Cycle challenge and time?

YORKSHIRELASS

Oh I agree with the above. I got back into cycling last year and bought a new road bike. I am 45, a regular gym goer, have done kettlercise classes for years and run. I was gutted at how hard I found the cycling - especially compared to DH. After a bit of practice it got easier but I am still working on it.

I average about 13mph to be comfortable on a long ride without pushing too hard. Can do 20mph on the flat but couldnt keep that up for too long.

Good luck with it, sounds like a worthwhile thing to do.

FBaby

You'll be fine, but might find the hardest challenge is the sore bum and lower back/shoulders pain towards the end. I would expect doing this distance in 5 hours cycling time, add 1/2 hour for stops. I do agree though that spinning is nothing like the real thing (a bit like running 1 hour four times a week on a trademill and then doing your first 1/2 marathon but it sounds like you are used to interval training and pushing yourself to the limit, so you will indeed finish ok.

Maybe you've already done it and can tell us how well you did?

andygb

Keep_pedalling wrote: »

Would take me about 6 hours, including tea and cake stop, but I am in my sixties and carrying a bit too much weight, being super fit you should be able do it in half the time, unless you have a few encounters with the puncture fairy, or the route is seriously hilly.

As 4 hours is the "benchmark" time for a racing cyclist on an aero bike to complete 100 miles, then I think 3 hours for 75 miles is a mere dream - which will not be achieved.
I think that you are being a bit harsh, and I think that 5 hours is quite realistic.

[Deleted User]

Keep_pedalling wrote: »

Would take me about 6 hours, including tea and cake stop, but I am in my sixties and carrying a bit too much weight, being super fit you should be able do it in half the time, unless you have a few encounters with the puncture fairy, or the route is seriously hilly.

It used to take me about 6 hours of pedalling, or about 8 hours including butty stops. I was 50 at the time, BMI 19, and on flat Essex terrain.

Nebulous2

You certainly sound as if you have the fitness, but what you need to prepare for is endurance.

I've really picked up my cycling this year, preparing for a very long distance event and have done quite a bit on a gym bike over the winter. That has adapted quite well to the road, now that I've moved from the gym to the road and greatly increased my distances. Issues have been mainly sore shoulders, wrists and hands. I've also been a bit 'rusty' on the bike when cornering at speed, descending and close riding with others.

I'd say try to do some long sessions on the wattbike at lower intensity. The gym bike I was using wasn't up to wattbike standards but was quite good. I found myself looking forward to my shorter interval sessions but more reluctant to undertake longer steady ones. 90 minutes steady pace will help you. 120 minutes would be even better, but most people struggle indoors to deal with the monotony. Somehow two hours out on the bike is a warm-up, but it feels like a marathon indoors.

Try to get the bike in advance and practice distances on it. A50- 60 mile ride a week before would set you up nicely. The adrenaline will keep you going for the rest.

If you stop at all you'll do very well to get to 5 hours. I'd say 6 with some stops would be more realistic and would still be a very good effort for someone not used to endurance events.

Adly812

No practise everyone. I got on my hybrid yesterday. And set off. On the 45 mile route. I was hoping to do 75. But thought wiser. As I also needed to factor in getting home to walk my dog for an hour lol. 45 miles vs wind, and hills that saw ALL cyclists just about walking.. I manage 4:15 minutes cycling. Wow challenge. But not physically, that was easy. I just was kind of over it after 35 miles, mentally bored and tired. Also my bum was totally broken. So glad I just did the 45 miles. Great experience though. Ta for all the advice

TiredTrophy

Congrats on doing it.
Now look after your butt...you might get an outbreak of spots...
Next time, get a bike fit if possible, some padded shorts that fit and you've been out in and lots of moisturiser. It is less pai ful on the butt to actually have some climbs as you put force through the pedals more than sagging on the saddle.
Outside is so much fun for cycling-jyst had three days in the Black Forest....slow Jill here but I get there.
Get on Strava and join a challenge!