Discussion
Did 211km yesterday on my fixed - averaged 25.4km, did it in 9h10m, including 2 goes at fixing a puncture and a tyre change, and 3 stops to get receipts for proof of passage (55mins stopped, IIRC). Cannot get warm. Two long soaks in ridiculously hot baths, gallons of hot tea. I feel like a heroine in a Jane Austin novel.
Been commuting on fixed for a couple of months, and done a 100km, so legs should have been fine. However, it was noticeably harder than geared equivalent distance - felt more like a 300 to me. The last 40km I was counting down every 10km, looking forward to it being over. Got out on the bike today, but didn't really want to. Slept for 9 hours last night and will be asleep soon. How these old chaps I hear of keep up multiple 200kms month in month out for years on the trot is beyond me. A guy who appeared to be in his 60s came storming past me with about 25km to go. Humbling. Definitely an experience, but 9 hours in the cold isn't something I'm in a big hurry to repeat. Might feel different when I finally get warm.
Been commuting on fixed for a couple of months, and done a 100km, so legs should have been fine. However, it was noticeably harder than geared equivalent distance - felt more like a 300 to me. The last 40km I was counting down every 10km, looking forward to it being over. Got out on the bike today, but didn't really want to. Slept for 9 hours last night and will be asleep soon. How these old chaps I hear of keep up multiple 200kms month in month out for years on the trot is beyond me. A guy who appeared to be in his 60s came storming past me with about 25km to go. Humbling. Definitely an experience, but 9 hours in the cold isn't something I'm in a big hurry to repeat. Might feel different when I finally get warm.
Wow, not the best time of year for a 200km effort, the cold weather takes a lot of energy out of you and will take a fair time to recover those energies. What size fixed gear are you on ? the guys who do these distances regularly are doing it because they have done these distances for years, they know how to pace themselves, how to replenish spent energy (food / drinks etc), certainly doing it on fixed is doing yourself no favours.
I'd certainly want to do a fair number of 100km - 150km rides before I stept up to 200+km, I did just over 100km on Saturday in 3hrs 20m, then did a session on the turbo on Sunday, couldn't face 2 days running in nr freezing temps.
google Tommy Godwin (record breaker) I think he averaged 120 miles EVERY DAY for a year in 1939 !!!!
I'd certainly want to do a fair number of 100km - 150km rides before I stept up to 200+km, I did just over 100km on Saturday in 3hrs 20m, then did a session on the turbo on Sunday, couldn't face 2 days running in nr freezing temps.
google Tommy Godwin (record breaker) I think he averaged 120 miles EVERY DAY for a year in 1939 !!!!
tough weather for a 200km Dr Mekon rather you than me, 36 miles in -4 on Saturday was enough for me, on studded ice tyres swerni said:
Suggest you do a search of the good doctors explooits.
He has probably done more distance riding than anyone else here and more than many of us put together.
Ok fella was only posting a reply in a non critical manner. Have done a fair bit myself, Won't bore you with too many details as it's not my way but He has probably done more distance riding than anyone else here and more than many of us put together.
raced as a pro in the 70's, done 2 week stage races and regularly ridden 20,000 miles / yr, still race a bit now in France.
Hope the good doc has thawed out by now !
swerni said:
Sorry, that wasn't meant to sound snotty, appologies if it did.
He constantly puts us to shame with stories of hundreds of KM rides for the fun of it.
ETA
Check out http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Mad as a box of frogs
No need to apologise swerny, I don't know the doc and from his post it sounded like he might be a novice !! I thought he was after some advice, how wrong can you be !!!He constantly puts us to shame with stories of hundreds of KM rides for the fun of it.
ETA
Check out http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Mad as a box of frogs
Edited by swerni on Monday 13th February 22:14
would still be interested in what ratio he was hauling round !!!
I don't mean to sound like i'm sounding off either !
Always keen to learn from others. Have some long distance experience last - year I did 100, 200, 300, 600, and a 600 over the Brecons and back in October. However, that last 600 is my only winter ride over 100km, and I'm not a club cyclist. I have only been really taking my cycling semi-seriously (as opposed to just dicking about without any aims) for a couple of years, so loads to learn.
I think my chill is man-flu. Two nights of night sweats, shivering and coughing. Now the kids have come down with it with added vomiting. I think I was coming down with it on the ride.
It was stupid to strip down to a merino baselayer and a long-sleeve whilst chasing for 80km. Should have stopped to put on a jacket. Realising I was freezing when I got to the turn, I should have grabbed something hot to drink or waited for a group to emerge. Instead, I grabbed a twix and got straight on the bike as I knew by that point I could be third home (doesn't count for anything, but you know how it is). Food choices where based on what I could eat on the go. I got through
Bowl of overnight oats for breakfast
1 Frijj
2 Copella
1.75 litre of electrolyte drink
175g of plain flapjack
2 snicker duos (first chocolate since January)
1 twix
I think my chill is man-flu. Two nights of night sweats, shivering and coughing. Now the kids have come down with it with added vomiting. I think I was coming down with it on the ride.
It was stupid to strip down to a merino baselayer and a long-sleeve whilst chasing for 80km. Should have stopped to put on a jacket. Realising I was freezing when I got to the turn, I should have grabbed something hot to drink or waited for a group to emerge. Instead, I grabbed a twix and got straight on the bike as I knew by that point I could be third home (doesn't count for anything, but you know how it is). Food choices where based on what I could eat on the go. I got through
Bowl of overnight oats for breakfast
1 Frijj
2 Copella
1.75 litre of electrolyte drink
175g of plain flapjack
2 snicker duos (first chocolate since January)
1 twix
racerbob said:
done 2 week stage races and regularly ridden 20,000 miles / yr, still race a bit now in France.
Yes - plenty to learn from someone with your experience!Edited by DrMekon on Tuesday 14th February 10:58
DrMekon said:
Yes - plenty to learn from someone with your experience!
Always happy to help out. But still learning myself after all this time !Edited by DrMekon on Tuesday 14th February 10:58
It is the easiest thing in the world to go down with something nasty at this time of the year. It horrifies me to see clubs that do say 40 miles, get all sweaty, then stop in a cafe for 30-40 minutes, get cold, then set off for another 25-30 miles to get home, asking for trouble imo. I'd rather do less miles, not stop and eat / drink on the go, but I know, it's a social thing !!
Other thing is, I always carry a race cape, even if it's not going to rain, if you are delayed with a mechanical prob, again at this time of year, you get cold so quick, but once you are on the way again, putting the cape on just makes the difference, even with all the thermal stuff, it's amazing how quick a sore throat or chill can develop.
you still have't told me what ratio you used on this 'little' epic doc ! At least you weren't in shorts like some I know !!!
Sorry, I was on 67". Definite fan of not stopping - my long rides are always AudaxUK events. Most people seem happy to stand outside a petrol station gassing, or sitting down for an olympic breakfast in a little chef. I'd much rather keep rolling. I've only felt the benefit of a stop when I've needed sleep on my 600s, at around 400km. However, I definitely wore too little for the first half.
DrMekon said:
Sorry, I was on 67". Definite fan of not stopping - my long rides are always AudaxUK events. Most people seem happy to stand outside a petrol station gassing, or sitting down for an olympic breakfast in a little chef. I'd much rather keep rolling. I've only felt the benefit of a stop when I've needed sleep on my 600s, at around 400km. However, I definitely wore too little for the first half.
ah that sounds like a sensible ratio, economic pedalling !looking at what you do, i reckon you should be well up for the next Paris-Brest-Paris, if you haven't already done it ! A few French mates in my club over here have done it a few times, I think it's about 1200 kilometers !
Got to admit that these days, much as I enjoy being out on the bike, anything much over 4 hrs does my head in, I can't just ride for the sake of doing loads of miles / kilometers, rather do shorter faster stuff, hence the reason behind still doing circuit races / criteriums, apart from the risk of crashing of course, which has happened, and most times they've been avoidable, just bad bike handling.
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