]. And softer isn't always better. You need to find one that fits YOUR sit bones. Now I have the right saddle and with padded shorts and some standing I can easily handle a 50 mile ride with only two 5 minute breaks.

I think you will need to build up to your 1st 100 mile ride. And see how your body reacts to it.

Myself I did 5 mile rides 3-4 days per week last year, And this year I went from 5 mile rides to 50 mile rides over a period of about 6 months. I believe I could handle a century ride without any recovery issues now, But probably won't attempt one until next year.

i started off with a big heavy saaracen bike loll.. since then in the last few months i have changed to a dawes gyro.

Loverly bike in my eyes and 10 x easier to ride up hills, seat seems fine for me. Hopefully i can find someone in the local cycling club (i hear alot about a club called coalville wheelers on the internet, but not found anyone active in it yet?)

I know i can do more than the 3-4 miles to work ( and back), i dont particually feel worn out when i get to work. only when i get to the top of a hill, then i pick up speed, and i can breathe again lol.

You better do some longer rides, or you won't make it. You need to figure out eating and drinking, and you'll only do that if you do something quite a bit longer.

Definatly not mad, as everyone said aiming for longer rides. maybe build up to a couple rides of at least 15-30miles during the week and longer one on the weekend. Probably look at cadence and enduro training.

Rockslayer said:

Definatly not mad, as everyone said aiming for longer rides. maybe build up to a couple rides of at least 15-30miles during the week and longer one on the weekend. Probably look at cadence and enduro training.

well i tend to work weekends more than i do at the week, but i get your point - when i have a day off i need to not sit on my bum all day, and i need to keep exersize up. Because im not working 8 hours, i can make it a longer bike journey

what exactly is cadence and enduro training - new words to me?

I know theres a bike trail somewhere near me. I used to bike with my dad when i was about 12 and i did a 64 mile one (this was on a trail). If i can find my route to the trail this would be a good starting place i think.

Enduro/Endurance Training. basically you need to condition your body and skills to substain your riding over a long distances.

Cadence is basically your pedal revolutions/strokes per minute.
It is suggested riding and training at higher cadences improve endurance and your cardiovascular fitness which is important.

Without getting into it too much its probably better to practice spinning on flat or rolling road/pavement. Probably suggested to find a gear combo and pedal at around 85-95 RPM range and maintain it for as long as you can for the ride making good use of gear changes depending on grade etc. Comfortable but not lazy.
Nutrition during rides is just as important. I generally feed on something high in energy every 30-40minutes during long rides. Maintaining Correct hydration is a must.
Alot this is just general info best just to start riding some more then slowly add to your knowledge. Rather than repeat what everyone else has said, check out the Tech Corner under Training, There are some good threads about Cadence/Training, Heart Rate, and maybe the Nutrition section. Yes, there are a different opinions on every subject, you need to figure what is relevant you.

I think if you are aiming to ride 300miles in 2.5days, as a guide your average riding speed should be around 15-20miles per hour. 2x 8 Hour days and 4 hours last day.

pedal revolutions/strokes per minute

So does 1 cadence count for 1 foot going down, or does it count as 1 complete revolution (left foot down, right foot down)?

webbhost said:

pedal revolutions/strokes per minute

So does 1 cadence count for 1 foot going down, or does it count as 1 complete revolution (left foot down, right foot down)?

1 complete revolution = 1 pedal stroke, of one foot.

- You can either count with a timer/watch.
- If you were considering a bike computer maybe buy/borrow one with Cadence kit. Its not a necessity but it helps when you are learning/training but once you find the "comfortable range" it's more intuitition.

Here's an article which will give some good basic information about it.

webbhost said:

Hi,

Ive been biking work (3 miles, 5 days a week) for bout 2 years now, got a resting heart rate of 75 (if that makes any difference) but next summer im planning on biking 300 miles (the width of britain) for charity, over about 2 1/2 days... am i crazy?

If im not crazy what advice can you give with sponsors / support, and what advice can you give me making the journey and training and planning before the journey?

The plan is to have my friend (with his friend - st johns ambulancer) go with me and tag along in the car along the journey to supply me with directions and support.

I understand theres a big difference between a 12 minute journey to work and a 12 minute journey back per day, and 8 hours a day for 2 1/2 days. What am i putting myself into here, and how realistic is the chances of me completing? lol

I'm going to be honest here and say that your chances of finishing the ride are slim to none unless you get down to some serious training. A resting heart rate of 75 is terrible.

First you need to improve your overall fitness with short duration high intensity training, ie. 30 min/day/six days/week with one day off. Mix it up:cycling, running, eliptical and stairs. Twelve weeks of this should take care of that [censored] resting heart rate.

Next comes endurance training. You need saddle time and lots of it. To be ready for your event you should be doing 30 to 40 miles twice a week and one long ride of at least 80 miles. Once you have reached this level you need to test yourself with a self supported 125 miler. If you can do all this, you will be ready.

Remember, you have to ride the bike, all the support in the world isn't going to get you to the finish if you aren't ready...And forget about the f#@ing cadence, ride where you are comfortable. Speed? forget about that also. If you avrage 13.5 MPH over 100 miles you are doing good. There might be one person on this forum whom could do 20.

Most important is proper nutrition. You need to study proper nutrition, nutrition for endurance athletes. It's too involved to get into here, so get some books. Think I'm kidding? Ask anyone whom has bonked, hit the wall, or otherwise crapped out. Once it happens, you're done. There's no getting back on the bike and ridding.

BTW I did 325 miles in three days: Western NY to Lake Placid in the Adirondacks (self supported). I bonked on my first century. It was at mile 112, 4 miles from home. I ate a banana and wobbled home (still on the bike).

Good luck and keep us updated on your progress.

Absolutely not.

I would highly recommend "The Complete Book of Long Distance Cycling":

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book-Long-Distance-Cycling-Confidence/dp/1579541992/

daniels said:

Absolutely not.

I would highly recommend "The Complete Book of Long Distance Cycling":

amazon.com1579541992Open ↗

looks like an interesting book, should definatly help me out (even if i didn't get enough interest to go ahead with my endurance ride)

webbhost said:

Hi,

Ive been biking work (3 miles, 5 days a week) for bout 2 years now, got a resting heart rate of 75 (if that makes any difference) but next summer im planning on biking 300 miles (the width of britain) for charity, over about 2 1/2 days... am i crazy?

Here's some good information : bicycling.com0,6609,s1 4 0 0 0,00.htmlOpen ↗*

Have a great time and good luck !

lw

daniels said:

Absolutely not.

I would highly recommend "The Complete Book of Long Distance Cycling":

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book-Long-Distance-Cycling-Confidence/dp/1579541992/

I got this book, im enjoying it so far. However after ive started reading it, i think im starting to have second thoughts about doin this on the upcoming summer... What would you guys consider to be a minimum training time to be able to do this?

Would i be able to succeed in this challenge if i was training every day?

webbhost said:

I got this book, im enjoying it so far. However after ive started reading it, i think im starting to have second thoughts about doin this on the upcoming summer... What would you guys consider to be a minimum training time to be able to do this?

Would i be able to succeed in this challenge if i was training every day?

I wasn't trying to be a [censored] in my above post, I was being honest. You will be ready by next Summer if you follow something close to what I suggested, which is what you will read in the texts suggested by other posters. There will be no easy way.

To answer your question: you will need to train from now until the event!!!

Rockslayer said:

.

I think if you are aiming to ride 300miles in 2.5days, as a guide your average riding speed should be around 15-20miles per hour. 2x 8 Hour days and 4 hours last day.

Wow, that's a great analogy!! So if he takes 4x15 minute breaks that means his 8 hr Day will turn into 10 hours?
My last Century (106 miles) I only averaged 14.6 mph...I could never average 20....or even 15...obviously :o

i did my first day of training today, my usual bike ride would be to work, so i decided to go past my work, a little further and back home again.

Here are the results:

[font=Arial]date 27-Oct-06
waking heart rate 45[/font]
[font=Arial]Morning Weight 9.8[/font]
[font=Arial]Hours of sleep 8[/font]
[font=Arial]Raiting 1 - 10 of enthusiasm for training [/font][font=Arial]+ life 7[/font]
[font=Arial]Time of day 9.45[/font]
[font=Arial]temperature 7C[/font]
[font=Arial]wind 12mph[/font]
[font=Arial]max heart rate 186[/font]
[font=Arial]average heart rate 171[/font]
[font=Arial]total time 24.52[/font]
[font=Arial]milage 6.12[/font]
[font=Arial]average speed 14.7[/font]
[font=Arial]rating 1 - 10 of feeling whilst training 4[/font]
[font=Arial]calories burned [/font][font=Arial]297.87[/font]

[font=Arial]I can say i learnt 1 thing from this ride... even if its only a 6 mile biking run, i must still take drink with me.. when i took no drink, and when i got home and got off my bike i ended up with a banging headache..[/font]

[font=Arial]Not too sure about that waking heart rate either lol... maybe i checked my heart rate a bit "too" quick when iw oke up lol (wore it over night so i could check it FIRST thing when i woke up) - quite interesting actually when i was just sittin there waiting for sleep to come i noticed i could hear the HRM sensor sending the signal to my watch.. didn't think it transmitted via sound[/font]
[font=Arial][/font]
[font=Arial]Xsmoker no worries i didn't take any offence by what you said. After this morning i surely see what you mean.[/font]
[font=Arial]
I felt exhausted by the time i got home (even if it was only 6 miles) - ill go out tomorrow morning before i start work and take the same route. from what my book says i wont neceserily be faster tomorrow, but as a overall result, i should see a general increase in my log. (or a decrease time wise).
[font=Arial][/font]
[/font][font=Arial]Once im used to 6 miles ill try 9 (and keep going up in 3 mile increments as i again feel comfortable) - providing i can find a suitable route lol.[/font]
[font=Arial][/font]
[font=Arial]Im not too sure ill make 3 days of centuries by next summer, todays drawn me back into realistic perspective, but then again i should take a drink with me tomorrow ill probably find i dont feel so knackered on the way home.[/font]

just out of interest what would a good resting heart rate be?

Ive done the training aforementioned this morning, and since then went golf range for 3 hours at 12PM and walking around town. Just got back about half a hour ago, my heart rate is 82.

Inspiring is the word I would use. 😉

ill be taking another run in the morning (with a drink this time) - ill let you know how i get on lol..