500 Miles in 5 Days (I must be mad)

GT Destroyer

Have sorted out bnbs for the way down, and e-mailed Canyon as to whether I should be ordering a 2XL or 3XL bike from them, sorting out a facebook page with the details on it, will probably link this place to it, contacted the research centre in Sheffield to inform them about it....itching to get training started now....the bnbs have been pretty cool, a couple offering big discounts due to it being a ride for charity, and one doing en evening meal for free!!

GT Destroyer

Bike ordered

Also how do I know which pedals to go for - My shoe size is 14 so have a limited choice,

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/northwave-fighter-road-shoes/

These for example have a 3 bolt cleat - Is this common??? and is it easy enough to find pedals to buy to match the shoe???

Grill

All road cleats (aside from Speedplay which use a 4 bolt) are 3 bolt. If you want to ride standard SPD then you'll need a mountain bike shoe.

Oh and you should really try shoes on before you buy as an ill-fitting shoe would be disastrous on your ride.

GT Destroyer

OK - stupid question now, Road cleats and standard SPD are 2 different things right? Or wrong?
Am going to have to pluck for my size and see what they are like when I get them, because I have stupidly large feet trying on before I buy is not an option for me

Grill

Yes they are different. You may want to check this out:
http://wheelworld.com/articles/buyers-guide-to-clipless-pedals-and-cycling-shoes-pg194.htm

These sort of questions are precisely the reason you should pop into your LBS.

GT Destroyer

Ahh yes, but they aren't open at 10pm in the evenings.....thats when I get to talk to you, and read quality links like the one you posted I did call in at my LBS last week, which isn't that local, and have a talk to them, they seem OK, had a decent range of accessories, and a well equipped repairs bit which was full of activity......it has to be them who I go to for my spares/repairs/new bits as they are the only one on the island!!!

Grill

I see. I didn't realise you were on the islands. As you were then

GT Destroyer

Bike is on its way, and so are socks and shoes, also sponsorship is on its way too, below is the link if anyone did want to sponsor me, and if you don't, then don't
http://www.justgiving.com/JamesWilson-1978

steve6690

Good on ya. You might want some neoprene overshoes too.

passout

A lot will depend on the headwind - thats why people tend to do end to end south to north I think...? It is doable though, just go very steady & keep hydrated!

I'd start with a shorter first day & a longer final day myself....

Good luck.

GT Destroyer

steve6690 wrote:

Good on ya. You might want some neoprene overshoes too.

Thanks Steve - Will look into neoprene overshoes, thanks for mentioning them

Am well into planning and prepping now - Sorting out exact routes for each day, got a mate who is coming as support vehicle, and also with a bike for support on the uphills, some of the climbs are monsters, but then theres always the other side to go down!!!

GT Destroyer

Bike is due to arrive on 27th....

this is the justgiving webpage if you would like a look

http://www.justgiving.com/JamesWilson-1978

and the facebook page link

https://www.facebook.com/500Milesin5days

GT Destroyer

Right, this is still going ahead, thinking of leaving on the 11th November and due to arrive 15th. If you are interested and can spare the time and funds to sponsor me, I would be extremely grateful

Have thoroughly enjoyed all of my training rides, despite the almost constant headwind there seems to be here in Orkney, and rain/mist etc......but there were a few windless sunny days in there too.

Here is the justgiving webpage if you would like a look

http://www.justgiving.com/JamesWilson-1978

and the facebook page link

https://www.facebook.com/500Milesin5days

bigharj

Hey, you're lucky with size 14's. I'm 6ft 7in too and shod with 15's, how have you feared with getting kit for the tall rider?

FYI, my bike's a 64cm Cube Peloton and I would recommend a professional bike fit.

GT Destroyer

bigharj wrote:

Hey, you're lucky with size 14's. I'm 6ft 7in too and shod with 15's, how have you feared with getting kit for the tall rider?

FYI, my bike's a 64cm Cube Peloton and I would recommend a professional bike fit.

Hi Harj. Kit wise - I already had an XXL Altura coat from my mountain biking days, but have also got a Polaris waterproof in XXL, just been out with that tonight for first time and was OK, a bit tight around the underarm, but long enough in the back and arms. I got XXL Lusso riding pants, I love these, fleecelined on the inside and never felt cold in them yet, few other bits and bobs, Campag base layer is especially nice, have gone for it all in XXL and it all fits pretty good. Shoes, I bought Northwave and they were a decent fit, until I got some R088 Shimanos, they are a world apart from the Northwave ones, and not that much more expensive.

So its gone alright getting kit, how do you get on buying it, OK?

TFC1

Good luck with this. i am also a road newbie doing a charity ride - 500 miles in 5 days from Madrid to Lisbon next year. Just starting to get intpo training now. Doing about 35 - 40 mile rides on the MTB at the weekend (Planet X Pro Carbon arrives in a week or so ) and doing an hour or so on the exercise bike 2 or 3 rtimes a week so far.

Ride is in May so will be ramping up the training once the new toy arrives!

as a resonably fit person generally but not abig cyclist, I certainly think this is a pretty big challenge. Even more so when you are doing it pretty much solo. Good luck!

Be interested to hear how it goes!

GT Destroyer

TFC1 wrote:

Good luck with this. i am also a road newbie doing a charity ride - 500 miles in 5 days from Madrid to Lisbon next year. Just starting to get intpo training now. Doing about 35 - 40 mile rides on the MTB at the weekend (Planet X Pro Carbon arrives in a week or so ) and doing an hour or so on the exercise bike 2 or 3 rtimes a week so far.

Ride is in May so will be ramping up the training once the new toy arrives!

as a resonably fit person generally but not abig cyclist, I certainly think this is a pretty big challenge. Even more so when you are doing it pretty much solo. Good luck!

Be interested to hear how it goes!

Cheers - And good luck with your ride. I was keen on a Planet X, but had to go for the Canyon ally framed one, v happy with it too. I will let you know how I got on on the ride, and whether I thought I had trained enough etc....

GT Destroyer

For those interested I rode the 500 miles last week.

Total time riding: 34 hrs 5 minutes 51 seconds
Total feet climbed: 26,008
Total calories burnt: 18,727
Total miles ridden: 500.4
Bike problems: 0
Me problems: 0

http://app.strava.com/athletes/2496100

Here is a link to the strava site so you can see the routes I took.

Day 1 and 2 were the hardest, weather wise, and day in the afternoon I was ready to throw the bike over a hedge after having 3 full days of headwinds. Day 4 was my favourite scenery wise, coming up and over the Scottish/English border was amazing.

One of the highlights was cycling along on the first day, and having stag run next to me, then up and across the road right in front.

I would recommend anyone to cycle the routes I took, decent-ish roads mainly, and epic epic views.

TFC1 - I trained from mid-July onwards for this ride, did just under 2000 miles before it, and got in 4 or 5 rides over the 100 mile mark, I did not do consecutive 100 milers before the ride, so was OK enough doing them back to back with the training I got in.

Eating/Drinking - Probably got through about 8-10 litres a day, and ate everything I could find, HI5 energy bars are good, but after 3 days of eating them, I refused to eat any more, mainly because of the stink coming from my ass, so switched to other chocolate bars and flapjack etc......

Any other questions about it please just ask.

And the sponsorship money is up at around £2,800 so far which is awesome.

markhewitt1978

Well done . As someone who's yet to attempt their first 100 miles never mind doing it 5 times, I doff my cap to thee.

ManOfKent

Good effort. I ride regularly and would struggle to emulate what you did.

marcusjb

Well done.

cougie

Excellent work. Worth doing just for the Stag alone !

elderone

Congrats on a super ride,glad you made it safely.

TFC1

Brilliant stuff!

Doing my ride in the sun (hopefully) in Spain during May will seem like a picnic in comparrison!

Thanks for the training tips. My Road bike arrived last week so starting to ramp up the training now.

GT Destroyer

whereabouts? do you know the route for it yet, and is it a charity thing? what bike did you get, and what GPS are you going to use? have you got a thread for it on here yet?

tlw1

well done dude

TFC1

GT Destroyer wrote:

whereabouts? do you know the route for it yet, and is it a charity thing? what bike did you get, and what GPS are you going to use? have you got a thread for it on here yet?

Yewp, it is a charity ride organised by my company who do a different one each year. The organiser has just got back from driving the route and there will be about 80 of us doing it, thankfully supported!

I went for the Planet X Pro Carbon and am loving it so far.

Currently doing one decent ride (35 - 50 miles) at the weekends and two or three 20 mile rides on the exercise bike int he week.I will probably set up a thread soon to get some feedback

nweststeyn

Well done! Hope you enjoyed the experience.

blablablacksheep

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!

Here here. Theres a lot of snobbery sometimes from internet forums .
Great effort either WSU and gl raising money.