Riding without sleep

Fursty Ferret
Fursty Ferret Posts: 189
edited March 2013 in Road general
I've signed up to this Help for Heroes 'Dawn Raid' sportive in early June - about 110 miles from Tidworth to Horse Guards Parade. Never done a sportive before but it's not the distance that's bothering me, nor the climbs, as there basically aren't any (about 1500 metres total elevation). What I am concerned about is the start time - 2am on a Sunday morning. I am wondering how my body will react to cycling that distance through the night after having been awake for 20 hours prior to that point. I generally sleep from about 12/1am to 6am and find it almost impossible to break that particular 5/6 hour cycle. I cannot sleep during the day either unles I have not slept at all the previous night. So should I just push on and expect adrenalin and camaraderie to get me through, or should I try and miss a sleep cycle on the Saturday night and hope that I can catch as many hours sleep as possible the afternoon before the event? I'm doing it with military guys who can all sleep instantly on demand so they're not particularly concerned. I am, though.

So, who's done a night sportive and how did you cope? Or am I worrying about nothing?

Comments

  • cheaterkiller
    cheaterkiller Posts: 159
    Thats ok, your not worrying about nothing. This is a real test of endurance. I would do what ever it took to get sufficient sleep before that marathon. If that means sacrificing some on the friday/saturday night then do so. Best of luck for a good cause tho
  • lawrences
    lawrences Posts: 1,011
    Why does it start at 2am?

    Seems stupidly early for a 110 miler.
  • Fursty Ferret
    Fursty Ferret Posts: 189
    lawrences wrote:
    Why does it start at 2am?

    Seems stupidly early for a 110 miler.


    It's a) part of the challenge and b) the event is timed so that the participants can, after a brief food stop at Blackheath, take part in a mass ride down the Mall at 11am alongside thousands of others converging from different parts.
  • Grill
    Grill Posts: 5,610
    You'll be fine, and with that profile you'll be done by sunrise.
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  • goonz
    goonz Posts: 3,106
    I thought the same before doing the L2P24 last year. Honestly it's fine, the adrenaline and occasion and not wanting to fail will get you through. Oh and the copious amounts of energy gels! :))
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  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    Sleep well on Thursday Friday and you'll be fine. I race ironman tris. They start at 6am so yre up at 4 and often havent slept at all.
  • lawrences
    lawrences Posts: 1,011
    Fursty Ferret wrote:
    lawrences wrote:
    Why does it start at 2am?

    Seems stupidly early for a 110 miler.


    It's a) part of the challenge and b) the event is timed so that the participants can, after a brief food stop at Blackheath, take part in a mass ride down the Mall at 11am alongside thousands of others converging from different parts.

    2am through to 11am don't exist in my conscious world.

    Good luck with the ride for a great cause.
  • crankycrank
    crankycrank Posts: 1,830
    Agree with the others, not to worry too much. Just eat good and if you really want to sleep pick up some Melatonin in the vitamin section. Take it about 1 hr before you want to go to sleep. It's completely safe, cheap and plenty of travelers use it to adjust to different time zones.
  • southdownswolf
    southdownswolf Posts: 1,525
    crankycrank wrote:
    Agree with the others, not to worry too much. Just eat good and if you really want to sleep pick up some Melatonin in the vitamin section. Take it about 1 hr before you want to go to sleep. It's completely safe, cheap and plenty of travelers use it to adjust to different time zones.

    +1 for the Melatonin, works for me when I have nights of not being able to sleep.
    http://www.stuartmole.co.uk/
  • Andyh1710
    Andyh1710 Posts: 10
    Hi mate

    I'm doing the Dawn Raid as well, I'm hoping to get a few hours kip on the Saturday afternoon but realistically think I'll just have to live off adrenalin and caffeine on the day. I can't imagine it'll be too bad as long as I get a good nights sleep on the couple of nights beforehand.

    Melatonin sounds interesting, I might give that a go.
  • Fursty Ferret
    Fursty Ferret Posts: 189
    Andyh1710 wrote:
    Hi mate

    I'm doing the Dawn Raid as well, I'm hoping to get a few hours kip on the Saturday afternoon but realistically think I'll just have to live off adrenalin and caffeine on the day. I can't imagine it'll be too bad as long as I get a good nights sleep on the couple of nights beforehand.

    Melatonin sounds interesting, I might give that a go.

    Knowing my luck I'll be so obsessed about getting a good nights sleep that I won't be able to get to sleep.

    Oh well, coffee, adrenalin and fear of failure will have to do.

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