Planning a very long ride - 8 hrs - Page 11 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

06-11-2004, 07:33 PM

On Fri, 11 Jun 2004 18:39:08 -0700, Dan Daniel <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
wrote:

>On Fri, 11 Jun 2004 13:45:34 -0400, Badger_South <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
>wrote:

>>
>>I like the idea of the first segment being around 3-4 hours, b/c I have
>>that much motivation, initially. Then knowing I'm 1/3 to 1/2 way there
>>helps with the last part. But I like your plan of 2 hours and a 10 min
>>break after that. As I said, I'm anticipating that the major hurdle will be
>>80-90% mental. ;-)
>>
>>-B
>>
>
>Well, at the beginning of the day, mental can be a major hurdle. But
>if you use up your glycogen stores, mental stuff gets real hard. A
>brain without energy is a very unhappy brain, and things can get very
>ugly.

Yeah, I imagine, but I've never really pushed myself to see where that
point is. That's why I'm planning to do it close to home first to get an
idea. I'll certainly ride slower than normal (but not much) and will eat on
the ride.

>This might be one of the major physical differences between 3 hours
>and 8 hours. In 3 hours you might push the reserves down to zero, but
>it's ok. In 8 hours, you have to add new reserves as the day goes
>along.

Well I must have a pretty high bonk threshold, b/c I hadn't really eaten
any obvious carbs the previous week, and didn't eat on the ride itself,
when I did the 3.5 hour ride a month or so ago. (famous last words, heh...)

>Plan on eating throughout the day. Nothing worse than bonking in the
>last half hour before the night's camp ground or final destination.
>Those have been the worst times I have had when touring- being 5-10
>miles from the night's destination, and being completely beat and
>empty.

Right. I'm a fan of adventure racing, although never done it and have been
reading up on that kind of stuff. Probably go all liquid with the diet that
day, or at least 'soft', like pnut butter and bananas and soforth.

>>>> I'm sure some here would say 'just ride for the 8 hours, what's the big
>>>> deal', but that would be OK for those who have ridden a lot (like frequent
>>>> 3-4 hour rides), but my longest ride has been 3.5 hours, and only did that
>>>> once. I'm hoping to get some posts on others who have done something like
>>>> this, and their experiences vs the initial expectations.
>>>>
>
>Doing one day of excessive miles is actually quite easy. It's the next
>day to watch out for!

I believe it. Thing is I do a lot of weight training and even on rides that
I think will be excessive, I don't have any pain in the legs or anything
the next day. Only thing that might be a bother is I tend to get some
cramping either in the hands or the feet, but it passes. Guess I'll be
making sure to get the potassium and calcium supps and so forth.

Thanks for the thoughtful reply!

-Badger

06-11-2004, 07:37 PM

On Fri, 11 Jun 2004 21:02:39 -0400, "Roger Zoul" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
wrote:

>Badger_South wrote:
>:: On Fri, 11 Jun 2004 18:46:43 -0400, Rick Onanian <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
>:: wrote:
>::
>::: On Fri, 11 Jun 2004 12:48:12 -0400, Badger_South <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
>::: wrote:
>:::: I'm toying with the idea of doing a long ride this fall, after a
>:::: summer of 400 mile/months, and I'm interested in some ideas as to
>:::: pacing. Here's something I've been thinking about:
>::: <snip>
>:::
>::: You're not ready.
>:::
>::: Work up to it. Do a 4 hour ride this weekend. Add a half hour or an
>::: hour every weekend.
>::
>:: I'm not ready, in regards to what? Are you saying I could -not- do
>:: this ride at my current level of training by, say Oct?
>
>I think he suggested you work up to an 8-hour ride over time, rather than
>just jumping to 8 hours of total riding per day.
>
>You know, there are people who have PhDs (like Ed Burke) and years of riding
>experience combined who write books on training for long rides (and other
>stuff regarding cycling). You're educated, but a noob to riding...why not
>avail yourself of accumlated knowledge and hard-won time in the saddle?

I understand the need to build up. But IMO, it should be possible to do the
8 hours on a bike in the staged way I mentioned, on a fairly flat course
without too much trouble. Note that I said above that I planned to do it in
the fall, and would be ramping up, but I doubt if I'll ride anything over 4
hours in training. I want to see what happens when I push it, and have to
dig deep. If you compare those guys who do adventure racing, they don't
come anywhere -near- those kinds of miles in their training. Heh, if
playboy bunnies can nearly finish a 6-10 day race in Borneo, surely I can
do a measley 8 hours on a bike in the flat and level, eh?

But thanks for the comments, honestly, Rog.

-B

>
>::
>:: Bet me $500, and I'll do it tomorrow, big guy! ;->
>::
>:: -B
>

06-11-2004, 07:37 PM

On Fri, 11 Jun 2004 21:02:39 -0400, "Roger Zoul" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
wrote:

>Badger_South wrote:
>:: On Fri, 11 Jun 2004 18:46:43 -0400, Rick Onanian <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
>:: wrote:
>::
>::: On Fri, 11 Jun 2004 12:48:12 -0400, Badger_South <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
>::: wrote:
>:::: I'm toying with the idea of doing a long ride this fall, after a
>:::: summer of 400 mile/months, and I'm interested in some ideas as to
>:::: pacing. Here's something I've been thinking about:
>::: <snip>
>:::
>::: You're not ready.
>:::
>::: Work up to it. Do a 4 hour ride this weekend. Add a half hour or an
>::: hour every weekend.
>::
>:: I'm not ready, in regards to what? Are you saying I could -not- do
>:: this ride at my current level of training by, say Oct?
>
>I think he suggested you work up to an 8-hour ride over time, rather than
>just jumping to 8 hours of total riding per day.
>
>You know, there are people who have PhDs (like Ed Burke) and years of riding
>experience combined who write books on training for long rides (and other
>stuff regarding cycling). You're educated, but a noob to riding...why not
>avail yourself of accumlated knowledge and hard-won time in the saddle?

I understand the need to build up. But IMO, it should be possible to do the
8 hours on a bike in the staged way I mentioned, on a fairly flat course
without too much trouble. Note that I said above that I planned to do it in
the fall, and would be ramping up, but I doubt if I'll ride anything over 4
hours in training. I want to see what happens when I push it, and have to
dig deep. If you compare those guys who do adventure racing, they don't
come anywhere -near- those kinds of miles in their training. Heh, if
playboy bunnies can nearly finish a 6-10 day race in Borneo, surely I can
do a measley 8 hours on a bike in the flat and level, eh?

But thanks for the comments, honestly, Rog.

-B

>
>::
>:: Bet me $500, and I'll do it tomorrow, big guy! ;->
>::
>:: -B
>

06-11-2004, 07:37 PM

On Fri, 11 Jun 2004 21:02:39 -0400, "Roger Zoul" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
wrote:

>Badger_South wrote:
>:: On Fri, 11 Jun 2004 18:46:43 -0400, Rick Onanian <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
>:: wrote:
>::
>::: On Fri, 11 Jun 2004 12:48:12 -0400, Badger_South <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
>::: wrote:
>:::: I'm toying with the idea of doing a long ride this fall, after a
>:::: summer of 400 mile/months, and I'm interested in some ideas as to
>:::: pacing. Here's something I've been thinking about:
>::: <snip>
>:::
>::: You're not ready.
>:::
>::: Work up to it. Do a 4 hour ride this weekend. Add a half hour or an
>::: hour every weekend.
>::
>:: I'm not ready, in regards to what? Are you saying I could -not- do
>:: this ride at my current level of training by, say Oct?
>
>I think he suggested you work up to an 8-hour ride over time, rather than
>just jumping to 8 hours of total riding per day.
>
>You know, there are people who have PhDs (like Ed Burke) and years of riding
>experience combined who write books on training for long rides (and other
>stuff regarding cycling). You're educated, but a noob to riding...why not
>avail yourself of accumlated knowledge and hard-won time in the saddle?

I understand the need to build up. But IMO, it should be possible to do the
8 hours on a bike in the staged way I mentioned, on a fairly flat course
without too much trouble. Note that I said above that I planned to do it in
the fall, and would be ramping up, but I doubt if I'll ride anything over 4
hours in training. I want to see what happens when I push it, and have to
dig deep. If you compare those guys who do adventure racing, they don't
come anywhere -near- those kinds of miles in their training. Heh, if
playboy bunnies can nearly finish a 6-10 day race in Borneo, surely I can
do a measley 8 hours on a bike in the flat and level, eh?

But thanks for the comments, honestly, Rog.

-B

>
>::
>:: Bet me $500, and I'll do it tomorrow, big guy! ;->
>::
>:: -B
>

06-11-2004, 07:37 PM

On Fri, 11 Jun 2004 21:02:39 -0400, "Roger Zoul" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
wrote:

>Badger_South wrote:
>:: On Fri, 11 Jun 2004 18:46:43 -0400, Rick Onanian <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
>:: wrote:
>::
>::: On Fri, 11 Jun 2004 12:48:12 -0400, Badger_South <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
>::: wrote:
>:::: I'm toying with the idea of doing a long ride this fall, after a
>:::: summer of 400 mile/months, and I'm interested in some ideas as to
>:::: pacing. Here's something I've been thinking about:
>::: <snip>
>:::
>::: You're not ready.
>:::
>::: Work up to it. Do a 4 hour ride this weekend. Add a half hour or an
>::: hour every weekend.
>::
>:: I'm not ready, in regards to what? Are you saying I could -not- do
>:: this ride at my current level of training by, say Oct?
>
>I think he suggested you work up to an 8-hour ride over time, rather than
>just jumping to 8 hours of total riding per day.
>
>You know, there are people who have PhDs (like Ed Burke) and years of riding
>experience combined who write books on training for long rides (and other
>stuff regarding cycling). You're educated, but a noob to riding...why not
>avail yourself of accumlated knowledge and hard-won time in the saddle?

I understand the need to build up. But IMO, it should be possible to do the
8 hours on a bike in the staged way I mentioned, on a fairly flat course
without too much trouble. Note that I said above that I planned to do it in
the fall, and would be ramping up, but I doubt if I'll ride anything over 4
hours in training. I want to see what happens when I push it, and have to
dig deep. If you compare those guys who do adventure racing, they don't
come anywhere -near- those kinds of miles in their training. Heh, if
playboy bunnies can nearly finish a 6-10 day race in Borneo, surely I can
do a measley 8 hours on a bike in the flat and level, eh?

But thanks for the comments, honestly, Rog.

-B

>
>::
>:: Bet me $500, and I'll do it tomorrow, big guy! ;->
>::
>:: -B
>

06-11-2004, 07:37 PM

On Fri, 11 Jun 2004 21:02:39 -0400, "Roger Zoul" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
wrote:

>Badger_South wrote:
>:: On Fri, 11 Jun 2004 18:46:43 -0400, Rick Onanian <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
>:: wrote:
>::
>::: On Fri, 11 Jun 2004 12:48:12 -0400, Badger_South <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
>::: wrote:
>:::: I'm toying with the idea of doing a long ride this fall, after a
>:::: summer of 400 mile/months, and I'm interested in some ideas as to
>:::: pacing. Here's something I've been thinking about:
>::: <snip>
>:::
>::: You're not ready.
>:::
>::: Work up to it. Do a 4 hour ride this weekend. Add a half hour or an
>::: hour every weekend.
>::
>:: I'm not ready, in regards to what? Are you saying I could -not- do
>:: this ride at my current level of training by, say Oct?
>
>I think he suggested you work up to an 8-hour ride over time, rather than
>just jumping to 8 hours of total riding per day.
>
>You know, there are people who have PhDs (like Ed Burke) and years of riding
>experience combined who write books on training for long rides (and other
>stuff regarding cycling). You're educated, but a noob to riding...why not
>avail yourself of accumlated knowledge and hard-won time in the saddle?

I understand the need to build up. But IMO, it should be possible to do the
8 hours on a bike in the staged way I mentioned, on a fairly flat course
without too much trouble. Note that I said above that I planned to do it in
the fall, and would be ramping up, but I doubt if I'll ride anything over 4
hours in training. I want to see what happens when I push it, and have to
dig deep. If you compare those guys who do adventure racing, they don't
come anywhere -near- those kinds of miles in their training. Heh, if
playboy bunnies can nearly finish a 6-10 day race in Borneo, surely I can
do a measley 8 hours on a bike in the flat and level, eh?

But thanks for the comments, honestly, Rog.

-B

>
>::
>:: Bet me $500, and I'll do it tomorrow, big guy! ;->
>::
>:: -B
>

06-11-2004, 07:41 PM

On 12 Jun 2004 02:03:39 GMT, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (Denver C. Fox) wrote:

>>I'm not ready, in regards to what? Are you saying I could -not- do this
>>ride at my current level of training by, say Oct?
>>
>>Bet me $500, and I'll do it tomorrow, big guy! ;->
>>
>
>Why do you enter a newsgroup, ask for advice from knowledgeable people, and
>then argue with the advice?
>
>Just read and absorb and make your own decision!

Not I did -not- ask for advice. I asked for those who had done something
like that and to recount their experiences.

I'm -absolutely- sure I could do this tomorrow with no more prep then the
last 5 months training of two and three-a-day rides, and having ridden
every day since last August. Especially since I recently did a half-century
on a 45lb beater bike and felt completely fine. We're not talking the
Ironman here, ya know.

I'm not arguing with the advice either, I'm just asking for clarification.

-B

>
>
>[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>(Colorado rental condo)
>
>[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>(Family Web Page)

06-11-2004, 07:41 PM

On 12 Jun 2004 02:03:39 GMT, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (Denver C. Fox) wrote:

>>I'm not ready, in regards to what? Are you saying I could -not- do this
>>ride at my current level of training by, say Oct?
>>
>>Bet me $500, and I'll do it tomorrow, big guy! ;->
>>
>
>Why do you enter a newsgroup, ask for advice from knowledgeable people, and
>then argue with the advice?
>
>Just read and absorb and make your own decision!

Not I did -not- ask for advice. I asked for those who had done something
like that and to recount their experiences.

I'm -absolutely- sure I could do this tomorrow with no more prep then the
last 5 months training of two and three-a-day rides, and having ridden
every day since last August. Especially since I recently did a half-century
on a 45lb beater bike and felt completely fine. We're not talking the
Ironman here, ya know.

I'm not arguing with the advice either, I'm just asking for clarification.

-B

>
>
>[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>(Colorado rental condo)
>
>[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>(Family Web Page)

06-11-2004, 07:41 PM

On 12 Jun 2004 02:03:39 GMT, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (Denver C. Fox) wrote:

>>I'm not ready, in regards to what? Are you saying I could -not- do this
>>ride at my current level of training by, say Oct?
>>
>>Bet me $500, and I'll do it tomorrow, big guy! ;->
>>
>
>Why do you enter a newsgroup, ask for advice from knowledgeable people, and
>then argue with the advice?
>
>Just read and absorb and make your own decision!

Not I did -not- ask for advice. I asked for those who had done something
like that and to recount their experiences.

I'm -absolutely- sure I could do this tomorrow with no more prep then the
last 5 months training of two and three-a-day rides, and having ridden
every day since last August. Especially since I recently did a half-century
on a 45lb beater bike and felt completely fine. We're not talking the
Ironman here, ya know.

I'm not arguing with the advice either, I'm just asking for clarification.

-B

>
>
>[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>(Colorado rental condo)
>
>[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>(Family Web Page)

06-11-2004, 07:41 PM

On 12 Jun 2004 02:03:39 GMT, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (Denver C. Fox) wrote:

>>I'm not ready, in regards to what? Are you saying I could -not- do this
>>ride at my current level of training by, say Oct?
>>
>>Bet me $500, and I'll do it tomorrow, big guy! ;->
>>
>
>Why do you enter a newsgroup, ask for advice from knowledgeable people, and
>then argue with the advice?
>
>Just read and absorb and make your own decision!

Not I did -not- ask for advice. I asked for those who had done something
like that and to recount their experiences.

I'm -absolutely- sure I could do this tomorrow with no more prep then the
last 5 months training of two and three-a-day rides, and having ridden
every day since last August. Especially since I recently did a half-century
on a 45lb beater bike and felt completely fine. We're not talking the
Ironman here, ya know.

I'm not arguing with the advice either, I'm just asking for clarification.

-B

>
>
>[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>(Colorado rental condo)
>
>[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>(Family Web Page)