First 40 Mile Ride

Wacky Racer
Wacky Racer Posts: 638
edited September 2011 in Road beginners
Feeling pretty good about this, so thought I would post it. I have been working my way steadily up to 30 milers since buying the new bike a couple of months ago, and have just blitzed anything previously achieved by completing 42 miles. I was surprised that I could jump from 30 to 40 so easily, so it seems that the hard work was working from 12 to 30 over the last few weeks. My thighs are quite tight and my arse is a wee bit tender, but otherwise I feel fairly good. It took me 2 hours and 45 minutes, although I'm not worried about the stats, it's just a way of keeping fit and having a bit of fun. It was quite a varied run around the Evesham area with a few decent climbs. I had a nightmare clipped in moment coming back through the centre of Evesham during rush hour, I forgot I was clipped in for a minute and only just saved myself from an embarrassing moment, probably due to being tired, but all-in-all a great ride. 50 miles the next target, but going to savour this moment with a nice cold bottle of San Miguel.
Ridley Orion
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Comments

  • ALaPlage
    ALaPlage Posts: 732
    Great feeling it is too. Well done and it is a straightforward step to 50+ now.
    Trek Madone 5.9
    Kinesis Crosslight T4
  • griffsters
    griffsters Posts: 490
    Nice one, I did my first 30 miler last week so hopefully the first 40 miler isn't too far away!

    Away on holiday next week so the momentum i've built will slow a little grrr - feeling gutted about that! Dont tell the missus :lol:
  • Hals1967
    Hals1967 Posts: 231
    Well done - it won't be too long until you get the fifty.

    Small steps buld up gradually and you'll look back at forty and think "I wouldn't get out of bed to do any less!" :D

    1967 Engine
  • Wacky Racer
    Wacky Racer Posts: 638
    Griffsters - It surprised me that the step from 30 to 40 wasn't as bad as I'd expected, if I had realised I would have just gone for it sooner. Probably best though that I take it small steps at a time, I'd hate to hit the wall miles from home.
    Ridley Orion
  • griffsters
    griffsters Posts: 490
    Wacky Racer wrote:
    Griffsters - It surprised me that the step from 30 to 40 wasn't as bad as I'd expected, if I had realised I would have just gone for it sooner. Probably best though that I take it small steps at a time, I'd hate to hit the wall miles from home.

    Hope so! I set off to do 25 last week and ended up doing the 31. Could do with doing it again this weekend really just to cement it but its family holiday time. I've done a 16 and 20 midweek to keep things ticking over.

    Know what you mean about small steps, for me its as much about confidence as well. Lots of hills around where I live so need to build up getting over them - but of course its not just getting over them once its bloody coming back as well! :lol:

    Finding the hills quite satisfying tho, I've beat a couple of the beggars for the first time this last 7 days or so, which builds confidence and fitness nicely. Weight coming off as well which is a very welcome.
  • PaulSelwood
    PaulSelwood Posts: 9
    I used to do lot of MTB. But brought a Road bike 5 weeks ago Btwin 3, 300 pound. Allready I doing 50 to 60 miles rideson my day off. You get to see so much more on a road bike.
  • Paul057
    Paul057 Posts: 167
    Glad to hear you're enjoying it. I did it the other way around today; i set off planning to do 50 but ended up doing 35! :(
    I didn't know the area and kept having to stop to look at a map, and i was on a time limit as i had to be somewhere in the afternoon. I think i was a bit ambitious with the route in the time i had. I need GPS!!!
    Ah well, i suppose i can't feel great after every ride eh?
  • The Ors
    The Ors Posts: 130
    Wacky Racer wrote:
    My thighs are quite tight and my ars* is a wee bit tender

    Nice to know but this is a cycling forum! :D











    Congrat's on the 40miler.
  • Too old for this
    Too old for this Posts: 128
    Well done for the forty, i went out to do 25 at the weekend and got back home 2 hrs later having done 33 miles, had to have a smile to myself with my beer 8)
  • Too old for this
    Too old for this Posts: 128
    Well done for the forty, i went out to do 25 at the weekend and got back home 2 hrs later having done 33 miles, had to have a smile to myself with my beer 8)
  • CambsNewbie
    CambsNewbie Posts: 564
    Did 42 miles this morning which was a PB for me. Made a concious decision to cycle in a lower gear all the way to keep the cadence up. Felt weird at times when my legs were spinning like the clappers but couldn't believe how much easier this made the ride.

    Also didn't seem to go any slower either.. Probably had a few more miles in me but I was starving and needed lunch before I blew up!!
  • CambsNewbie
    CambsNewbie Posts: 564
    Did 42 miles this morning which was a PB for me. Made a concious decision to cycle in a lower gear all the way to keep the cadence up. Felt weird at times when my legs were spinning like the clappers but couldn't believe how much easier this made the ride.

    Also didn't seem to go any slower either.. Probably had a few more miles in me but I was starving and needed lunch before I blew up!!
  • CambsNewbie
    CambsNewbie Posts: 564
    Oh.. And some builders shouted at me "OI WIGGO! SHOULDN'T YOU BE IN SPAIN?"

    I'm taking this as a compliment and a genuine case of mistaken identity and not a cruel mocking jibe!
  • chiark
    chiark Posts: 335
    That's excellent as builder's taunts go!

    I did 32 miles at the weekend, stepping up from 24... Looking forward to 40, then 50!
    Synapse Alloy 105 / Rock Lobster Tig Team Sl
  • Calder
    Calder Posts: 51
    Just to give you a bit of confidence going forward, I did my first 50 at the weekend. I'd done a few 40-odd milers but certainly no more than 5.

    I decided to cycle round Bowland in Lancs - which gave me no kop-out options if I got knackered, so I just took loads of energy stuff and flapjack and just took my time. 54 miles it was in total and fairly hilly, and although I felt a bit wasted at times by the time I got to the last 10 miles I felt pretty decent considering. It was mainly downhill at that point, though!

    I've felt pretty chuffed with myself all week for that, so just get out and have a go! What's the worst that can happen... :?
  • the_spooks
    the_spooks Posts: 190
    Well done on your first 40, still new to this myself so I know how ya feel when you pass these milestones so to speak. I Did the same 40 mile loop as I had previously done with a few others when I first got my bike and considering this time was solo and had been off the bike for a wee bit, I was amazed to find I did it only 2 mins slower at 2 hours 20, quite chuffed I was.
  • ianbar
    ianbar Posts: 1,354
    well done on your landmark. the other week i set out to break 50 after going a sportive that was 42. did 52 in the end and was well chuffed. at the moment now concentrating on 20-30 miles and trying to get a few more climbs in a build up a bit more general power in my legs before i try for 60.
    enigma esprit
    cannondale caad8 tiagra 2012
  • G.Zero
    G.Zero Posts: 35
    Well done on your landmile I did just over 60 the other day jumping up from 48 its a good feeling being able to go further and further
  • PaulSelwood
    PaulSelwood Posts: 9
    I been riding on road now for about 5 weeks. I find that any ride ove 30 miles, that it best to stop at some road side cafe, and have some sandwich or two, with salad. I feel that the power bars do help, but you need real food, inside you to keep you going.

    Also when I get to around 55miles, I then find it very up to keep going.
  • chiark
    chiark Posts: 335
    I did my first 40 yesterday :) . Prior to that I did a 30 the week before, so I'm chuffed.

    Damn hilly and windy though. The headwind was horrible, utterly awful especially when I was cycling up the cow & calf climb in Ilkley in what felt like was directly into the thing.

    Didn't intend to go quite that far, but carried onto Addingham from Ilkley ('it's only 3 miles"), then then to Bolton Abbey... ("it's only 3 miles").

    There's 1 last 11% climb that is only about 200m long: at the end of that I think I had contracted Tourettes...

    16.5mph average, which is meaningless, but a great sense of achievement. Definitely need to think about nutrition as I know know what it feels like to run out of energy in a mild way!
    Synapse Alloy 105 / Rock Lobster Tig Team Sl
  • PocketRocket42
    PocketRocket42 Posts: 202
    Well done everybody remember keep a gradual progression and you will soon be up to 100 mile rides.

    It's a good idea to join a cycling club and join the Clubruns on a Sunday if you can.
  • dcurzon
    dcurzon Posts: 290
    nice work :) i did my first 25 this morning. Doing my second 25 at roughly 5pm
    B'Twin Sport 1
    FCN 7 =4, +2(non cycling clothes) +1(beard)
  • Roobsa
    Roobsa Posts: 37
    I did my first 30 miler on Sunday. The longest distance previously done was 13 miles on a mountain bike. My legs were in agony yesterday!
  • Gizmodo
    Gizmodo Posts: 1,928
    I did my first 20 miler yesterday and I have done it again this morning. I've only had a bike 3 weeks and like everyone else here the feeling is great. Mine was also pretty hilly, with 1476 ft of elevation according to ridewithgps.com

    And today was my first wet ride, rained the whole way and I still enjoyed it - does that make me strange?

    http://ridewithgps.com/trips/374402

    I want to get to 40 miles under my belt before I think about club rides, next year maybe. But if anyone in the Cannock / Heath Hayes area wants to join up for an easy Sunday ride let me know.

    Colin
    Summer - Canyon Ultimate CF SLX 9.0 Team
    Winter - Trek Madone 3.5 2012 with UDi2 upgrade.
    For getting dirty - Moda Canon
  • chiark
    chiark Posts: 335
    Out in the rain and enjoying it? http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12791073 :D

    1500 feet in 20 miles is quite hilly, I'd say!

    Great work for only 3 weeks in. The challenge is now to make time to get out before the winter nights close in :(
    Synapse Alloy 105 / Rock Lobster Tig Team Sl
  • suzyb
    suzyb Posts: 3,449
    Reading this forum can be depressing sometimes...every beginner seems to start better than I am after 2 years cycling regularly :lol:
    Whippet
  • PaulSelwood
    PaulSelwood Posts: 9
    Well done to all. Plus a big WELL DONE to the person who ride in the rain. That is one thing I never done. I hate the wet, can not see where I going, due to wearing glasses and getting cold in the rain.
  • scagden
    scagden Posts: 7
    Ok bear in mind I'm totally new to all this...

    What counts as a 50 miler? I cycled 25 miles to a friends house on monday, had a chat and a bite to eat then cycled home.

    Have done a 25 miler or a 50 miler?

    This was on a mountain bike btw, I'm in the process of getting my first road bike :)
  • chiark
    chiark Posts: 335
    I suppose it depends on whether you were there for half a day, or half an hour really :D.

    It's 50 in my eyes: well done!
    Synapse Alloy 105 / Rock Lobster Tig Team Sl
  • BobbyTrigger
    BobbyTrigger Posts: 377
    i did my first post 30 miler a couple of Saturdays ago with a group organised by my lbs. turned out to be 60 miles and some massive hills. I was absolutely shattered afterwards. It was the hills that killed me, right in the middle of the ride too (climb out of Corbridge and the Ryals if anyone knows it). I was in a very dark place 30 - 35 miles whilst getting the hills out of the way, and to be honest was very close to ringing the missus to come and pick me up but the encouragement and help of the people i was riding with carried me through. Once the hills we're out of the way i was ok (if cream crackered of course).

    gave me such confidence. The following Monday and Wednesday i did two 50 milers no bother. 50 miles was definitively a big mental block for me. Wouldn't think twice about a 50 mile ride now :)

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