My first half-century...almost.
Discussion
I came so close. 
Let me start by saying 1. the furthest I had ever ridden before was 40 (or maybe 42) miles. 2. I was using the only bike I own (shameful I know); a hardtail MTB with slicks
It was a perfect day for it; sunshine but not blistering due to some patchy cloud cover. Temp was around 20 degrees I would say for the majority of the ride. I had recently spent a few hours lovingly servicing (oo-er) my bike, something I had never paid that much attention to other than throwing a bit of oil on the chain and any other moving bits that looked or sounded like they needed it.
I went out on it a couple of days before and 28 miles in lost a crank bolt. A bolt that I had repeatedly had to tweak almost every ride. So I ordered a replacement. Whilst I couldn't ride I figured I would adjust the rear derailluer as the gears had been less than perfect for, well, years.
I spent a couple of hours messing with them and gave up. Had a look on YT and found a nugget of info that said if they shift ok one way but not the other chances are it's the cable that's guilty. Quick look inside the shifter and the thing has frayed halfway through. New cable ordered. Quick 14 mile shakedown and it was genuinely like a new bike. Well chuffed and things were looking good for the next day's target of 50.
So the next day I set out on my ride with a target of 50 miles, a new personal best, with a minimum average of 14.5mph as my target.
I kind of make my routes up on the fly with a general idea of where I'm going. Mistake no.1!
I'm no KoM. This ride had, for me, 4 killer hills on it and by killer I mean dropping down to about 8mph, biggest chainring on the back (the front stays on the biggest all the time, I'm not THAT unfit!). Three of which came within the first 15 miles or so.
Mistake no.2 (the most serious) was my food prep. I figured 2 weetabix, a peach blended into water with half a scoop of preworkout before I left and a banana for the ride with 750ml of water would be enough. Yeah nah that was never going to work.
20 miles in, feeling good, enjoying the weather.
30 miles in, thinking another 20 miles to go may be a bit of a struggle since the saddle soreness is kicking in.
35 miles in, thinking another 15 is DEFINITELY going to be a struggle.
40 miles in coincided with the last of the killer climbs. I am, at this point, struggling to keep my head up to see the road ahead, I'm wobbling all over the road due to moving at about 7mph up this hill and now to my feet are starting to go numb too.
But I make it!
Now I get a second wind. At least what I THOUGHT was a second wind. That lasted for about 5 mins.
I now realise that 50 miles is doable from this position, but it's going to be tough. So tough I'm now taking the shortest route home with a view to making up any shortfall by doing laps of my neighbourhood.
I freewheel down a descent and begin turning the pedals again at the bottom. It was here I knew I was in trouble. So much so that I pulled into a petrol station dead on 45 miles, approximately 4 miles from home, and almost collapsed.
Like proper collapsed.
Light-headed, stumbling about, feeling sick etc etc.
I had to face facts. I either call the missus for a pick-up or I almost certainly get hit by a car with how wobbly my riding was. I even waited by the tyre compressor so I could spray water over my head after someone had finished using it!
So, a new PB (yay!), 5 miles short of the half-century (boo!) and a new-found realisation that fuelling for a proper +3hr workout is probably the most important part of prep.
I'm not sure I can be bothered to attempt it again!
Let me start by saying 1. the furthest I had ever ridden before was 40 (or maybe 42) miles. 2. I was using the only bike I own (shameful I know); a hardtail MTB with slicks
It was a perfect day for it; sunshine but not blistering due to some patchy cloud cover. Temp was around 20 degrees I would say for the majority of the ride. I had recently spent a few hours lovingly servicing (oo-er) my bike, something I had never paid that much attention to other than throwing a bit of oil on the chain and any other moving bits that looked or sounded like they needed it.
I went out on it a couple of days before and 28 miles in lost a crank bolt. A bolt that I had repeatedly had to tweak almost every ride. So I ordered a replacement. Whilst I couldn't ride I figured I would adjust the rear derailluer as the gears had been less than perfect for, well, years.
I spent a couple of hours messing with them and gave up. Had a look on YT and found a nugget of info that said if they shift ok one way but not the other chances are it's the cable that's guilty. Quick look inside the shifter and the thing has frayed halfway through. New cable ordered. Quick 14 mile shakedown and it was genuinely like a new bike. Well chuffed and things were looking good for the next day's target of 50.
So the next day I set out on my ride with a target of 50 miles, a new personal best, with a minimum average of 14.5mph as my target.
I kind of make my routes up on the fly with a general idea of where I'm going. Mistake no.1!
I'm no KoM. This ride had, for me, 4 killer hills on it and by killer I mean dropping down to about 8mph, biggest chainring on the back (the front stays on the biggest all the time, I'm not THAT unfit!). Three of which came within the first 15 miles or so.
Mistake no.2 (the most serious) was my food prep. I figured 2 weetabix, a peach blended into water with half a scoop of preworkout before I left and a banana for the ride with 750ml of water would be enough. Yeah nah that was never going to work.
20 miles in, feeling good, enjoying the weather.
30 miles in, thinking another 20 miles to go may be a bit of a struggle since the saddle soreness is kicking in.
35 miles in, thinking another 15 is DEFINITELY going to be a struggle.
40 miles in coincided with the last of the killer climbs. I am, at this point, struggling to keep my head up to see the road ahead, I'm wobbling all over the road due to moving at about 7mph up this hill and now to my feet are starting to go numb too.
But I make it!
Now I get a second wind. At least what I THOUGHT was a second wind. That lasted for about 5 mins.
I now realise that 50 miles is doable from this position, but it's going to be tough. So tough I'm now taking the shortest route home with a view to making up any shortfall by doing laps of my neighbourhood.
I freewheel down a descent and begin turning the pedals again at the bottom. It was here I knew I was in trouble. So much so that I pulled into a petrol station dead on 45 miles, approximately 4 miles from home, and almost collapsed.
Like proper collapsed.
Light-headed, stumbling about, feeling sick etc etc.
I had to face facts. I either call the missus for a pick-up or I almost certainly get hit by a car with how wobbly my riding was. I even waited by the tyre compressor so I could spray water over my head after someone had finished using it!
So, a new PB (yay!), 5 miles short of the half-century (boo!) and a new-found realisation that fuelling for a proper +3hr workout is probably the most important part of prep.
I'm not sure I can be bothered to attempt it again!
Edited by Centurion07 on Sunday 26th April 18:59
Edited by Centurion07 on Sunday 26th April 19:00
Edited by Centurion07 on Sunday 26th April 19:00
Centurion07 said:
I spent a couple of hours messing with them and gave up. Had a look on YT and found a nugget of info that said if they shift ok one way but not the other chances are it's the cable that's guilty. Quick look inside the shifter and the thing has frayed halfway through. New cable ordered. Quick 14 mile shakedown and it was genuinely like a new bike. Well chuffed and things were looking for the next day's target of 50.
...
I'm no KoM. This ride had, for me, 4 killer hills on it and by killer I mean dropping down to about 8mph, biggest chainring on the back (the front stays on the biggest all the time, I'm not THAT unfit!). Three of which came within the 15 or so miles.
You live and learn ...
I'm no KoM. This ride had, for me, 4 killer hills on it and by killer I mean dropping down to about 8mph, biggest chainring on the back (the front stays on the biggest all the time, I'm not THAT unfit!). Three of which came within the 15 or so miles.
Whilst you're learning - extend the life of your drivetrain by using more than the big chainring on the front
https://wickwerks.com/support/crosschaining/
and when it comes to tinkering with gears.. unless the cable and outer are brand new, just replace em - it's about £4 and will save you hours of needless faffing. As you found it, its the best thing you can do to a bike that's been around a while!
shouldbworking said:
You live and learn
Whilst you're learning - extend the life of your drivetrain by using more than the big chainring on the front
https://wickwerks.com/support/crosschaining/
and when it comes to tinkering with gears.. unless the cable and outer are brand new, just replace em - it's about £4 and will save you hours of needless faffing. As you found it, its the best thing you can do to a bike that's been around a while!
TBF, I've had no other drivetrain issues in the circa 14yrs I've owned it and I sometimes find the difference in ratio between a couple of gears a little large so faffing around with the front rings as well just isn't going to happen! Whilst you're learning - extend the life of your drivetrain by using more than the big chainring on the front
https://wickwerks.com/support/crosschaining/
and when it comes to tinkering with gears.. unless the cable and outer are brand new, just replace em - it's about £4 and will save you hours of needless faffing. As you found it, its the best thing you can do to a bike that's been around a while!
You will do it next time and well done on a new distance PB. Good going.
A couple of things that came to mind as I read your post.
You are right that it was mostly about the food / drink. Far better to take a bit too much with you rather than bonk like that so close to home (most cyclists have been there by the way: you aren't the first and you won't be the last!). Little and often on the food and keep sloshing the water down - you can always stop for a pee!
Don't worry about going into a lower gear (smaller chainring at the front) for the hills. It is generally easier on the legs to pedal a smaller gear at a bit higher cadence than to try to get up a hill on the big chainring as some sort of show of strength. Dropping into lower gears for hills isn't a sign of being unfit, it is about optimising things so you get up there quicker &/or less knackered
A couple of things that came to mind as I read your post.
You are right that it was mostly about the food / drink. Far better to take a bit too much with you rather than bonk like that so close to home (most cyclists have been there by the way: you aren't the first and you won't be the last!). Little and often on the food and keep sloshing the water down - you can always stop for a pee!
Don't worry about going into a lower gear (smaller chainring at the front) for the hills. It is generally easier on the legs to pedal a smaller gear at a bit higher cadence than to try to get up a hill on the big chainring as some sort of show of strength. Dropping into lower gears for hills isn't a sign of being unfit, it is about optimising things so you get up there quicker &/or less knackered
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