Riding a long way much faster than normal
marcusjb
Posts: 2,412
As many on here know, I ride a lot of long distance events. But these are mainly at a relatively moderate pace.
This year, however, I fancied something different. The 24 hour time trial. The race of truth.
There is a link between 24 hour time-trialling and Audax as, in the days before Audax UK existed, riders like Barry Parslow had to ride more than 600km in a 24 in order to qualify for Paris-Brest-Paris. Nowadays, we have a calendar brimming with events and qualifying for PBP is considerably easier (logistically).
This year is unusual in that there are two 24s in the calendar - usually there is just the Mersey Roads. Due to other cycling commitments, the East Sussex 24 was the one I was going to go for.
Riding a long way at a moderate pace is very achievable for someone with a bit of fitness and some mental fortitude - I can ride 200 miles a day back-to-back without issue for at least 4 or 5 days.
This is something different though - riding considerably faster for 24 hours.
We have a very strict 1 in 1 out policy now on bikes - so a TT rig wasn't an option. But I knew that my main bike was comfortable for 1400km rides, so a bit of tweaking, add aero bars, faster tyres and remove the mudguards and it should be comfy for a 24 right? Turns out I was wrong - I think whilst my saddle is spot on for riding on the hoods/flats etc., it was too low for spending very long periods of time on the aero bars. I did raise the saddle (and move it forwards) a few mm when I first started on the aero bars back in November - but I did terrible damage to my gentleman's parts, so I put it back down again. I'd ridden some fairly long rides in training (3 and 400 kms), but they were all over typical Audax courses, so I might only spend 20-25% of the time on the aero bars if I was lucky - this was not the right approach for something that allowed you to be on the aero bars for considerably longer.
Anyway - the upshot of that was a very sore leg - I've done something muscular, probably a haematoma of some form as there's a hard lump on the front and what looks like bruising on the back of my leg.
My targets were modest - 375 miles was my real goal (well, 372.something) as that was 600km. It was also above my standard in the VTTA tables (I'm 41 - so standard is 369.12 miles).
I think I just about achieved that - I certainly have on my Garmin, but we'll see what the official distance is in the coming days.
It was, without doubt, one of the hardest things I have ever done. Makes Audax feel very easy in comparison!
Great event, great atmosphere as support crews cheer you on - even other riders as they pass you. The really fast boys and girls were something else and it looks like the top two male competitors got over 500 miles.
Anyway - a bit more writing on it below - there's not much I can say about riding around in circles for 24 hours though!
http://marcusjb.wordpress.com/2014/06/2 ... pionships/
This year, however, I fancied something different. The 24 hour time trial. The race of truth.
There is a link between 24 hour time-trialling and Audax as, in the days before Audax UK existed, riders like Barry Parslow had to ride more than 600km in a 24 in order to qualify for Paris-Brest-Paris. Nowadays, we have a calendar brimming with events and qualifying for PBP is considerably easier (logistically).
This year is unusual in that there are two 24s in the calendar - usually there is just the Mersey Roads. Due to other cycling commitments, the East Sussex 24 was the one I was going to go for.
Riding a long way at a moderate pace is very achievable for someone with a bit of fitness and some mental fortitude - I can ride 200 miles a day back-to-back without issue for at least 4 or 5 days.
This is something different though - riding considerably faster for 24 hours.
We have a very strict 1 in 1 out policy now on bikes - so a TT rig wasn't an option. But I knew that my main bike was comfortable for 1400km rides, so a bit of tweaking, add aero bars, faster tyres and remove the mudguards and it should be comfy for a 24 right? Turns out I was wrong - I think whilst my saddle is spot on for riding on the hoods/flats etc., it was too low for spending very long periods of time on the aero bars. I did raise the saddle (and move it forwards) a few mm when I first started on the aero bars back in November - but I did terrible damage to my gentleman's parts, so I put it back down again. I'd ridden some fairly long rides in training (3 and 400 kms), but they were all over typical Audax courses, so I might only spend 20-25% of the time on the aero bars if I was lucky - this was not the right approach for something that allowed you to be on the aero bars for considerably longer.
Anyway - the upshot of that was a very sore leg - I've done something muscular, probably a haematoma of some form as there's a hard lump on the front and what looks like bruising on the back of my leg.
My targets were modest - 375 miles was my real goal (well, 372.something) as that was 600km. It was also above my standard in the VTTA tables (I'm 41 - so standard is 369.12 miles).
I think I just about achieved that - I certainly have on my Garmin, but we'll see what the official distance is in the coming days.
It was, without doubt, one of the hardest things I have ever done. Makes Audax feel very easy in comparison!
Great event, great atmosphere as support crews cheer you on - even other riders as they pass you. The really fast boys and girls were something else and it looks like the top two male competitors got over 500 miles.
Anyway - a bit more writing on it below - there's not much I can say about riding around in circles for 24 hours though!
http://marcusjb.wordpress.com/2014/06/2 ... pionships/
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Comments
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Good effort , I've ridden 600s and LEL but the thought of pushing it for 24 hours has never really appealed, your write up may have stirred an interest!0
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Fantastic ride, well done.
Enjoyed reading your write up.0 -
Brakeless wrote:Good effort , I've ridden 600s and LEL but the thought of pushing it for 24 hours has never really appealed, your write up may have stirred an interest!
It is a very different game - far, far harder than even really tough 600s or LEL.
The concentration and focus required is unlike anything I have ever done before. On an Audax, I have the luxury of enough pace that I can be relaxed about cafe stops etc. - you can't do that on the 24. Every minute off the bike is costing you quarter of a mile or more.
I'm pretty chuffed that I got my main target. I was semi-supported in that a club-mate who was supporting another rider was handing up bottles and so on. With full support, I'd gain another few miles. Obviously my leg injury (which is slowly returning to normal size, but my entire calf is like a rock!) really cost me.
The ESCA is not a particularly fast course apparently - the Mersey Roads is generally faster seems to be the wisdom. There's certainly quite a few lumps on the ESCA.
Enough of the excuses - I did okay for a first time - I know I can do 400 with a little luck on my side.
I'd really recommend a 24 - but it is a hard project to take on. I took it pretty seriously, but the top riders have lived and breathed the circuit for months - finding where to put their support etc. Even riding it unsupported requires considerable planning of what to put in your box etc.
I'm glad to have done it, I have learnt a lot from it.
Currently I am in no rush to repeat the experience - but I have had a little look at a 12 later in the year......0 -
mad dogs and English men
loved every minute of my attempts, but there again I'm the sort of fella who races around audax`s
much to everybody else's distain. Congrats on having a go ,its one event you`ll remember for the rest of your life. so it was worth it.constantly reavalueating the situation and altering the perceived parameters accordingly0 -
600km in 24 hrs?
Thats immense.Scott Speedster S20 Roadie for Speed
Specialized Hardrock MTB for Lumps
Specialized Langster SS for Ease
Cinelli Mash Bolt Fixed for Pain
n+1 is well and truly on track
Strava http://app.strava.com/athletes/16088750 -
I went past some of you guys on the way to Eastbourne yesterday, an old chap on a tricycle and a couple of others...I have the video of them :-)
Your 24 hour stint makes our 165 miles look like a walk in the park!WyndyMilla Massive Attack | Rourke 953 | Condor Italia 531 Pro | Boardman CX Pro | DT Swiss RR440 Tubeless Wheels
Find me on Strava0 -
drlodge wrote:I went past some of you guys on the way to Eastbourne yesterday, an old chap on a tricycle and a couple of others...I have the video of them :-)
Your 24 hour stint makes our 165 miles look like a walk in the park!
Yep, there were 3 or 4 trikes. A club mate was on hers. One tandem, with the legendary long distance rider George McNasty Berwick on the back doing something like his 53rd 24 hour TT!
An amazing event. It is sad to see so few in the calendar these days. Most years, just the mersey roads. This year, the esca as well, but that may be the last running of it. It is a phenomenon piece of organisation to have marshals and timekeepers spread across huge areas. It will take them until the weekend to calculate our official distances from the dozens of time sheets.
My ride was very modest in reality. Not bad for a first timer and above standard (just) on the veteran tables (love being a vet at 41!). It is truly humbling when a fast rider passes you. 2 top riders look to be over 500 miles and the competition record is 541! Great feeling having that record holder cheering you on though!
One heck of an experience. So intense and so hard.0 -
absolutely great effort, great average as well, well doneAll lies and jest..still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest....0
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Good read that! Good ride too. Nice. Hope your G's parts are back in shape and the leg too. I rode a 25 TT on another guys bike once. Could not get int o may car after!!! My hips were seized. Crazy how a few mm here and there can create havoc. Fancy riding to Portugal in 2016? In a day?? Kidding.0
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Awesome!!
How did you keep your garmin battery running out of interest?0 -
I'd mix up a bit of humour with some philosophical ramblings about language.BillyImp wrote:How did you keep your garmin battery running out of interest?
But then I don't think I'd ever have the courage/madness to enter something like this. Just being in a car for 24 hours sends me insane - I shudder to think what 24 hours on a bike must be like.0 -
BillyImp wrote:Awesome!!
How did you keep your garmin battery running out of interest?
Usually a battery pack in my saddlebag.
In this case - two garmins and merge the files.
To be honest, despite having HRM and pm data, I was pretty spot on with my personal pacing in the first half. I could have ridden with just a simple computer as I didn't refer to it at all and I was bang on where I wanted to be. That was pretty pleasing as it is easy to get carried away, especially on a hill.0 -
briantrumpet wrote:
I'd mix up a bit of humour with some philosophical ramblings about language.BillyImp wrote:How did you keep your garmin battery running out of interest? All lies and jest..still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest....0
