100 mile cherry
KulaBen
Posts: 220
Evening all,
I've been bitten a bit by the roadie bug of late, and am thinking of doing my first 100 mile ride. Last year I did 100km with not much preparation, but I'm thinking 100 miles is going to be a lot tougher. Can anyone give me any advice on how to prepare? I'm going out 2-3 evenings per week and doing 20 odd miles, then 30 or 40 at the weekend plus some mountain biking, so I do have some miles in my legs....
Second question- lycra shorts. I usually wear baggies but they're hot, rustly and I think it may be time to go lycra. Question is which are better- bib shorts or normal waist shorts? And what would people recommend? Most of my biking stuff is Gore/Endura and Altura- i've not yet succumbed to the Rapha/Assos bug!
Thanks
Ben
I've been bitten a bit by the roadie bug of late, and am thinking of doing my first 100 mile ride. Last year I did 100km with not much preparation, but I'm thinking 100 miles is going to be a lot tougher. Can anyone give me any advice on how to prepare? I'm going out 2-3 evenings per week and doing 20 odd miles, then 30 or 40 at the weekend plus some mountain biking, so I do have some miles in my legs....
Second question- lycra shorts. I usually wear baggies but they're hot, rustly and I think it may be time to go lycra. Question is which are better- bib shorts or normal waist shorts? And what would people recommend? Most of my biking stuff is Gore/Endura and Altura- i've not yet succumbed to the Rapha/Assos bug!
Thanks
Ben
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Comments
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IMHO it depends on the 100mile route and how fast you try to do it, if you're doing it with other people, what the weather's like etc. I reckon you'll probably find it OK, but just make sure to eat and drink regularly from the off - that's where I've gone wrong on the longer rides that I've struggled with - when I've fuelled little and often I've managed the distance fine.
Re shorts - I find bib are way more comfortable (and I'm a woman and my cycling-for-much-longer brother was REALLY surprised to see that women can wear bib shorts). I find the normal waist shorts just dig in around my stomach once I'm on the bike for any length of time. Can't really recommend a brand as I've got club gear - I think it's Giordana - but I've a couple of pairs of Adidas and they work for me fine. Whatever you get, try them out a few times before your 100! You might want to use some chamois cream (or Savlon) along the seams though for added comfort.
Good luck!0 -
Slowly increase your distances, you should be able to get through a 100 with training rides of about 50-60miles IMO, the longest distance I ever ride to train for a 100 mile TT is 50 miles.
And bibs all the way!0 -
I have just gone from waist shorts to Bib shorts. So far the bibs have been brilliant, but I had good waist shorts anyway - but they offer less protection from other riders seeing your back! As for the 100 miler- assuming you are using a clipless system you should be OK but just keep it flat for your first one. I did a hilly 81 mile sportive and that was preparation for my 100 mile flat ride. Keep your cadence comfortably high (not too fast though, I personally find 95rpm about right for a long ride) and keep drinking/eating. Oats are the way to go. Here is my first 100 mile route... http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/fullscreen/44563106/0
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Cheers all- i'll get trying a few pairs and see what fits!!
Thorneh- my sister in law lives near there so i'll give it a go when next down that way- thanks!0 -
When I did a 100 I worked up to a 20 and a 30 in the week, then a couple of 60s at the weekend and one 80 miler.
We're all different, do what suits you, but you need to get used to lots of hours in the saddleRichard
Giving it Large0 -
I was training for LEJOG back in march, then my mate bust his knee and it all stopped completely. A couple of months I moved into London and started cycling 3 miles to work and 3 miles back, but that was.
A couple of weeks ago I heard about the Dunwich Dynamo, a 115 mile night-ride from East London to Dunwich, 30 miles or so past Ipswich. And I did it with no long distances under my belt for 4 months ago. I was cycling with a lot of other people so that's motivational, the roads were good and there was a bit of a tail-wind I think. But essentially I think it's fairly easy.....all in the mind!
Just eat sh*tloads!0 -
El Selb wrote:I was training for LEJOG back in march, then my mate bust his knee and it all stopped completely. !
you're not from Derby/Uttox area are you?
As for the OP - training rides of 60 miles should be fine once a week, with some high effort 20 miles in during the week. You should be fine if you make sure your hydration and fuel are kept at good levels during the ride. Best advice i can give is that in the week running up to the ride, make sure you fuel up with carbs and water. This will give you a good base on the day and it means that you shouldn't need to stuff yourself with either on the day and make yourself bloated....there's nothing worse than riding bloated.
And for me, it's bib shorts all the way - 2 reason....1 - they keep my back warm and so it doesn't seize up as much 2 - they are just more comfortable!0 -
El Selb wrote:.
A couple of weeks ago I heard about the Dunwich Dynamo, a 115 mile night-ride from East London to Dunwich, 30 miles or so past Ipswich. And I did it with no long distances under my belt for 4 months ago. I was cycling with a lot of other people so that's motivational, the roads were good and there was a bit of a tail-wind I think. But essentially I think it's fairly easy.....all in the mind!
Just eat sh*tloads!
Definitely agree with this. I did the DD this year and was surprised by how easy it was. Admittedly we took it at a fairly gentle pace but I felt fine at the end. Are you intending to do a sportive or make a route up yourself? I find riding in a group not only makes the cycling easier but makes the time/distance pass faster too.
As for shorts, bibs every time. When I first started out I bought some cheap DHB bibs and the pad is far too wide, now I have some (more expensive) Gore bibs which have a pad about 1/3 the width between the legs. Just something to bear in mind as I found it makes a big difference to comfort when riding for hours on end.FCN 4/120 -
I did London-Cambridge and back as my first 100m (111 to be exact) a few weekends ago and it was much easier than I expected despite the headwind in both directions and doing the return journey solo and I still managed 14mph overall. I do typically 40 - 60miles every other weekend and 2 x 15mile commute most weekdays.
+1 on the Gore bibs (I have the ones with the red insert 'Power', i find them more comfortable than the 'Blue' Contest ones and I too couldnt get on with the DHB ones. Yes the Gore are more expensive but as I commute with them as well I bought 2 @ £75 less some discount, (one on, one in wash/drying) but the way I see it is that works out less than 5p/mile so far this year and comfort is a #1 consideration for me on long rides.Frag75 wrote:As for shorts, bibs every time. When I first started out I bought some cheap DHB bibs and the pad is far too wide, now I have some (more expensive) Gore bibs which have a pad about 1/3 the width between the legs. Just something to bear in mind as I found it makes a big difference to comfort when riding for hours on end.Invacare Spectra Plus electric wheelchair, max speed 4mph
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Yep thats the ones I have, in all black (Evans don't do the colour options - I like the red - and Wiggle dont do the all black ones...)Frag75 wrote:Invacare Spectra Plus electric wheelchair, max speed 4mph0 -
Cheers everyone, looks like fueling will be the key. It's the manc 100 miler that i'll be doing, so relatively flat. Did 50 miles yesterday and not too broken so I think I should be able to build on that in time.
Cheers for the recommendations on shorts, will try to find some in my LBS to try on.
Ben0
