Long rides

[AndySV1K]

I remember hitting the wall in one of my first long off-road rides. First I started feeling a bit cold, then my legs became shaky, I started pedalling slower and slower until I couldn't balance any more, so then I pushed the bike on foot, then I couldn't even do that, my mates had to push it for me (still several miles to get back to the cars). We had no food with us. Eventually I was within 20 feet of the car and I just couldn't do it, I sat down where I was and couldn't move. Nothing could have made me budge right then! I was lucky I wasn't alone or that the weather wasn't too bad. Had a couple of scrapes since then, but have learnt my lesson!

Dont think ive ever had it quite that bad before!

Ive gone through it a few times in the past, the worst was while training for the London to Brighton years ago, i was with a group of 25-30 riders, it felt like i was the only one who was suffering, i was trying so hard to stick with the group as i didnt want to slow them down, luckily we made it to a rest stop and as soon as i fuelled up i was fine again and at the front of the pacK!
It happened to a few people while training for that ride and i put it down to mixed pace abilities, as soon as you begin to run out of steam, you seem to try and increase your pace just to keep up and that compounds the problem.

I think the reason it wasnt too bad at the weekend was that i was on my own, no one to keep up with so i could just slow right down and take it easy for a while.

Andy.

[Colin]

Long Rides in the UK...............over 3/4/5 days

1995 - Ridgeway  - 85 Miles plus 29 miles to Warminster via Imber Army training area
Marin Pine Mountain (Fully rigid)


1996 - Icknield Way/Peddars Way - 105 miles plus 46 miles
Marin Pine Mountain (Fully rigid)

1997 - Tour of the Lake District - 150 miles XP-X

1998 - Ridgeway - 85 Miles plus 29 miles - XP-X

1999 - South Downs Way - 94 miles - 4,150 metres (13,600 ft) of ascent and descent - XP-X

Plus day rides:
1999 - London 2 Brighton
2000 - L2B

I found the XP-X (856) to be fine for on road use, I just put on skinny tires and firm up the suspension.

[AndySV1K]

Anyone doing the London to Brighton this year?

Ive done it twice now, cant remember which years, but would be around 94/95 then again probably 97/98

First time was on my Kirk Revolution (remember those?  )

Then second time was on the trusty 856.

Andy.

[Mr752]

Andy,
I've been using SIS's products for a while now.
Smart gel and Go gel sachets give you about 40mins of flat out energy.
Could be a good idea to buy few to keep in reserve in case of Knock or Bonking.
ProBikeKit.co.uk do some good deals on SIS products if you want to take a look.
Paul

[Tel]

Hi chaps, on the subject of the London to Brighton ride Mrs Tels doing it, Im driving her and her brother to the start and then bringing them back home again. Its all happening on June the 15th farthers day and my b^%y birthday, some day Ill be having.
 Enough moaning and back to the long rides, Mrs Tel once talked me into riding 120km to see a stage of the tour de France, her on a coppi campinissimo and me on the XPX loads of hills, all I could do was to try to hang on her back wheel until the next hill when it would quite rapidly dissappear, but a great day out lots of French folk looking at my bike made me feel a lot better before the long slog back home.
Cheers, Tel.

[AndySV1K]

Hi chaps, on the subject of the London to Brighton ride Mrs Tels doing it, Im driving her and her brother to the start and then bringing them back home again. Its all happening on June the 15th farthers day and my b^%y birthday, some day Ill be having.
 Enough moaning and back to the long rides, Mrs Tel once talked me into riding 120km to see a stage of the tour de France, her on a coppi campinissimo and me on the XPX loads of hills, all I could do was to try to hang on her back wheel until the next hill when it would quite rapidly dissappear, but a great day out lots of French folk looking at my bike made me feel a lot better before the long slog back home.
Cheers, Tel.

So whats your excuse for not doing the ride then?? 

I think its such a great days ride, really good atmosphere when i did it. (Apart from a few upety folk who insist on treating it as a full on race, then whinge when someone in front slows them down)

Andy.