London to Southend
Discussion
Hi
Me and a few folks in my office are entering the London to Southend bike ride this year- all 59ish miles of it.
I have a couple of questions that my fellow PHers may be able to assist with-
How hard is this going to be? I ask this as someone who usually does about 10 miles off road each Saturday and Sunday but at my own pace, so 20 miles all in with some reasonable gradients at times. I did 25 miles off-road for a charity race last summer (when I was a bit fitter as I was going out every evening after work) without too much trouble so I assume almost 60 miles on-road should be within my range. Foolhardy?
My bike. I have a Kona Kula complete with 2.3" width knobbly off-road tyres. Some of the guys are going to switch to road tyres but as I will have to pay out for those I am tempted instead to put that cash towards a turbo trainer and just improve my fitness to a level which overcomes the extra drag of the tyres. Again: foolhardy or logical?
Any tips anyone can give me would be gratefully received. I know I probably couldn't do it if it was tomorrow but now the evenings are lighter I am going to endeavour to get back into my 5 mile fast off-road-circuit each evening routine so I'm hoping that come July it will be a relative breeze.
Me and a few folks in my office are entering the London to Southend bike ride this year- all 59ish miles of it.
I have a couple of questions that my fellow PHers may be able to assist with-
How hard is this going to be? I ask this as someone who usually does about 10 miles off road each Saturday and Sunday but at my own pace, so 20 miles all in with some reasonable gradients at times. I did 25 miles off-road for a charity race last summer (when I was a bit fitter as I was going out every evening after work) without too much trouble so I assume almost 60 miles on-road should be within my range. Foolhardy?
My bike. I have a Kona Kula complete with 2.3" width knobbly off-road tyres. Some of the guys are going to switch to road tyres but as I will have to pay out for those I am tempted instead to put that cash towards a turbo trainer and just improve my fitness to a level which overcomes the extra drag of the tyres. Again: foolhardy or logical?
Any tips anyone can give me would be gratefully received. I know I probably couldn't do it if it was tomorrow but now the evenings are lighter I am going to endeavour to get back into my 5 mile fast off-road-circuit each evening routine so I'm hoping that come July it will be a relative breeze.
You put a bunch of cyclists together and they all want to race each other. Dont get involved. Ride at your own pace. Buying skiny slicks will be the best thing for this ride. Hear the roar youre mtb tyres make on the road. Thats drag. Get in 3 longer road rides 30-40 miles before the event and a short ride only near the event. Get your mates to agree to all stick together, it will help you all. Make sure your saddles the right height. Stuff a few sports gels/bars in your pockets. Two drinks bottles. You will do it.
Good luck.
G
Good luck.
G
Cheers- I wonder how much extra pedal power will be required to overcome the drag extra though? I think I'll buy the trainer now and then in a month or two when I have forgotten the cost of it I will buy some slicks as well.
Wish we'd decided to do some kind of off-road circuit for charity now but I've already paid up on the entry fee. Maybe one for another time.
Wish we'd decided to do some kind of off-road circuit for charity now but I've already paid up on the entry fee. Maybe one for another time.
Don't bother with the turbo trainer, we're now heading towards summer and you're better off just getting out there ans riding, rather than not kidding yourself you've done a few miles in the garage.
Buy some new road tyres for £20 ish, pump them up nice and hard and go and put some 2 hour evening rides in and you should easily be covering 25 miles. Use one or two weekends between now and the event to do some 4-5 hour rides, and you'll be all set for romping through the 59 miles on the day.
Buy some new road tyres for £20 ish, pump them up nice and hard and go and put some 2 hour evening rides in and you should easily be covering 25 miles. Use one or two weekends between now and the event to do some 4-5 hour rides, and you'll be all set for romping through the 59 miles on the day.
If it's not until July, get out and ride for 2 or 3 nights a week, and maybe a longer ride at the weekend.
Do all this on your knobblies, and ride off rode as it's more fun anyway.
Stick a few quid a week aside and get a set of road slicks a few weeks before the event, and take some extended road rides ..... you'll have not problems to do that mileage at a steady pace.
Do all this on your knobblies, and ride off rode as it's more fun anyway.
Stick a few quid a week aside and get a set of road slicks a few weeks before the event, and take some extended road rides ..... you'll have not problems to do that mileage at a steady pace.
I did this ride two years ago on my Rockhopper. I did put slicks on it, they make a HUGE difference. Don't bother with the turbo trainer, what's the point in having a bike if you're not going to go out with it?!?!
My training for the ride was a bit basic, in that I stuck to my normal 15 mile off road rides at weekends, and the odd blast during the week. I then did two thirty mile road rides in the preceding weeks, and managed to complete it in 3 1/2 hrs.
My advice is make sure you get the right food in you. I didn't, and only ate a ham role half way round. I felt dizzy and nauseous at the end. Oh, and the other thing, have a massage when you've finished. I woke up the following day and my legs felt good as new!
My training for the ride was a bit basic, in that I stuck to my normal 15 mile off road rides at weekends, and the odd blast during the week. I then did two thirty mile road rides in the preceding weeks, and managed to complete it in 3 1/2 hrs.
My advice is make sure you get the right food in you. I didn't, and only ate a ham role half way round. I felt dizzy and nauseous at the end. Oh, and the other thing, have a massage when you've finished. I woke up the following day and my legs felt good as new!
Thanks, the Turbo Trainer idea was just that although I wouldn't have time to put in a spin round the trails before work I could do a few miles on the trainer but I think that idea has gone out of the window as I understand that off-road tyres will make an awful racket unless I go for one of the more expensive rim-drive (guffaw) models. And if I'm going to swap tyres round then I may as well just get suited up to go for an actual ride!
It's a piece of cake. Done it 4 or 5 times now. The first time I did it I hadn't ridden a bike for about 10 years and went out and bought one the day before (very cheap mountain bike) - that was fairly tough in places but I still managed it no problem.
Edited by furtive on Tuesday 3rd April 13:49
furtive said:
It's a piece of cake. Done it 4 or 5 times now. The first time I did it I hadn't ridden a bike for about 10 years and went out and bought one the day before (very cheap mountain bike) - that was fairly tough in places but I still managed it no problem.
Edited by furtive on Tuesday 3rd April 13:49
Answer to a similar question last year on what to take:
Tools: Allen keys, tyre levers, spare tubes, puncture kit, mobile phone. If you don't have q/r hubs, a spanner to get wheel off. Cash and credit cards.
Fluid: Water or better still a pre-mixed sports drink, at least one litre, (two bidons). Normal "Fat" Coke, mixed 50/50 with water is a good substitute. Breakfast bars/malt loaf/jam sarnies/Dextrosol.
Use Sudo Cream (lots) on your bum, with proper shorts. It has anti-acid properties and prevents blisters and soreness. Make sure saddle area is clean. Dress sensibly. Wear eye protection. Helmet is optional.
Use mitts, hands get sore. Wear cotton sox. Make sure your saddle height is the optimum and not too high. Pump tyres up hard. Lube chain.
Finish breakfast, (porridge plus raisins) one hour plus before setting off. Make sure you have a bowel movement before riding, (sorry, but it's basic common sense). Hydrate well with water before starting out.
Tools: Allen keys, tyre levers, spare tubes, puncture kit, mobile phone. If you don't have q/r hubs, a spanner to get wheel off. Cash and credit cards.
Fluid: Water or better still a pre-mixed sports drink, at least one litre, (two bidons). Normal "Fat" Coke, mixed 50/50 with water is a good substitute. Breakfast bars/malt loaf/jam sarnies/Dextrosol.
Use Sudo Cream (lots) on your bum, with proper shorts. It has anti-acid properties and prevents blisters and soreness. Make sure saddle area is clean. Dress sensibly. Wear eye protection. Helmet is optional.
Use mitts, hands get sore. Wear cotton sox. Make sure your saddle height is the optimum and not too high. Pump tyres up hard. Lube chain.
Finish breakfast, (porridge plus raisins) one hour plus before setting off. Make sure you have a bowel movement before riding, (sorry, but it's basic common sense). Hydrate well with water before starting out.
saddle bum said:
Answer to a similar question last year on what to take:
Tools: Allen keys, tyre levers, spare tubes, puncture kit, mobile phone. If you don't have q/r hubs, a spanner to get wheel off. Cash and credit cards.
Fluid: Water or better still a pre-mixed sports drink, at least one litre, (two bidons). Normal "Fat" Coke, mixed 50/50 with water is a good substitute. Breakfast bars/malt loaf/jam sarnies/Dextrosol.
Use Sudo Cream (lots) on your bum, with proper shorts. It has anti-acid properties and prevents blisters and soreness. Make sure saddle area is clean. Dress sensibly. Wear eye protection. Helmet is optional.
Use mitts, hands get sore. Wear cotton sox. Make sure your saddle height is the optimum and not too high. Pump tyres up hard. Lube chain.
Finish breakfast, (porridge plus raisins) one hour plus before setting off. Make sure you have a bowel movement before riding, (sorry, but it's basic common sense). Hydrate well with water before starting out.
Tools: Allen keys, tyre levers, spare tubes, puncture kit, mobile phone. If you don't have q/r hubs, a spanner to get wheel off. Cash and credit cards.
Fluid: Water or better still a pre-mixed sports drink, at least one litre, (two bidons). Normal "Fat" Coke, mixed 50/50 with water is a good substitute. Breakfast bars/malt loaf/jam sarnies/Dextrosol.
Use Sudo Cream (lots) on your bum, with proper shorts. It has anti-acid properties and prevents blisters and soreness. Make sure saddle area is clean. Dress sensibly. Wear eye protection. Helmet is optional.
Use mitts, hands get sore. Wear cotton sox. Make sure your saddle height is the optimum and not too high. Pump tyres up hard. Lube chain.
Finish breakfast, (porridge plus raisins) one hour plus before setting off. Make sure you have a bowel movement before riding, (sorry, but it's basic common sense). Hydrate well with water before starting out.
Sudo Cream is my good fried too!
However, I have to disagree with a helmet being optional. I would strongly recommend wearing one, if not because of your own cycling ability, but in case someone else cycles into you!
AARONM3 said:
Well it's this Sunday... any other PHers going to be there?
My start time is 8.15
I did this last year on my brother-in-laws mountain bike. It's not too tough and there's not many nasty hills. I think your problem is going to be the wind. Easterly at 22kmh. That's pretty much in your face the entire way. Conserve your energy, don't forget to eat and drink regularly (something I got wrong last year and suffered at about 50 miles). Best of luck.My start time is 8.15
I'm doing the Essex Coast ride tomorrow. Southend - Maldon - Burnham - Southend. At 61 miles it'll be the furthest I've ridden in one go.
Boomshanker said:
AARONM3 said:
Well it's this Sunday... any other PHers going to be there?
My start time is 8.15
I did this last year on my brother-in-laws mountain bike. It's not too tough and there's not many nasty hills. I think your problem is going to be the wind. Easterly at 22kmh. That's pretty much in your face the entire way. Conserve your energy, don't forget to eat and drink regularly (something I got wrong last year and suffered at about 50 miles). Best of luck.My start time is 8.15
I'm doing the Essex Coast ride tomorrow. Southend - Maldon - Burnham - Southend. At 61 miles it'll be the furthest I've ridden in one go.
You forgot to mention the fact that you hid 5mm from someone's rear tyre, nicely tucked up in their slipstream for 55 miles.
gbbird said:
I'm going to start doing some long road rides on my MTB, and i will definitely be putting road tyres on.
60 miles you should be OK. I can do 40 miles on the roads with relatively little stress. Just get some regular practice in from now on in.
Funny that Greg, I thought the same. Did a 62 mile ride on Saturday, in aid of a kiddies hospice. 40 not a huge problem, was feeling ok. We stopped for a drink and a power bar or two, and set off. Absolute hell after that. The next 22 were the most painful thing I have ever been through. In the lowest gear possible, but had nothing left in the legs. Don't think I got over 5mph after that....Never again!60 miles you should be OK. I can do 40 miles on the roads with relatively little stress. Just get some regular practice in from now on in.
I ride from home -> Bristol and back every weekend. Stop at a pub and have a couple of pints. Not pushing that hard really and the whole lot is railway path/towpath.
62 miles in total and i'm fine (most of the time) when I get back. Eating and hydrating really is very important. Get yourself a CamelBak and let us know how it goes.
(How do you get back to London after?)
62 miles in total and i'm fine (most of the time) when I get back. Eating and hydrating really is very important. Get yourself a CamelBak and let us know how it goes.
(How do you get back to London after?)
Chilli said:
gbbird said:
I'm going to start doing some long road rides on my MTB, and i will definitely be putting road tyres on.
60 miles you should be OK. I can do 40 miles on the roads with relatively little stress. Just get some regular practice in from now on in.
Funny that Greg, I thought the same. Did a 62 mile ride on Saturday, in aid of a kiddies hospice. 40 not a huge problem, was feeling ok. We stopped for a drink and a power bar or two, and set off. Absolute hell after that. The next 22 were the most painful thing I have ever been through. In the lowest gear possible, but had nothing left in the legs. Don't think I got over 5mph after that....Never again!60 miles you should be OK. I can do 40 miles on the roads with relatively little stress. Just get some regular practice in from now on in.
Well, I survived! Didn't think it was too bad but the people I was riding with were a fair bit slower so I got plenty of stops in whilst waiting for them, which probably saved me from knackering myself in the first 30 or so miles.
Turned out to be a pretty hot day though and my Camelbak leaked from the off so I had to buy a few bottles of energy drink which seemed to do the trick- and I don't ache too much today which is good!
Turned out to be a pretty hot day though and my Camelbak leaked from the off so I had to buy a few bottles of energy drink which seemed to do the trick- and I don't ache too much today which is good!
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