Am I mad - 75 miles, 8 weeks to train

Have entered the Chiltern Cycle Challenge 75-mile ride on 24th March
Went out on first ride since October* yesterday, 24 miles, nearly killed me
What are my chances and what do I need to do? I have a turbo trainer available, not used it yet :roll:
* injured knee then abroad for 6 weeks, then ill, then snow, them's my excuses
Went out on first ride since October* yesterday, 24 miles, nearly killed me
What are my chances and what do I need to do? I have a turbo trainer available, not used it yet :roll:
* injured knee then abroad for 6 weeks, then ill, then snow, them's my excuses

It's just a hill. Get over it.
0
Posts
75 miles is doable from a standing start in 8 weeks. Once you can do about 50 without blowing up you'll do 75 without much bother by having groups to ride with, and the adrenalin of doing the ride.
Is it March 24th? Ponders getting an entry again...
Look at the 'Trainerroad' thread in the training forum. Then decide if its for you
Remember to take some fluid and some food with you when you hit the 40 mile mark.
In between, do some hill reps, sprints and a potter.
Hopefully with all that exercise you'll lose a bit of weight which will also help.
Good Luck and remember your supposed to enjoy it.
As for being mad, well only you and your psychiatrist can really answer that!
This weekend I have a 50 miler planned with 4 friends who are training for the Fred Whitton so this should be a good test of my fitness/capability as I think we have a decently hillly route planned through the lakes.
Winter - Trek 1.2
Turbo bike - Trek 1.2
I love my Trek 1.2
The first time I completed a 100K was a great milestone and easier than I thought because I got the nutrition right. I've done the same route lots of time since and blown up on a couple... simply because I forgot to eat or drink when I needed to.
The hurdle you need to cross is mental, not physical.
2009 Specialized Tricross Sport
2011 Trek Madone 4.5
2012 Felt F65X
Proud CX Pervert and quiet roadie. 12 mile commuter
On a serious note, listen to everyone's advice. Slowly increase your long weekly run and eat and drink at the correct moments. Remember food and drink. Then just enjoy it!
The drinking is not a problem as If I dont drink enough I get headaches, so I always make sure I have plenty with electrolytes. Food wise I quite often have porridge a fair bit of time before I set off and when I am out I will have a bananna, would you guys reccomend other stuff for the ride........fruit, flapjack etc or gels??
Thanks for the advice!!
Winter - Trek 1.2
Turbo bike - Trek 1.2
I love my Trek 1.2
I generally have bananananananas (how do you stop spelling that bloody word?) which I love the taste of but hate the texture... flapjacks (can be too stodgy sometimes) or malt loaf jam sandwiches (which are just great: near - immediate sugar hit and longer burn)
2009 Specialized Tricross Sport
2011 Trek Madone 4.5
2012 Felt F65X
Proud CX Pervert and quiet roadie. 12 mile commuter
Would be good if you could make a thread of how you get on, someone suggested that to me as it could give inspiration to others if my training worked out, likewise yours would do for people like me.
I hope it all goes well for you.
Was regularly doing longer rides all of last year, and riding 60-70 milers at least once a month pretty much all year.
So fingers crossed...
Don't know about the route, but yes, it's the same ride
Last year's had a horrid section through an industrial estate (why?) and a bit of Amersham (ditto) but the rest was ace...apart from the 1 in 3 hill that had everyone walking (and they made the poor souls doing the 35 mile ride go up it as well... :shock: ). Other than that it was ace, and the weather was even nice!!!
Maybe see you there, seeing as I'm now committed (in more than one sense
It's just a hill. Get over it.
Anyway - thanks for flagging it up. I've just entered. Need to get back on the bike with just 0.77 miles so far this year, due to a mix of weather, apathy, flat batteries and a spate of flats on the super-duper tyres that turn out to be made of rice paper.
It's just a hill. Get over it.
Are you local to the Chilterns? I am based in Haddenham and am training for a BHF charity ride on March 23.
Thanks
Emily
Hey there
Just down the road - sunny Aylesbury
What's the ride on the 23rd? Mine's the Chiltern Cycle Challenge, run by Iain Rennie Hospice (possibly also known as the "Rennie Way")
It's just a hill. Get over it.
Thinking about entering (35 miler) but will be on a singlespeed.
Shame they don't post the route up. From previous descriptions on this thread I am guessing it comes back to Wendover and possibly Stokenchurch
I am getting back into riding this year, having ruptured my achillies tendon last March. I did a couple of rides before Christmas. So far this week I've managed 3 rides and a total of 65 miles (did 32.5 today... and am completely done in)
There is no substitute for saddle miles. Good luck
Looking at my log it was 76 miles last year (did I miss a turn somewhere and go a mile up the road then turn back? Yep...) and took about 5 hours. Leave at about 8:30, you're all done by early afternoon with the rest of the day to enjoy.
You'll do well to park up somewhere close as they do hand out a lot of goodies at the start and you'll find yourself wanting to dump them rather than carry them with you. The car park at the back of the town centre is the handiest.
The BHF cycle is from Cambridge to Coast (Southend) if you fancy doing any training cycles just shout.
Thanks
Emily
Are you really, really slow???? If so, then maybe, yes!
It's just a hill. Get over it.
Entered the cheshire cat 100mi ride on 24th March, and i haven't ridden much over the winter at all. (my combined mileage from Dec - beginning of Feb was 43 miles :-p )
Did 50mi sat, 50mi sun (both feeling empty by the end of the rides) and doing 75flat miles tomorrow. As long as i can do 75miles easlily on the flat, i'm transitioning to 70mi very hilly in the weeks preceeding the event.
You'll be fine, just eek it up gently.
I've agreed to take part in a 175 mile 2 day ride.
Cardiff to Heathrow Airport...
3 weeks training so far 4 more to go :shock:
It's all in a good cause tho http://www.helpingharry.net
Good luck with your ride
Not been on a bike in 3 weeks, life's gone against me
'Nuff said
It's just a hill. Get over it.