110 mile sportive

[slg]

Hi

Looking for some advice from the more experienced cyclists...

I'm more used to 15-20 miles on the mtb and recently ventured into road riding but so far only had time for a 43mile run as my longest (legs did feel tired but put a lot of that down to going out in the evening without eating since lunch)

Would I be silly to attempt a 110 mile sportive on the 8th September?

Any advice appreciated

Thanks

[MrB1obby]

I'm not exactly an experienced cyclist, but you are not silly at all and you will manage it 'easily' aslong as you keep hydrated and energy levels on the up. It would obviously help aswell if you started lengthening your rides a bit, if time is an issue try and wake up a couple of hours earlier on your days off and head off into the morning breeze!

Just so you know it is possible, the longest ride I had ever done was 51 miles. After barely doing any cycling over the summer last year, I decided that I was going to meet my friend in somerset the day before leaving. I cycled 104 miles fully loaded on an 80's Puch Racer that day and it was brilliant. Albeit my arse was as raw as freshly cut pigs ears but my legs weren't that tired.

[anonymous-user]

Not really, the key is taking it at a sensible pace, eating and drinking regularly throughout the ride and stopping to stretch out cramp as and when you need to. There is no black magic to cycling long distances, sure you need to put in the miles in training if you want to get the most out of it, avoid injury or ride a fast time but for the most, its just common sense.

[DrMekon]

Sounds doable to me. My longest ride jumps have been similar.

33mls
125mls
208mls
380mls
etc.

There were guys on LEL (~880mls) who'd never done more than 125 miles in a day. Some of their write ups are quite humbling - they clearly suffered more than those of us with more experience.

Barring mechanicals, you'll get around if you want to.

[nammynake]

Are we talking Norfolk or Cumbria? Hills will make a substantial difference to the difficulty.

[BPC7]

I would assume the OP is referring to the Southern Sportive in Petersfield? If so then you should be fine if you follow eating and drinking guidelines. On this sportive at each feed stop you will have an allocation of food and liquid assigned to your ride number.

I will be there, only doing the 96 miler this year though...

[Dixie]

Or Lincoln.... (We also ride bikes in the north :P )

Think I'm going to have a go at the 110 ride. I'm assuming it'll be fairly flat. My current longest is 56 miles which was fairly easy. I managed 55 in the peak with 5k ft of climbing so i'm hoping 110 on the flat should come pretty easy.

Plenty Chamois cream !!!

[GaryGlitter]

Dixie said:

I managed 55 in the peak with 5k ft of climbing so i'm hoping 110 on the flat should come pretty easy.

Having a 32 on the back helped!!

[Dixie]

GaryGlitter said:

Having a 32 on the back helped!!

SSSSShhhhh. Don't tell them that, they'll start calling me names! I SWARE I never used it!

[slg]

Thanks for the replies. It's the Glasgow to Edinburgh sportive I was looking at going for.
(could always take the easy option & use the mtb to do the ordinary route but it doesn't seem as much of a challenge)

[BPC7]

slg said:

Thanks for the replies. It's the Glasgow to Edinburgh sportive I was looking at going for.
(could always take the easy option & use the mtb to do the ordinary route but it doesn't seem as much of a challenge)

lol I was way off then, so many sportives on these days...