Training for a really big ride in a years time

elyob said:

One thing is that I always stop serious cycling from Jan-Mar every year.
Just get fed up with the winter.

Bang that on the head then. You could just get a turbo trainer if it's
the being out and wet that puts you off, but you need to be on a bike
in jan/feb/mar if you are going to do the best part of 150m/day in
July.

Arthur

--
Arthur Clune

"Arthur Clune" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

elyob said:

One thing is that I always stop serious cycling from Jan-Mar every year.
Just get fed up with the winter.

Bang that on the head then. You could just get a turbo trainer if it's
the being out and wet that puts you off, but you need to be on a bike
in jan/feb/mar if you are going to do the best part of 150m/day in
July.

I don't mind training as I have never had a target, 80 miles is okay .. 100
miles is tough at the moment.

I'm doing research at the moment. The 'other' seems to think it'll be a case
of buying a race bike and off we go. I know it's not that. After some ale
tonight, I'm thinking -- join a local club now. Get the fitness level right
up there so that I cannot let it slip during the winter. It's good that
we've set such a hard target for a years time and I have a whole summer to
focus. Discipline makes it achievable.

Can anyone recommend a shop I can buy discipline. Ebay is [censored] for that.

Quoted message said:

The 'other' seems to think it'll be a case of buying a race bike and off
we go.

Heh, take the 'other' on two 142mile training rides on consecutive days and
see what they think then :-)

"Mark Thompson"
<pleasegivegenerously@warmmail*_turn_up_the_heat_to_reply*.com> wrote in
message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

The 'other' seems to think it'll be a case of buying a race bike and off
we go.

Heh, take the 'other' on two 142mile training rides on consecutive days
and
see what they think then :-)

Absolutely, myself also. However I'm setting myself a one year target and
thinking positively.

He will do the same once I have info to convince him. His original idea was
5 days! Rather than not answer my OP question, can anyone actually recommend
how it is *achievable* rather than *it's not possible*.

I know it is do-able. I have 14 months to train, I'm asking how. Can anyone
help with what I should be researching?

At the moment I could (reasonably comfortably) do 80 miles a day for a week.
I need to double that and more to attempt LEJOG in 7 days. Does anyone have
any actual planing/training help?

My friend (i.e. the 'other'😉 is actually fitter than me, but just hasn't a
race bike. But he can whip me on hills on a MTB.

It's just frustrating that none of the replies so far have actually figured
out that this *will* be done. I'm guessing that the people knocking aren't
able to actually help with advice. Thanks anyway, but I just really want
advice on *how* to train to do it, not *how to give up before you start*.

Theres an excellent book - The Long Distance Cyclists Handbook - that's
well worth a read, training plans, diet, bike set up, everything you
could want.

Quoted message said:

It's just frustrating that none of the replies so far have actually
figured out that this *will* be done. I'm guessing that the people
knocking aren't able to actually help with advice. Thanks anyway, but I
just really want advice on *how* to train to do it, not *how to give up
before you start*.

There's no substitute for miles on the road. Arthur isn't knocking he's
being pragmatic. Several years ago i thought of doing LEJOG at 100 miles
perday cycle camping I also expressed an interest in buying a turbo trainer
for winter. Arthur's opinion at the time was that I was rather ambitious
and that a turbo was a waste of time. I wished I'd believed him about the
turbo - it's been used aaround half a dozen times since new. I've
subsequently done LEJOG at a much more leisurely pace and am currently
racking up 100km Audaxes relatively painlessly on a weekly basis since
mid-February. I could probably knock off 80 mile days endlessly
unencumbered by camping gear but moving up to 140 mile days back to back for
a week is a totally different ball game and not one that I'd relish.

I had a book called something like the long distance Riders Handbook which
had information in about building up for, you guessed it, long distance
rides. I didn't bother using it and sold it on as its nutritional advice
didn't include jaffa cakes and mackerel bolognese :-) There was a section
on building up distances for the long distance rider and it might be worth a
perusal/purchase.

If you do decide on a turbo there are books around that contain training
programs though i can not comment on their worth as I nver used the turbo or
the book long enough to obtain a tangible benefit.

Getting back to Arthur's advice...not riding through winter is probably not
an option. Are you reducing beer, pie and/or nicotine consumption too? ;-)

Good luck with your mission.

-=V=-

"vernon" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

It's just frustrating that none of the replies so far have actually
figured out that this *will* be done. I'm guessing that the people
knocking aren't able to actually help with advice. Thanks anyway, but I
just really want advice on *how* to train to do it, not *how to give up
before you start*.

There's no substitute for miles on the road. Arthur isn't knocking he's
being pragmatic. Several years ago i thought of doing LEJOG at 100 miles
perday cycle camping I also expressed an interest in buying a turbo
trainer for winter. Arthur's opinion at the time was that I was rather
ambitious and that a turbo was a waste of time. I wished I'd believed him
about the turbo - it's been used aaround half a dozen times since new.
I've subsequently done LEJOG at a much more leisurely pace and am
currently racking up 100km Audaxes relatively painlessly on a weekly basis
since mid-February. I could probably knock off 80 mile days endlessly
unencumbered by camping gear but moving up to 140 mile days back to back
for a week is a totally different ball game and not one that I'd relish.

I had a book called something like the long distance Riders Handbook which
had information in about building up for, you guessed it, long distance
rides. I didn't bother using it and sold it on as its nutritional advice
didn't include jaffa cakes and mackerel bolognese :-) There was a section
on building up distances for the long distance rider and it might be worth
a perusal/purchase.

If you do decide on a turbo there are books around that contain training
programs though i can not comment on their worth as I nver used the turbo
or the book long enough to obtain a tangible benefit.

Getting back to Arthur's advice...not riding through winter is probably
not an option. Are you reducing beer, pie and/or nicotine consumption
too? ;-)

Good luck with your mission.

Thanks, at last some pragmatic advice! I followed your journey, and that's
kind of how I planned it, but I also know I need to make some changes in
lifestyle .. less beer, pies and nicotine noteably!

I know it's a tough call, but I also think that investigating the ups and
downs before I have my first meeting is important. I want to go armed saying
"We will need to do this and that". My three month lapse time will ahve to
involve different sports e.g. swimming and gym. And less lapsing than when I
don't have a goal.

I reckon it's a great target to aim for, but also realise what I'm thinking
of letting myself into. But I also think I need to do something like this in
my life.

I'll try and get a copy of that book .. I'll miss my beer, pies and 'tine
though.

That's what I'm letting myself into and am happy to lose a lot of my social
life to get some real experience under my belt. I also want to prove to
myself and everyone who has ever doubted me .. erm .. hopefully that I can
do it!

🙂

Cheers Vernon!

"PH" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Theres an excellent book - The Long Distance Cyclists Handbook - that's
well worth a read, training plans, diet, bike set up, everything you
could want.

Will have to get that, thanks.

Why do you HAVE to do that distance per day?
You don't, but if you are going to...

You will run into problems which might not affect you in shorted
distances. Wrists, rear end, neck etc.

You must get saddle and position perfect for starters.

I have that book. It is very good. It covers everything from equipment,
bikes/parts, lighting, routes, nutition, and training plans.

I think that doing some of the longer audaxes may help you -
particularly the 'stage' type 600s where you may ride 300k then sleep
then ride another 300k, as that is what you will have to do, back to
back rides. You could use your weekends to ride out somehwhere, about
100 miles away, stay at a YHA , B+B or even a Travelodge if you can
find one on your route, then ride home next day. Remeber that if things
go wrong on a trip like this, it's OK- this is what the training rides
are for, to find out what works for you and what doesn't.

I think an unsupported 7 day LEJOG will be harder than a supported one
or a well organised audax event such as LEL or PBP in terms of finding
and booking places to stay and finding places to eat, waiting for hot
food to be served etc - you will have to factor in the time spent on
these into your daily schedule.

Do as much research as you can about eqipment, route and accommmodation
etc. not just the training aspect.

elyob said:

It's just frustrating that none of the replies so far have actually figured
out that this *will* be done. I'm guessing that the people knocking aren't
able to actually help with advice. Thanks anyway, but I just really want
advice on *how* to train to do it, not *how to give up before you start*.

I suspect you are right, none of us have done what you are proposing so
we can't really help. I assumed yesterday when I first saw this that
you will have already read the books. I assumed you want more advice
than simply ride lots.

I did LEL last year, 1400km in 5 days. In preparation I had already
ridden about 7000 miles since the start of the year with 650 in January
so I went into the year quite fit. In March, April, May and June I did
1000+ miles per month. My longest day was 414km, took 22 hours. After
that the days were 230 - 290km in lenght. Thats about 15 hours in the
saddle. You need to be capable of sitting on your bike for that long.
You need to be able to do it again the next day. To prepare for this I
simulated different days. Thus I built up to a 400km ride with no
sleep, I did a 600km ride with 6 hours off after 400km. I went cycling
after only 5 hours sleep. On LEL we didn't have to worry about the
route, sleeping, food. These can severely eat up your time and moral if
you are not organised. The Simon Doherty book and the Ed Burke Long
Distance book are excellent sources of inspriation and advice.

in message <[email hidden]>, elyob

(') said:

"Mark Thompson"
<pleasegivegenerously@warmmail*_turn_up_the_heat_to_reply*.com> wrote
in message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

The 'other' seems to think it'll be a case of buying a race bike and
off we go.

Heh, take the 'other' on two 142mile training rides on consecutive
days and
see what they think then :-)

Absolutely, myself also. However I'm setting myself a one year target
and thinking positively.

He will do the same once I have info to convince him. His original idea
was 5 days! Rather than not answer my OP question, can anyone actually
recommend how it is *achievable* rather than *it's not possible*.

It's achievable, but only by the very very fit - by someone fitter than I
personally ever aspire to be. You will need to train and train hard, and
also watch your diet carefully. I can't advise you on that, because I
don't do that sort of thing. But there are things beyond training that
you will need to get right if this trip is to succeed.

First, you will need to be utterly comfortable on your bike. Obsessively,
over the next six months, track down everything on the bike which is
causing you even minimal discomfort and sort it. Experiment with
different saddles even if your present one seems acceptable. Personally,
If I was going to try it (which I'm not) I'd buy and get used to a low,
light recumbent as the first step, both for comfort and for less
aerodynamic drag.

Second, you need a very high degree of mechanical reliability. Any
mechanical breakdown is going to throw your timetable out. Thoroughly
service both bikes before setting out. Ideally, use compatible parts on
the two bikes, so you only have to carry e.g. one multitool, one chain
tool, one lot of spare spokes between you. If you use Shimano or
Campagnolo chains fit them with SRAM or Wippermann connecting links.
Carry compatible spare connecting links (more than one - they weigh very
little) with you.

Mechanical reliability includes the engine. Make sure you have chamois
cream and embrocation available at your overnight stops, even if you
don't usually use them. Make sure you have enough first aid stuff with
you on the move to treat gravel rash.

Third, you don't need to faff around at the end of the day finding
somewhere to eat and sleep. Book your accommodation in advance and make
sure you know how to get to it. You are, realistically, going to spend
about ten hours every day in the saddle, probably eleven or twelve hours
on the road; you will arrive at your accommodation very tired, and with
small things to fix before you can set out again in the morning. It is
probable that your level of tiredness will increase, which is yet
another reason why LEJOG is the right way to do it - better to be riding
the relatively quiet roads of Caithness in an utterly exhausted state
than the much busier roads of Devon.

Fourthly, work out what the minimum you can carry is. Mail changes of
clothing, etc, to your planned accommodation to await you there; post
dirty clothing, etc, home.

Finally, have someone back at base at the end of a phone whom you can
phone and say 'we're not going to make it to X tonight, please find us
accommodation in Y' with complete confidence that they will do just
that.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

IMHO, there aren't enough committed Christians, but that's care
in the community for you. -- Ben Evans

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Why do you HAVE to do that distance per day?
You don't, but if you are going to...

We could do it over three or four weeks, but we're not *planning* on that.
We're not the only ones who plan to do it fast and aren't out to make a
holiday out of it. It's *possible* to do it in 1 day and 20 hours.

Quoted message said:

You will run into problems which might not affect you in shorted
distances. Wrists, rear end, neck etc.

You must get saddle and position perfect for starters.

Hence the reason to want to start correct training a year in advance.

Has anyone else here read Tim Moore's TdF book?

elyob said:

It's just frustrating that none of the replies so far have actually figured
out that this *will* be done. I'm guessing that the people knocking aren't
able to actually help with advice. Thanks anyway, but I just really want
advice on *how* to train to do it, not *how to give up before you start*.

I think you misunderstood my post. I think what you are planning is acheivable;
if you'd said "October" I'd have said no, but next year, yes it's possible.

BUT you are really going to have to ride all year round, and keep it going
over the winter. If you let things slip over the winter, you're stuffed.

Practical advice?

1) Join a club. Idealy you want one where the rides are with riders faster
than yourself, but no so fast they vanish into the distance. Do the long
rides with the club/other riders.

2) For this year, build up to doing back to back 80 mile days and maybe
one weekend of back to back 100 mile days. I wouldn't worry about more.

3) Don't forget speed work. I always bang on about how important it is
for distance, but I really do think it's very underated. Make your weekday
rides (and you'll need to do two nights a week + your weekends) shorter
(say 30-40 miles tops) but fast. Try finding a local TT, riding out, riding
the event and riding back.

4) Take each 4th week (at least) easy. Cut the milage right down that week.
Then build up again over the next three. Repeat.

5) Keep riding over winter. Out on the bike for long rides at the weekend
(say drop down to 70 miles on a Sunday in the depths of winter) and at least
one session during the week (could be on a turbo) in Jan/Feb. Pick it back
up to two sessions in the week in March.

6) If you are carrying extra weight, lose it. Don't smoke. Eat well. Lots
of fruit, lots of veg, you know the score. Cut right back on beer.

Arthur

--
Arthur Clune

"Blonde" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have that book. It is very good. It covers everything from equipment,
bikes/parts, lighting, routes, nutition, and training plans.

I think that doing some of the longer audaxes may help you -
particularly the 'stage' type 600s where you may ride 300k then sleep
then ride another 300k, as that is what you will have to do, back to
back rides. You could use your weekends to ride out somehwhere, about
100 miles away, stay at a YHA , B+B or even a Travelodge if you can
find one on your route, then ride home next day. Remeber that if things
go wrong on a trip like this, it's OK- this is what the training rides
are for, to find out what works for you and what doesn't.

I think an unsupported 7 day LEJOG will be harder than a supported one
or a well organised audax event such as LEL or PBP in terms of finding
and booking places to stay and finding places to eat, waiting for hot
food to be served etc - you will have to factor in the time spent on
these into your daily schedule.

Do as much research as you can about eqipment, route and accommmodation
etc. not just the training aspect.

Thanks, now the answers are getting much more informative and helpful 🙂

I like that suggestion of cycling 100, staying overnight, cycling back.
That's a good idea.

Audax is something I will put into the "must investigate". Joining a local
cycle club isn't what I want to do and will enjoy, but will also
investigate. I just have a problem with half the other people out on race
bikes. They never say anything when I am on my MTB, but as soon as a road
bike comes all it's all matey. It's like being in a VW beetle club or
something. 😉

We are very much going to plan the route meticulously, and accomodation etc
will be planned well in advance. I think the guy mentioned about hiring a
six berth camper or something. Prefer a travelodge myself, as long as there
is bike security available.

elyob said:

We are very much going to plan the route meticulously, and accomodation etc
will be planned well in advance. I think the guy mentioned about hiring a
six berth camper or something. Prefer a travelodge myself, as long as there
is bike security available.

We have stayed in two Travelodges recently and arrived en velo. Neither
had a problem with us taking our bikes into the room. In the first we
jsut did it, the receptionist actually asked if we'd prefer to put them
in the linen store, we declined and there was no peoblem. In the second
I asked for a ground floor room to make it easier and the receptionist
didn't seem to mind. If you have a backup vehicle, much of the non
cycling tasks such as shopping, finding the accommodation and carrying
the stuff can be done by the driver of it, leaving you time to ride.
This will make your task much easier.

elyob said:

Has anyone else here read Tim Moore's TdF book?

Yes. I hope you are citing it as an example of how not to prepare for a
big ride.

elyob said:

I'm looking at organising a LEJOG ride July next year, but to do it in 7
days.

You don't say whether this is a supported ride or not. I did a 13 day
solo unsupported E2E a few years ago averaging 85 miles a day. My days
varied from over 100 miles down to 50ish depending on where the hostels
were. I found the days fairly full with the riding, finding the hostel,
washing clothes, cooking meals etc.
Doing it with vehicle support would make a huge difference as it
would let you concentrate on the riding, carry less weight, and the
daily distance would not be so dependant on where accomodation was
located.
The other thing that would be helpful would be if you were flexible
in your starting date as that would let you at least start ith
favourable winds. Doing it in July though would mean accomodation
could be a problem if you weren't able to book in advance
However rather than read ramblings from people that haven't dne what
yourr going to do if you haven' already done it look at some websites
from peope that have.
www.tra-velo-gue.co.uk/2/bike.html
best of luck
Iain.

elyob said:

Audax is something I will put into the "must investigate". Joining a local
cycle club isn't what I want to do and will enjoy, but will also
investigate.

Might be worth considering a road bike mind. It'll be a lot more efficient
over the sorts of distances you're looking at. If you do use the mtb, consider
getting some rigid forks (I'm assuming it's a hardtail) and definately fit
some high pressure slicks.

Are you planning on carrying all your gear with you as well?

Arthur

--
Arthur Clune