First long sportive coming up.......couple questions
Discussion
Morning Chaps,
I started Road Cycling earlier this year to get fit and lose a couple LB's.
I generally do 3 or 4 rides a week averaging 15-20miles each, varying between 17mph and 20mph. I have done a handful of longer rides in the 40-60mile range, with the longest being 60miles which took me 3.5hrs.
The event I am looking to do is the Wiggle Glastonbury Tor 95 miler on Sept 22nd.
So, I have just looked at the route and realised its a bloody long way, how should I approach this? Keep doing a couple of my 15-20mile rides in the week and try and push a 60-70mile ride out every weekend until the event and hope my spirit carries me the extra distance on the day?
OR do I need to pull my finger out and try and do 80 miles this weekend.
Also what are these events like? The website says it has 1000 places available - that sounds like an awful lot of bikes!
Cheers.
I started Road Cycling earlier this year to get fit and lose a couple LB's.
I generally do 3 or 4 rides a week averaging 15-20miles each, varying between 17mph and 20mph. I have done a handful of longer rides in the 40-60mile range, with the longest being 60miles which took me 3.5hrs.
The event I am looking to do is the Wiggle Glastonbury Tor 95 miler on Sept 22nd.
So, I have just looked at the route and realised its a bloody long way, how should I approach this? Keep doing a couple of my 15-20mile rides in the week and try and push a 60-70mile ride out every weekend until the event and hope my spirit carries me the extra distance on the day?
OR do I need to pull my finger out and try and do 80 miles this weekend.
Also what are these events like? The website says it has 1000 places available - that sounds like an awful lot of bikes!
Cheers.
My longest ever ride was 65 miles.....and then I did a 130mile ride.
So long as you pace yourself sensibly, eat/drink right then you'll be able to do that extra distance.
If you want to do it quicker, then of course you'll need to train specifically - but don't worry about being able to do it in the first place though
So long as you pace yourself sensibly, eat/drink right then you'll be able to do that extra distance.
If you want to do it quicker, then of course you'll need to train specifically - but don't worry about being able to do it in the first place though
i heard somewhere that as a rule of thumb for an average 'bod', you can generally cycle in a day the amount you cycle in a week - ie if you do a couple of 20 mile rides in the weekday and a 50 mile ride at the weekend, then doing 90 miles as a one off in a day is no problem.
whether that's true or not i think you have the fitness if you are doing 60 miles in 3.5 hours. pace yourself on the day, make sure you have sensible fluid intake. these sportives always have decent food stops so i cant see you should have any physcial problem. just enjoy the day and hope it doesn't rain!
whether that's true or not i think you have the fitness if you are doing 60 miles in 3.5 hours. pace yourself on the day, make sure you have sensible fluid intake. these sportives always have decent food stops so i cant see you should have any physcial problem. just enjoy the day and hope it doesn't rain!
Thanks for your replies. It was more the reassurance that I was after, I think pure determination will get me through if it has to.
I think I will try and aim for about 6-6.5hours (my annoying brother is aiming for 4:45)
If my legs have any go over the next couple days I will try a longer ride and benchmark myself.
Lets just hope we can get some more PH Tops made up in time
I think I will try and aim for about 6-6.5hours (my annoying brother is aiming for 4:45)
If my legs have any go over the next couple days I will try a longer ride and benchmark myself.
Lets just hope we can get some more PH Tops made up in time
Edited by russy01 on Wednesday 24th July 10:32
If you just want to finish your be fine, but if you want to be finish with a half decent avg speed your need to step up the distance on your normal rides. I went from a 80 miles longest ride to a 110 mile ride, the last 10 miles on the 110 was painful, i was so slow it was embarrassing.
Ofcourse it also depends on how hilly the ride is, if all the hills are at the start of the route than your be fine, but I find once I'm pushing beyond what I'm use to normally (40-50miles) any half decent hill just kills my legs, yes I can get up them but it becomes a case of just 'surviving' rather than been able to attack the hills
Ofcourse it also depends on how hilly the ride is, if all the hills are at the start of the route than your be fine, but I find once I'm pushing beyond what I'm use to normally (40-50miles) any half decent hill just kills my legs, yes I can get up them but it becomes a case of just 'surviving' rather than been able to attack the hills
gangzoom said:
If you just want to finish your be fine, but if you want to be finish with a half decent avg speed your need to step up the distance on your normal rides. I went from a 80 miles longest ride to a 110 mile ride, the last 10 miles on the 110 was painful, i was so slow it was embarrassing.
Ofcourse it also depends on how hilly the ride is, if all the hills are at the start of the route than your be fine, but I find once I'm pushing beyond what I'm use to normally (40-50miles) any half decent hill just kills my legs, yes I can get up them but it becomes a case of just 'surviving' rather than been able to attack the hills
Its a fairly hilly route, but nothing too serious - 2200m all in. At about 20miles we have Cheddar Gorge which is a killer, but luckily its early on. The trickiest bit is going to be a 20-25mile section from 60miles - which is a gradual pull up several hills. Ofcourse it also depends on how hilly the ride is, if all the hills are at the start of the route than your be fine, but I find once I'm pushing beyond what I'm use to normally (40-50miles) any half decent hill just kills my legs, yes I can get up them but it becomes a case of just 'surviving' rather than been able to attack the hills
However the ride passes through where I currently live and where I used to live - so I know the route/hills well.
I think ill step up my normal ride distance (its fairly short as I often go to the gym after and play football) - with some pacing I think it should be a fun but challenging ride.
TonyHetherington said:
That 4th bump's a cliff 
Yup its a fair old pull up the Gorge, but its short and sharp and makes the rest of the climb feel easy by comparison. Coming back down into Wells on the otherside is great though - can hold 35-40mph downhill for a few miles.I may go and do the gorge after work - not done it in a long time.
Rob covers the pertinent points but I'd add to that and say chat people on the route, its makes the miles go past easier. I got chatting to a rider on the last sportive I did who had run out of food and was not in a happy place so I shared what I had left and we got to the finish. I doubt they would have asked if I had not said hello...
Cheddar Gorge is easier than you'd think, the second left hand hairpin is the tightest point so prepare for it, pick a gear get out of the saddle, keep right and take a wide line using all the lane available. Once you are through there its fairly consistent all the way up.
Good luck, didnt know about this but I'm in Yorkshire that weekend and cant make it
Cheddar Gorge is easier than you'd think, the second left hand hairpin is the tightest point so prepare for it, pick a gear get out of the saddle, keep right and take a wide line using all the lane available. Once you are through there its fairly consistent all the way up.
Good luck, didnt know about this but I'm in Yorkshire that weekend and cant make it
pablo said:
Rob covers the pertinent points but I'd add to that and say chat people on the route, its makes the miles go past easier. I got chatting to a rider on the last sportive I did who had run out of food and was not in a happy place so I shared what I had left and we got to the finish. I doubt they would have asked if I had not said hello...
Cheddar Gorge is easier than you'd think, the second left hand hairpin is the tightest point so prepare for it, pick a gear get out of the saddle, keep right and take a wide line using all the lane available. Once you are through there its fairly consistent all the way up.
Good luck, didnt know about this but I'm in Yorkshire that weekend and cant make it
Yea I was thinking the same, I am trying to get a couple chaps to do it with me (we often ride together so are similarly paced).Cheddar Gorge is easier than you'd think, the second left hand hairpin is the tightest point so prepare for it, pick a gear get out of the saddle, keep right and take a wide line using all the lane available. Once you are through there its fairly consistent all the way up.
Good luck, didnt know about this but I'm in Yorkshire that weekend and cant make it
As for the Gorge I know the corner you mean, Living 10mins away the S2000 often stretches its legs up and around the area. But I'll admit I normally go down on the bike, not up!
russy01 said:
Also what are these events like? The website says it has 1000 places available - that sounds like an awful lot of bikes!
It sounds like alot but in reality isn't, (some sportives have 3-4000, charity rides can be 20-30,000!). They let people go in 20-50 size groups with several minutes between over a couple of hours, after a couple of miles you're spread out into a continuous broken line of bikes with some people gapping between small groups then passing and others slowly dropping back. In my experience you'll spot the same 10-20 people over and over again who're doing about the same speed as you, despite there being hundreds of people infront and behind you don't see them except at the start/finish.
The fuel stops are generally plentiful, normally about 20miles apart so you only need to carry enough to go that far then collect a pocket full of freebie food and top your drink up, avoid the 9Bars if they're handing them out, like eating sticky gravel IMO :-)
Given the amount you ride I don't think you'll have a problem finishing, as others have said you might need to step up if you're aiming at "a time" but otherwise just go easy first half and keep something in the tank for the last hour.
I’ve only done a couple of 100 mile rides. Preparation beforehand has been commuting 4 or 5 times a week and maybe the odd 20/30 miles on the weekend.
I’m going to presume that your bike is set up correctly and is comfortable and that your kit and clothing will be comfortable and appropriate. I found that there’s an average pace that providing I’m comfortable, I can sit at all day long. For me it’s just over 13mph on your average terrain. Anything over that pace and the old advice of eat before you’re hungry and drink before you’re thirsty is key IMHO, It’s also important to remember and or not ignore this. It’s easy to forget or postpone taking on food and drink and by the time you get round to sorting it it’ll be too late.
Your target time, for me, would be quite ambitious but I’m sure you’ll be absolutely fine.
I’m going to presume that your bike is set up correctly and is comfortable and that your kit and clothing will be comfortable and appropriate. I found that there’s an average pace that providing I’m comfortable, I can sit at all day long. For me it’s just over 13mph on your average terrain. Anything over that pace and the old advice of eat before you’re hungry and drink before you’re thirsty is key IMHO, It’s also important to remember and or not ignore this. It’s easy to forget or postpone taking on food and drink and by the time you get round to sorting it it’ll be too late.
Your target time, for me, would be quite ambitious but I’m sure you’ll be absolutely fine.
Thanks for all your input.
I've got some decent gear and 2 decent bikes (Giant TCR advanced and a Cannondale Supersix) so that shouldn't be an issue.
As for the energy bars etc I normally avoid them and stick with a harvest bar or something - my only issue is going to be water if its hot as I drink a lot. Although the feed stations should be often enough that I can fill my bottles up.
Right, well enough chatting lets get the bike out and go for a ride.
I've got some decent gear and 2 decent bikes (Giant TCR advanced and a Cannondale Supersix) so that shouldn't be an issue.
As for the energy bars etc I normally avoid them and stick with a harvest bar or something - my only issue is going to be water if its hot as I drink a lot. Although the feed stations should be often enough that I can fill my bottles up.
Right, well enough chatting lets get the bike out and go for a ride.
russy01 said:
Thanks for all your input.
I've got some decent gear and 2 decent bikes (Giant TCR advanced and a Cannondale Supersix) so that shouldn't be an issue.
As for the energy bars etc I normally avoid them and stick with a harvest bar or something - my only issue is going to be water if its hot as I drink a lot. Although the feed stations should be often enough that I can fill my bottles up.
Right, well enough chatting lets get the bike out and go for a ride.
So you started this year - but your bought a supersix! Nice work. I've got some decent gear and 2 decent bikes (Giant TCR advanced and a Cannondale Supersix) so that shouldn't be an issue.
As for the energy bars etc I normally avoid them and stick with a harvest bar or something - my only issue is going to be water if its hot as I drink a lot. Although the feed stations should be often enough that I can fill my bottles up.
Right, well enough chatting lets get the bike out and go for a ride.
russy01 said:
my only issue is going to be water if its hot as I drink a lot. Although the feed stations should be often enough that I can fill my bottles up.
2 bottles should give you 1.5ltrs, will you need more than that every 20miles? (check the fuel stops gaps on the sportive map, usual is 20-30mile gaps depending on total distance)I like a drink (nudge, wink) but despite the near 30degree heat recently have only been using 750'ish ml per 20miles on long rides.
On a sportive its comforting to know where the stops are, you can then chug your drink and eat all your food safe in the knowledge the next stop is 10mins away :-)
Looks like a good route, website says 2200 meters of climbing in total thats over 7000 feet....that's more than I've ever managed in 1 day!! I see your brother is aiming for nearly 19mph average, wish I was fit enough to even try and get close to those targets. I've thought about doing sportives but don't think I'm fit enough, a mate recently did 86 miles averaging over 18mphs...really need to get fitter
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