90 miles - am I mad? (Poll)

secretsam

So - I've been off the bike for a couple of weeks due to mechanicals being fixed. Got back on and did 46 miles yesterday, felt tired after. Part of problem was lack of fluids.

Maximum ever was 65 miles about 4-5 weeks ago.

Am planning to do 90 miles in 2 weeks time - am I mad or should I go for it? Would appreciate your thoughts.

MountainMonster

Hydrate properly, and don't push yourself too hard in the first 60 or so miles, and you should be good to go. If you were doing 65 miles before, 90 won't be too much more of a stress. How much climbing is in the picture?

Zoomer37

Never really get these types of threads. My 87 year old gran could probably do 90 miles on a skateboard if she went slow enough.

Not saying 90 miles is not a far, just saying it all depends how you ride it. Get your fluid and food intake right and don't go nuts and you should have no problems.

danowat

Go for it, what the worse that can happen?

Zoomer37

danowat wrote:

Go for it, what the worse that can happen?

Gets dropped by my gran on her skateboard?

secretsam

MountainMonster wrote:

Hydrate properly, and don't push yourself too hard in the first 60 or so miles, and you should be good to go. If you were doing 65 miles before, 90 won't be too much more of a stress. How much climbing is in the picture?

Probably not a huge amount - Aylesbury to Bristol, some lumpy stuff but the rides I do locally are lumpy also (flat stuff's boring!)

I think yesterday I suffered from lack of hydration - I was parched, only took 1x500ml + 1x750ml and I a bit of a sweaty Betty...

danowat

1.25lt for a 46 mile ride?, sounds enough to me, I did a 107km audax yesterday on 2 x 500ml bottles

MountainMonster

If it is not to hilly, 90 miles should be quite easy as long as you pace yourself very well, and bring enough water.

desweller

Hydration depends entirely on the weather. I've done the same 100km in pouring cold rain and finished just one bottle, and the same route in blazing sunshine and refilled twice. Pubs and corner shops for refills, pubs will often do it for free if you look sufficiently wrecked!

cougie

Yes - take it easy. Eat and drink regularly. A timer on your watch to remind you is a good idea. Take cash to get extra food and drink if you need to.

Brushiemma10w

SecretSam wrote:

So - I've been off the bike for a couple of weeks due to mechanicals being fixed. Got back on and did 46 miles yesterday, felt tired after. Part of problem was lack of fluids.

Maximum ever was 65 miles about 4-5 weeks ago.

Am planning to do 90 miles in 2 weeks time - am I mad or should I go for it? Would appreciate your thoughts.

I hope you're not mad cos what would that make me? I've been road-biking for 3 months now and in less than two week's time, I'm staring down the barrel of a 200k sportive. My maximum so far has been 80 miles, which bu99ered me up a bit, so the thought of a further 45 miles thereafter is frightening.
I'm hoping that proper hydration/re-fuelling & a sustainable pace will get me thru. :?

racingcondor

Take about 5 energy bars and be prepared to fill up on water half way and you should be fine.

I'd also recommend eating the first bar at about mile 20 even though you're not hungry (then every 15-20 from then). Eating early so you don't run low on fuel will make a big difference on how comfortable you are.

I'd go and do 60-70 again this weekend in preperation, you should be fine though.

MountainMonster

racingcondor wrote:

Take about 5 energy bars and be prepared to fill up on water half way and you should be fine.

I'd also recommend eating the first bar at about mile 20 even though you're not hungry (then every 15-20 from then). Eating early so you don't run low on fuel will make a big difference on how comfortable you are.

I'd go and do 60-70 again this weekend in preperation, you should be fine though.

That's a good point about the energy bars or gels. I use them quite often as well, and they help so much. Eat 1 bar about 30 minutes before you ride as well, will help get the ball rolling!

CiB

Drink plenty. Whether it's plain water, squash or whatever energy drink you like, keep the fluids topped up. Plain water isn't the best option really altho someone will be along soon to claim 650 miles non-stop on nothing but tap water and a bag of chocolate buttons.. I did 50 yesterday in warm sunshine and it was pretty straightforward but still got through 2 x 600ml bottles of squash. For 90 you might want to try popping a couple of Nuun tabs in the bottles when you refill them.

Your poll nailed it. It's all in the mind. 90 is like 60 but just half as far again so the question isn't can I do it, more like how long will it take? Assume you can tick over at 14-15mph, you're looking at about 6 hours in the saddle, plus a couple of breaks and +/- whatever the hills & wind does to your speeds. 90 is ok though - entirely doable.

Have a good breakfast before you set off, ideally a big bowl of milky porridge with a lot of sugar, and be well-hydrated before you start. Keep on top of the energy intake and it won't be an issue.

Edit to add eat too, even if you don't want to. You'll be glad you did beyond 70+ miles. Bananas, chocolate, jam sandwich, whatever yo fancy. And an energy gel for the last few miles when mentally you think you've about done it but physically you still have 6 more miles to grind out. That can help.

ollyridesfirst

I did a 138 mile coast to coast last year and training rides were never more than 80 miles.

Make sure you start to hydrate from about 3 days before. This will stop you having to over-hydrate on the day and making yourself bloated or having to stop every 20 minutes for a convenience break

Take the first half of the ride easy and just settle into it. You'll have done 40 miles before you know it. You haven't said what it is for? Is it an organised ride or are you just going out with mates/club etc? If you are going to have chance for some lunch, don't over-eat, but get yourself fuelled up with good food (baked potato etc). If you are not going to be able to stop for that long during the ride, get a decent carb rich meal in you the night before.....i know everyone swears by pasta (and there's not much better) - but i tend to go for lasagne as i find normal pasta a bit boring.

Good luck anyway.....you'll easily do it.

Make sure you replace salts too.....bananas, electrolyte drinks......the last thing you want it to get to 70 miles and get cramp!

secretsam

OllyRidesFirst wrote:

You haven't said what it is for?

Purely "because it's there" - and also (sad, but true) to beat my Mum, who holds the family record for miles in a day (70). Pathetic, I know. I'll be doing it on my own, not a problem, I generally ride on my own anyway.

ollyridesfirst

if you're not too bothered about stopping halfway, then i'd arrange to grab some food. Not too much, but sufficient to see you through without burning out...

rake

see if you can be the first to finish 90 miles without eating or drinking anything. :idea:

ShutUpLegs

rake wrote:

see if you can be the first to finish 90 miles without eating or drinking anything. :idea:

I would seriously not follow this advice.

Speedmenace

if you are going to do 90 you mayaswel do 100

gilesjuk

ShutUpLegs wrote:

rake wrote:

see if you can be the first to finish 90 miles without eating or drinking anything. :idea:

I would seriously not follow this advice.

Seconded. Your body will shut down after about 50 or so miles and it will be too late to eat anything as it will take a while to be absorbed.

secretsam

Speedmenace wrote:

if you are going to do 90 you mayaswel do 100

Given my astonishing sense of direction and ability to read maps, I'm almost certain to go wrong somewhere so yes, I'll probably end up doing close to the ton

If I do it and get close to the end and feel OK, I might add on an easy local circuit to complete my 100!!!!!

ThatBikeGuy

Good luck, i started riding about 2 months ago and have a rather hilly (7,000 ft climbing) 94 mile ride this weekend. Most i have done is 65 miles so i am hoping to survive, think i shall follow some of the advice on here too.

robklancs

What speed menace said!! my record is 94 and I regret not having just done 3 miles each and back again.