10 day lejog
tinflaps
Posts: 2
I'm doing lejog in ten days starting last weekend in May. I can do 100 miles in under 6 hrs on the flat relativlely comfortably and will be cycling 48 miles to and from work as part of my training. But I live in Norfolk where the hills last about 1 minute. Any training tips?
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Training for LEJOG should just be all about miles to be honest. Specific things like explosive power aren't needed. Try and perfect your uphill riding as much as possible i.e. which gears suit you (grind/spin), breathing, sit down/stand up (some prefer one or the other or a mixture), but don't go mental on specific hill climb training.
LEJOG is more about how you ride the terrain from day to day. Certainly for the first few days, if you're going over Dartmoor in particular, don't go mad and wear youself out. Devon and Cornwall have comparatively challenging terrain. You'll feel fresh in those first few day(s) and it will be tempting to blast it over all the hills. But keep in mind, once you get into the Somerset levels you'll be able to munch the miles at ease up until Bristol where it gets a little bumpy but nothing like Dartmoor. It's all about the long game, not blitzing one day. Use your energy wisely. Ride hard when it's flat and at your own pace when it's uphill.
Hope you have a great time. Scotland was severly wet and windy for me. I wish you a dry trip. Nothing is worse than being wet for 5 days running.0 -
Devon and Cornwall have comparatively challenging terrain. ..................blimey thats er well polite.....it could be worse if you head over the hills with a headwind as well...killer...mostly should be a south or s/w wind you will be glad to hear......good luck would definately start getting some long drags in as practise....0
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tinflaps wrote:I'm doing lejog in ten days starting last weekend in May. I can do 100 miles in under 6 hrs on the flat relativlely comfortably and will be cycling 48 miles to and from work as part of my training. But I live in Norfolk where the hills last about 1 minute. Any training tips?
Could you jump on a train and head for the nearest hills to ride some weekends?
Other than that I'd say maybe try riding for longer so that you'll be riding for the time it'd take you to do 100 hilly miles.
I actually didn't think my LEJOG was particularly hilly, but then most of my riding is in the Peak District.More problems but still living....0 -
5 or 10 minute interval training on a turbo ?
Personally I'd agree with the others, LeJoG is more about pacing yourself rather than trying to belt up hills. If the thought of steep hills is nagging away at you, then fit a triple so you'll have a granny ring in reserve ?0 -
I did LEJoG in 10 days in 1995. At the time I was commuting 3 miles each way to work and probably doing a long ride each weekend. I don't recall doing any special training as such.
I don't think you need to worry about hills at all - there's no hill on a standard LEJoG route which you won't get over if you ride it at a sensible pace. You'll need low gears if you're carrying all your stuff but otherwise any standard gearing would do.
It's just a long ride day after day - if you can do 100 miles in 6 hours on consecutive days you won't have any problem at all.
Ruth0 -
Sounds like you are at the right kind of level already.
I would also add some weekends where you do a reasonable distance on each of two or three consecutive days with your bike loaded up. Start by doing something like your longest planned daily distance on Saturday and about 20% less on Sunday, and perhaps have the Monday off commuting if you are tired (and can get to work some other way). As you get further into you training (and we get towards spring and summer), you can add a short ride on the Friday evening after work, with a longer ride on Saturday and Sunday, and also plan a bank holiday weekend riding your lejog daily distance for three days in a row.
It is better if you can stay at friends' houses or camp on these weekends so that you actually get somewhere--maybe going out one way and taking the train back on Sunday afternoon--as that makes it more enjoyable. This should mean that your body gets trained for riding several long days in a row, and your mind is used to riding with a tired body and setting off from different places.
Of course, lots of people do lejog without any training at all, so don't get too carried away!0 -
If youv'e never packed & ridden a bike loaded for camping I would recommend doing at least one dry run - to make sure you have all you need - no more no less - and that the bike handles ok etc. - just like naive suggests back to back rides at weekends as the weather gets better are good for morale and ironing out problems.0
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hello Tinflap
did you ever do LEJOG?
your pre ride posts sounds like my situation where i can manage 100m in 6 hours but am a bit concerned about back to back days.
i live in Lincs which like Norfolk is not the hilliest part of the world.0 -
Good luck with your question. I don't rate your chances of getting a response from the OP given that you've revived a thread that's been dead for 6 years!
If you're worried about back to back riding days why don't you do some back to back long rides? Just pick a couple of weekends and make sure you do 150-200 miles across the two days?
If you're capable of 100 miles in 6 hours you will make it from LE to JoG. You just get up each day, get on the bike and keep pedalling until you get to your destination. It isn't actually all that hard. :-)
Ruth0
