Aren't Bicycles Great.

Retrogamer

I'm going to try and enter cycling event later in this year if i can get the time off work for it.
It's held annually and runs from Glasgow to Edinburgh. 2 routes.
1 is 47 miles and the other is 110 miles. I'll be doing the 47 mile one with a friend. Although i've a good hybrid i'll probably be using the mountain bike with road tyres fitted for this as it's a comfier riding position.

So far for training i've been doing either 20 miles on flat ground on the hybrid that takes around an hour and 40 minutes or else go out on the mountain bike doing lots of hills, sprints and off road. I'm out about 1 hour 30 minutes on that but only cover about 14 miles due to the terrain.

What else should / could i do to help myself prepare for it? I only cycle 2-3 times a week max just now and quite overweight (office job) so not as fit as you guys.

Johnmcl7

Regularly cycling is definitely good and as you're probably thinking already it would be a good idea to get out some longer rides, not necessarily distance but more longer duration. The reason I say that is that it's not just about your physical fitness but also the strain on your wrists, your bum and making you're eating and drinking enough.

I had my road bike out for the first time this year and the first longer ride I've been on for a while and my legs are absolutely fine but my wrists are bugging me a bit.

John

Nebulous2

Build up your distance. Don't worry about the time it takes. Get up to about 35 miles and the buzz of the event will carry you through the extra.

Be careful with your nutrition. Have something to eat on the way - bananas are good. Don't let yourself get to a point that you are really struggling for lack of food. Your body gets more efficient over time and it learns how to perform longer without food or with less food.

I remember doing a 50 mile ride and around 30 miles I was really shaking and in need of food, so I stopped and bought a couple of slabs of tablet in a shop and scoffed them. Within 6-10 months I was quite happy doing 50 miles on a bottle of water.

Retrogamer

Bicycles are great but not sure this would be great to cycle.
Spotted it outside my work today. Most of the non cyclists at my work couldn't see a problem

Nebulous2

Johnmcl7 wrote: »

Regularly cycling is definitely good and as you're probably thinking already it would be a good idea to get out some longer rides, not necessarily distance but more longer duration. The reason I say that is that it's not just about your physical fitness but also the strain on your wrists, your bum and making you're eating and drinking enough.

I had my road bike out for the first time this year and the first longer ride I've been on for a while and my legs are absolutely fine but my wrists are bugging me a bit.

John

I did 50 miles today, my longest ride this year. Shorts on as well! What a difference the clocks shifting and warmer weather makes.

Like you my legs are fine, but one hand was a bit numb and wrists and shoulders are a bit sore.

brat

I still get a little apprehensive during the prep for a 50 mile plus ride. No idea why.

Once propped on the saddle, any fretting disappears as the buzz kicks in. :dance:

armyknife

Popped out and did a 45 miles late this afternoon, lovely little trip, very nice weather.

Did I mention that bicycles are brilliant? :-)

Throbbe

Retrogamer wrote: »

What else should / could i do to help myself prepare for it? I only cycle 2-3 times a week max just now and quite overweight (office job) so not as fit as you guys.

2-3 times a week is OK, especially if you can get in a longer ride at weekends. Use a couple of 60-90 minute rides in the week to work on going up hills, doing short 10-20 sec sprints or 5-10 minute blocks of harder efforts, with gentle pedalling in between to get your breath back in between. This will improve your strength and speed a bit

On the weekend start off by doing as long a ride as you feel comfortable with (25 miles?) and then add 10% onto the distance each week. As someone else said, if you can do most of the distance while building up you'll be fine on the day.

We're not all like Brat (;)), I'm over 100kg and spend most of my working day in a chair but can ride 100km reasonably happily on 3-4 rides a week, and with work I can (and have) done a 100 mile ride.

esuhl

Throbbe wrote: »

We're not all like Brat (;)), I'm over 100kg and spend most of my working day in a chair but can ride 100km reasonably happily on 3-4 rides a week, and with work I can (and have) done a 100 mile ride.

I keep hearing outlandish rumours of people cycling 100 miles (usually for charity). Normal looking people too -- not the Bionic Man or the Skynet's T-900.

I have managed about 40 to 45 miles (on a mountain bike) before I required muscular transplants and a sweet-shop of Snickers bars. But 100 miles?! Come on -- where are you hiding the batteries?!

I sincerely tip my hat to anyone who can manage such a feat!

myhooose

Bicycles are great aren't they.

Completed my first 50 mile impromptu ride yesterday. Started off as a 30 mile ride, but was feeling good on the bike so carried on for an extra 20. Arms and legs were aching a fair bit for the last 10 miles.