500 Miles in 5 Days (I must be mad)

GT Destroyer

I am in the early stages of planning a cycle ride for charity. I am living/working on Orkney and my job here ends at the start of November, I will be cycling home (Liversedge nr Leeds) which is appx 500 miles. The plan is to do 100 miles a day, taking me 5 days, I wanted to make this as difficult as I could to generate more interest and therefore try and raise as many funds as possible.

The route.
Thurso - Inverness (117) - Bankfoot/Birnam/Dunkeld (104) - Jedburgh (109) - Northallerton (105) - Liversedge (60)

The Charity.
SITraN - Officially "The Sheffield Institue for Translational Neuroscience" This is a research facility that deals with Motor Neurone Disease, SITraN.

The bike/kit/training.
After being informed by Ribble that they do not cater for someone of my height (6ft 7inches) I am currently planning on using a Planet X Pro Carbon. I have a fair amount of experience on bikes, but solely on a MTB, and haven't ridden a road bike for years. I am therefore starting from scratch, with the bike, the kit, the training, and would gladly welcome any advice in this area...in fact....any advice on the whole challenge will be warmly accepted....

Thats it for now - Constructive criticism is very much welcomed

Churchill123

Good luck mate! - I'm doing a 100K ride next weekend for charity to raise money for a cerebral palsy charity - Nothing like your 500mile challenge but I haven't been cycling long at all and am really looking forward to it!

Have you raised any money yet or set up a just giving page or anything?

Lycra-Byka

Get out and ride. Now!

Well done for setting such a target. By no means an impossible one but not easy either!

Seriously, just ride as much as possible and learn the hard way before the challenge.

sub55

Respect for your endeavors and the best of luck .
However , have never understood the need to do such things for charity. Put your hand in your pocket and give them a few bob , but do the ride because you want to for your satisfaction.

Grill

sub55 wrote:

Respect for your endeavors and the best of luck .
However , have never understood the need to do such things for charity. Put your hand in your pocket and give them a few bob , but do the ride because you want to for your satisfaction.

This.

500 miles in 5 days is pretty easy, unless you're in the Alps.

GT Destroyer

Grill wrote:

sub55 wrote:

Respect for your endeavors and the best of luck .
However , have never understood the need to do such things for charity. Put your hand in your pocket and give them a few bob , but do the ride because you want to for your satisfaction.

This.

500 miles in 5 days is pretty easy, unless you're in the Alps.

True - Was already thinking of doing it, just because I can, and have no ties time-wise, and thought to do it and raise funds for the MND research facility makes sense....and you need to have a few bob spare to give them too

sub55

Grill wrote:

sub55 wrote:

Respect for your endeavors and the best of luck .
However , have never understood the need to do such things for charity. Put your hand in your pocket and give them a few bob , but do the ride because you want to for your satisfaction.

This.

500 miles in 5 days is pretty easy, unless you're in the Alps.

hay Grill didn't say it wasn't a challenge for the OP. just because you'd do it in 30 hours doesn't mean it is not a challenge

vfast1

Grill wrote:

sub55 wrote:

Respect for your endeavors and the best of luck .
However , have never understood the need to do such things for charity. Put your hand in your pocket and give them a few bob , but do the ride because you want to for your satisfaction.

This.

500 miles in 5 days is pretty easy, unless you're in the Alps.

Ofcourse it is. Jesus. :roll:

GT Destroyer

It'll be a challenge for me!!!

ct8282

Well its actually 495 miles and you're only doing 60 miles on day 5 so not even really 100 miles a day either. Lame!

rollemynot

Hey GT... Scotland in November can be a real bitch..... The southern softies don't have a clue. I will give you a hand on day 2 if you fancy some company....

southdownswolf

That first day in Scotland could be tough. I cycled from Wick to Inverness during my JOGLE and although I found it quite easy, I was blessed with light northerly winds and sunshine. In November, it could be cold, wet, windy and lonely. If you can put in plenty of training and wear good quality clothing to match the conditions, then it should be fine. Not much light that time of year, so you may well need lights that have plenty of life in them.

cerv50

Good on yer mate

Train hard and wisely, take my word for it as it will be tough. I challenged myself to ride 400 miles over Easter this year, 100 per day. The first 2 were easy but come the second 2 days it started to get much tougher (the weather didn't help as it was freezing cold and most days light snow).

Unfortunately I am off my bike at the moment with a muscle/tendon injury caused by over use so train as much as possible!

slowbike

GT Destroyer wrote:

It'll be a challenge for me!!!

Indeed - good luck and have fun with the training and the ride!

Don't worry about Grill ... he rides 500 miles before breakfast ... apparently ... us mere mortals are not worth ... apparently! :roll:

Grill

I eat breakfast quite late :P

I was in Majorca with my club and at least a dozen guys (and gals) did 500+ miles in 6 and a half days (and many took the rainy day off). Only a couple of those do any sort of distance riding. If you doubt your own ability then you have no shot of achieving your goals.

slowbike

One step at a time .... One step at a time ...

I could go out and do 200 miles tomorrow ... but to achieve that I'd do it in 20hours ... so no big deal - except for the willpower to keep going ...
I'd rather do 100 in 6hours

GT Destroyer

Thanks for yr replies guys - I know I need to crack on and get training, also that the biggest challenge may well be the weather, and am also prepared to have to possibly sit out a day (but only in really bad conditions), meaning it will take me 6 days, but still do the actual ride in 5, if you see what I mean.
And company on the way down....would be nice

So....bike-wise...am in contact with Planet X about a Pro Carbon model...but sizing may be an issue, their sizing for that model tops out at 6ft 6 and I am 6ft 7..and can't get to try out the bike before I buy it....also I figured that a carbon frame would be better for the ride due to weight, does anyone have any experience/thoughts on the Cayo bikes?
For example...this
https://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bi ... ab-reiter2

is about the same weight as this
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBP ... _road_bike

but cheaper - thoughts on this guys???

edit - and this?
http://www.canyon.com/_en/outlet/articl ... o=A1027871

kayakerchris

I am planning to ride home from Aberdeen to Derby. Day 1 Aberdeen to peebles. Stay overnight with wife in comfy bed.
day2/3 ride from peebles to Derby. I have a room booked to get a couple of hours kip and a shower. I expect to be home late afternoon on day 3.

Long rides of 250+ per day are certainly doable. I think that unless you are fully laden with front and back panniers, etc then 100 miles per day, whilst difficult, is relatively easy and not worthy of sponsorship.

99thmonkey

Grill wrote:

sub55 wrote:

Respect for your endeavors and the best of luck .
However , have never understood the need to do such things for charity. Put your hand in your pocket and give them a few bob , but do the ride because you want to for your satisfaction.

This.

500 miles in 5 days is pretty easy, unless you're in the Alps.

Some people find 5 miles a challenge so to broad brush 'its easy' based on your level is a little niave!

Anyway enjoy and get the cash flowing and the legs spinning

TheSmithers

Grill wrote:

sub55 wrote:

Respect for your endeavors and the best of luck .
However , have never understood the need to do such things for charity. Put your hand in your pocket and give them a few bob , but do the ride because you want to for your satisfaction.

This.

500 miles in 5 days is pretty easy, unless you're in the Alps.

What a stupid crass comment, and one that kind of belittles the OP's challenge. Snobby elitism imo. :roll:

Riding 100 miles a day for 5 consecutive days, even if flat, is nothing trivial in any sane person's book. To the OP: Good on you mate! I hope you raise a lot of money. Best of luck with it!

GT Destroyer

thanks guys for your support....its fine for people to write what they want, its a forum and people have their own opinions on stuff..........I want to try keep on topic as much as I can though...any thoughts on the bikes I linked up??? Am swaying more towards the Canyon due to the size issue, its not C/F but very similar in weight....

Wirral_paul

TheSmithers wrote:

Grill wrote:

sub55 wrote:

Respect for your endeavors and the best of luck .
However , have never understood the need to do such things for charity. Put your hand in your pocket and give them a few bob , but do the ride because you want to for your satisfaction.

This.

500 miles in 5 days is pretty easy, unless you're in the Alps.

What a stupid crass comment, and one that kind of belittles the OP's challenge. Snobby elitism imo. :roll:

Riding 100 miles a day for 5 consecutive days, even if flat, is nothing trivial in any sane person's book. To the OP: Good on you mate! I hope you raise a lot of money. Best of luck with it!

+1 to this - talk about one seriously arrogant and belittling attitude!! Hope you're proud of yourself for that comment Grill - and maybe i should ask my clubmate to come and belittle your biggest and hardest ride in return - as I can guarantee he'd make your rides look feeble.

Anyway - good luck to the OP and go for it mate. I've got a similar ride (773 miles in 8 days) which i'm also going to do for charity. Before anyone says put my hand in my pocket - i already did

kayakerchris

I dont deny it is a hard ride but unless you are massively obese, paraplegic or in some other way seriously disabled it is perfectly doable in comfort with 6 months training. I therefore do not see it as being worthy of sponsorship. Most averagely fit people could do that easily.

gsej

Have a hard think about clothing. It's not nice having to put on in the morning something that's still wet from the day before, so you either need to have fresh stuff for each day, or somewhere to stay that enables you to dry it all out. Shoes and gloves are the things I find hardest to dry out quickly, and having to put on wet shoes at the start of the day is a quick route to misery.

Wirral_paul

kayakerchris wrote:

I dont deny it is a hard ride but unless you are massively obese, paraplegic or in some other way seriously disabled it is perfectly doable in comfort with 6 months training. I therefore do not see it as being worthy of sponsorship. Most averagely fit people could do that easily.

How would you view the London marathon then?? I recon i could run that with 6 months training and i'm not a runner. Would that not be worthy of sponsorship either under the above qualifying criteria?

I wont mention that the London Marathon is the largest annual fundraising event there is.

Grill

Wirral_Paul wrote:

TheSmithers wrote:

Grill wrote:

sub55 wrote:

Respect for your endeavors and the best of luck .
However , have never understood the need to do such things for charity. Put your hand in your pocket and give them a few bob , but do the ride because you want to for your satisfaction.

This.

500 miles in 5 days is pretty easy, unless you're in the Alps.

What a stupid crass comment, and one that kind of belittles the OP's challenge. Snobby elitism imo. :roll:

Riding 100 miles a day for 5 consecutive days, even if flat, is nothing trivial in any sane person's book. To the OP: Good on you mate! I hope you raise a lot of money. Best of luck with it!

+1 to this - talk about one seriously arrogant and belittling attitude!! Hope you're proud of yourself for that comment Grill - and maybe i should ask my clubmate to come and belittle your biggest and hardest ride in return - as I can guarantee he'd make your rides look feeble.

Anyway - good luck to the OP and go for it mate. I've got a similar ride (773 miles in 8 days) which i'm also going to do for charity. Before anyone says put my hand in my pocket - i already did

Errrr... I was simply letting the OP know that he shouldn't worry so much about it as it's perfectly doable. Your choice to read into non-existent subtext is not my problem and belies a sensitivity that would not be deemed desirable for general internet banter. I should add that I'm very happy that you're proud of your clubmate's accomplishments. Living vicariously through others is so much easier than doing something yourself.

kayakerchris

I dont sponsor people to do the London marathon for that very reason. However 50 miles in a short period of time is much harder than the marathon. getting back on the bike on the third day is a mental thing not a physical thing.

Ber Nard

kayakerchris wrote:

I think that unless you are fully laden with front and back panniers, etc then 100 miles per day, whilst difficult, is relatively easy and not worthy of sponsorship.

That's generally not the opinion of the non-cycling public. People I have worked with for quite a while are still amazed that I can ride 50+ miles on a Sunday and then ride the 7 miles each way to work the rest of the week.

GT Destroyer wrote:

I want to try keep on topic as much as I can though...any thoughts on the bikes I linked up??? Am swaying more towards the Canyon due to the size issue, its not C/F but very similar in weight....

How much support are you going to have over the 5 days? In other words; how much kit are you going to have to carry yourself?

Rob

peat

Good luck GT.Sounds good!

Ignore the snobby tw@ts on this forum who literally have nothing better to do than cycle 500 miles every week. A challenge is completely personal in terms of goals and should be treated as such.

I did something similar last month. It is by all means do-able, but only with proper preparation.

My biggest fear was the day-on-day battering and getting on the bike each morning. As it turned out, as the days were so long, the night's weren't long enough to seize up. That only really started on the day we drove home and became quite painful being couped up in the back of a hatchback for 8hrs!

If you don't have one already, buy a 'roller'. It's a foam cylinder that you use on the floor and roll yourself over it at different angles. Really hurts, but certainly free's up the legs every evening.

The biggest challenge will be weather. The first 3 days of our challenge was in beautiful sunshine with a tailwind. As we got north, the weather got worse and worse until the final day where it was apocalyptic. I will never be colder or wetter than i was that day. I seriously considered giving up with just 15miles to go. It was that bad.

Don't let that put you off.

The best bit of advice i can give though is regarding route planning. Looking at the route on paper was daunting. I split each day down into 4x 25 mile (ish) stages and focused on one at a time. That way, i was only ever 25 miles away from a cup of coffee and sandwich. It made it, psychologically, alot easier.

Also, speaking of eating - EAT! Completely stuff your face. Seconds, pudding you have complete carte-blanc!

Best of luck.

GT Destroyer

Thanks again for your replies and support.

Kit - Am glad someone mentioned this, and also the wet clothes thing too, I am thinking a couple of pairs of long legged pants and couple of pairs of shorts, few thin tops so I can layer, I already have a high vis waterproof breathable jacket from my MTB days, gonna need to get some proper shoes too for clipless pedals. I guess all the training I will be doing is going to teach me about the type of kit I am going to need, tools as well, things like inner tubes etc etc.....

Apart from the last day I am on my own, so any advice on kit I might need is welcomed

TheSmithers

kayakerchris wrote:

I dont deny it is a hard ride but unless you are massively obese, paraplegic or in some other way seriously disabled it is perfectly doable in comfort with 6 months training. I therefore do not see it as being worthy of sponsorship. Most averagely fit people could do that easily.

Let's no forget though, we are all cyclists. The average person likely to sponsor something like this will be someone who probably last rode a bike when they were a kid. To them, seeing the stats '500 miles in 5 days' would seem incredulous and well worthy of a fiver at least toward a good cause. On that basis, I'd say it would attract a lot of interest and sponsorship.

I'm a keen cyclist and I still think it's a challenge. 100 miles in a day, even at a pace of 20mph is gonna take 5 hours, but you'd likely take it steady and take 8 hours or more. So that's the equivalent of an entire working week doing nothing but cycling. I know I'd be wrecked by the end of it.