First long ride of the year

Brian B

Did my first long run of about 115mile the other day in the Scottish Borders taking in a lot of the roads featured in the Bethany and the Ken Laidlaw sportives. As we have had a relatively mild winter in Scotland compared to the previous two I thought I would take advantage of the good weather and get in some serious miles in preparation for the sportive season.

The last two years I have been caught short due to being unable to get in miles in the roads and really had to work hard to get fit for such events like the Fred. There is only so much indoor training I can cope with.

Have been training harder than ever this winter and was great for the first 100miles but went really down hill at around the 105 mile mark and really suffered for the last 10. If you were the cyclist in the Endura gilet on the last hill before Middleton I was not a caveman who could not speak but was at 114mile mark and was suffering badly.

In short though it was the best day on my bike this year and my fitness looks good for 2012. My training plan consists only about getting as much really hilly long rides in as possible and that seems to work for me.

What do others do to prepare?

McCullochE

Not do 115 miles in early March? I live in Edinburgh and while the weather has been better than the last couple of years, it's still been fairly windy. Although I'm preparing for a few 100 milers in late spring, I'm focussing on being able to do 40-60 miles and still feel good at the end of it before increasing my mileage.

RideOnTime

Brian B wrote:

Did my first long run of about 115mile

Good effort...

nickel

Did my first 100 mile ride last weekend as the weather was nice, only felt really hard between about 65 and 85 miles cause of horrid headwind, last 15 was hard as well but had a tailwind to blow me home, overall probably one of the most memorable cycling experiences to date, for both good and bad reasons!

Brian B

Went out and did another 100mile plus ride today in the central highlands. Weather was fantatsic and bordering on being too hot today and blue skies almost all day. Think I have pushed my luck with Mrs B this week though :twisted:

When I have summer fitness 100-130miles are easily achievable and do a lot of sportives but my first few big runs of the year I usually suffer towards the end and the next day.

I keep thinking how fit I was for marmotte last year and want to achieve that level ASAP this year.

prawny

I've only done one 100 mile ride ever! Mrs Prawny keeps me on a short leash :-/

holmeboy

Managed an 80 late January, 70 miles mid Feb and 60 late Feb. Have managed to get to the gym and run a bit more than the last few years though. Need to get the miles up though for the Fred.

rodgers73

I did 29 miles got off bike and ran a 10k event (5 min break) then back on and did 29 miles back home again. Dunno what that equates to in cycling miles though!

ronnierocket

Did a 107 miler at the weekend which was a lot more than the 60 milers I had been doing. Renfrew to Arrochar, Rest and Be Thankful and round some loop through the forest and back down the Rest and Be Thankful and back to Renfrew. I had wanted a small increase on the 60 but my route building friends turned it into a long one. It was a great route though although I did fall behind on the hills. Managed a sprint at the end though just to wind my friends up!! Felt ok at the time but have been sore this week.