92 Mile Worcester Bike Ride

Wacky Racer

Hi all. I am signing up for the 92 mile bike ride from Worcester. Having never ridden further than around 60 miles up until now, I'm wondering whether I should take a small rucksack, or should I just try to cram all my necessary bits and pieces into my jersey pockets? For normal riding I manage with a small saddle bag and pockets, but I'm guessing I'm going to need to carry a bit more for this ride, especially nutrition. I've looked at the Deuter Race 10L rucksacks, which can hold a drink bladder, they look ideal, or will I curse it after a few miles.

Opinions please, preferably from those who have cycled this sort of distance.

turboslave

Hello WR,
I was out your way last week on my first long ride of the year, starting out it was supposed to be an 80 mile ride, however I decided to change the route after the Malverns and ended up covering 95 in total, best advice I can give is to start hydrated and carbo loaded, eat regularly at least every hr and use a bottle of water every hr (always carry 2 bottles), start the ride at a pace which is within your normal ride pace, its not a sprint so dont go out hard and fast.
Dont bother with backpack, reccomend 2-3 gels and a couple of bars in rear pockets, pump, mobile phone and money (notes)

Good luck, if you have time on the ride plan a decent lunch stop to keep it enjoyable, you may be surprised how fresh you are at the end.
Plan where you can get water and food on route and dont wait until you need them, be disciplined to regularly sip and eat and you will be fine going from 60-90 miles

BobScarle

Hey WR

I'm in Worcestershire and would not mind a go at that ride. Do you have any more details? Date and where it goes from.

Bob

Wacky Racer

BobScarle wrote:

Hey WR

I'm in Worcestershire and would not mind a go at that ride. Do you have any more details? Date and where it goes from.

Bob

http://www.ctcchallengerides.co.uk/CTC2 ... ortive.php

The link above should work. It's the C2C sportive, we are doing this as a team. It is on October 14th, so plenty of time for me to train.

turbo_hamster

If you ride it as a leisure ride, a rucksack could be OK. Makes your back hot, though.

If you are trying to keep up with a group, or have a target pace, a rucksack is a bit of a pain. You will have to stop every time you want something to eat.

Alternatives include:
your jersey pockets: disadvantage is all your food is at body temperature and if you have to wear thick gloves (I wore winter gloves for a 100m event in June!!) it is hard to get the items out of your pockets
a top-tube box (triathletes use them): great for accessibility, but the contents get wet if it rains
gels can be taped to the bike's frame or stuck up the leg of your shorts: good accessibility, but the bike looks a bit odd

Wacky Racer

turbo hamster wrote:

If you ride it as a leisure ride, a rucksack could be OK. Makes your back hot, though.

If you are trying to keep up with a group, or have a target pace, a rucksack is a bit of a pain. You will have to stop every time you want something to eat.

Alternatives include:
your jersey pockets: disadvantage is all your food is at body temperature and if you have to wear thick gloves (I wore winter gloves for a 100m event in June!!) it is hard to get the items out of your pockets
a top-tube box (triathletes use them): great for accessibility, but the contents get wet if it rains
gels can be taped to the bike's frame or stuck up the leg of your shorts: good accessibility, but the bike looks a bit odd

Thanks for this TH. It's a dilemma, but I guess I'll go with the pockets and cram what I can in there. I only wear fingerless mitts so removing from pockets shouldn't be an issue. I'll have to put up with the temperature of any food I carry, perhaps take only easy to eat food types, and grin and bear it. Cheers for your advice.

Gizmodo

According to that web site there are 2 feed stops and a hot meal at the end. Whilst you should plan just in case they run out, you shouldn't need to take too much because they will fill your bottles and give you food ever 30 miles anyway. A couple of energy gels will be plenty.

You won't need a rucksack.

AlanW

£27 to enter....... :shock:

Wacky Racer

AlanW wrote:

£27 to enter....... :shock:

£15 if you enter with a team.

AlanW

Still over priced, this is only £7 to enter HERE

Wacky Racer

We looked at that one Alan, but we are away when it's on. There are others, but too far away, so Worcester it is.