The Cycling Thread

Evening chaps,

I need a small amount of cycling advice and this is clearly the place to ask. A friend of mine has asked if I would like to do the coast to coast in a day (120 miles) in about 6 weeks time. I normally only do about 30 miles on the racer but think i could easily manage more (never tried for a while though0. I'm off work for 6 weeks from friday, is this potentially long enough to train for a 120 mile ride? and has anyone got any bright ideas about how I should go about it?

Originally Posted by Pedrosa

Alberto Contador did a lot of damage to the Schleck brothers today, but surely with a deficit of 3:42 that is just too much for him to claw back on the leader?

Ignoring the final parade day, there remains just two stages to be contested, tomorrow another mountain stage,(nowhere near as tough as today's) and a time trial. Is Cadel Evans this year's winner or can the fantastic Contador snatch it away from him?

So there's todays stage, tomorrows stage and Fridays stage all to come before the time trial. 2 high mountain stages Thurs and Fri which includes the Alpe d' Huez before the TT. Plenty of time for a reshuffle I reckon. Contador looked much better yesterday but Evans needs to attack again to rid himself of Voeckler who is riding superbly.

Originally Posted by Jackie_Black

Evening chaps,

I need a small amount of cycling advice and this is clearly the place to ask. A friend of mine has asked if I would like to do the coast to coast in a day (120 miles) in about 6 weeks time. I normally only do about 30 miles on the racer but think i could easily manage more (never tried for a while though0. I'm off work for 6 weeks from friday, is this potentially long enough to train for a 120 mile ride? and has anyone got any bright ideas about how I should go about it?

I thought about doing the same thing myself but an unbelievably busy summer has led to me dodging the training.

I've done about 45 miles maximum in one go so far on the bike, completely bonked at numerous points on the way round as it was quite hilly but was pleased to get it in the bag. The idea was to do 50 but physically I hit a wall due to the terrain.

The C2C has quite a few elevation changes (shortest distance could be about 90 miles) so could be quite challenging. I'd say 6 weeks was a tough schedule. Ive heard that big mileage can take quite a bit of conditioning.

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by Jackie_Black

Evening chaps,

I need a small amount of cycling advice and this is clearly the place to ask. A friend of mine has asked if I would like to do the coast to coast in a day (120 miles) in about 6 weeks time. I normally only do about 30 miles on the racer but think i could easily manage more (never tried for a while though0. I'm off work for 6 weeks from friday, is this potentially long enough to train for a 120 mile ride? and has anyone got any bright ideas about how I should go about it?

Six weeks is the bare minimum to effect physiological change from training, you wont actually gain any muscle or aerobic fitness in 6 weeks. The best you can hope for is to get used to being on the bike for that length of time and condition your **** to it.

If you can comfortably do 45 miles then you should get up to 60 easily. I'd schedule in two 60 mile rides next week to test your legs and if they go well look to do a couple of weeks with a 50 mile and 70 mile ride in each. Assess how its going after that, you will be 3 weeks into a 6 week schedule so a bit of time to get used to the mileage and decide if you can manage the extra. With the C2C being hilly, you will need to factor in the extra effort climbing takes into your training. It will be worth making your rides hilly to give a realistic view of the effort involved.

The other thing you need to think about will be nutrition, as once you go over 40 or 50 miles, energy drinks are not enough and you have to consider more substantial food. Energy bars, cereal bars and gels will all help and cafe stops will be required, but be careful not to overload the sugars and to have a lighter drink in your bottle for the hour after a cafe.

Might be a very hard day out this.

Might be a very hard day out this.

I think thats probably an understatement. I've got a few new bits and pieces coming to pep the bike up a little bit. Proper SPD's and road shoes, been using my MTB ones and they are too small and some new tyres as my originals are perishing and squared off (didn't know that was possible). I'm also on the look out for a new seat. I'm hoping to get my sit bones measured for a specialised body geometry seat, the avatar looked pretty good for what i'll be doing. I'm going for a pedal on saturday or sunday so i'll see if i can manage 2 laps of my circuit to take me up to 52 miles! Will i need jelly beans and stuff for that length of ride (about 3.5 hours) or should I just rely on stored glycogen from the previous days beer?

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by Jackie_Black

I'm going for a pedal on saturday or sunday so i'll see if i can manage 2 laps of my circuit to take me up to 52 miles! Will i need jelly beans and stuff for that length of ride (about 3.5 hours) or should I just rely on stored glycogen from the previous days beer?

The beer will be a good start....

A good breakfast of cereal, porridge or muesli will provide a base of slow release carbs. Take a decent energy drink in your bottles plus something to make up another en route, you should be looking at drinking 3-4 bottles on that length of ride (others may disagree but British cyclist are notorious for not drinking enough). Then some energy bars to eat about halfway plus gels / jelly beans for a fast energy hit when a big effort is coming up, eat them 20 minutes before needed...

I've never done nutrition for cycling so hopefully won't get all this horribly wrong! I can't go out straight after breakfast though can i?

I suppose i should get some cages and bottles then as I currently just use a camel back. Does it have to be a specific energy drink or does robinsons count?

A shameless plug,

Doing a bit of a run/cycle this summer if you 're interested in sponsoring me:

http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=168888

Note I'll be cycling from Robin Hood's Bay to St Bees by road over two days, a bit of a cop out (but taking in some passes on the second day), but I need to save my legs a bit for the run!

Do any of you commute in all weathers? What gear do you have that make it more palatable? Since having the new carbon fibre bike it has p****d down every day!

Also how do I improve my riding now I am commuting 12 miles each way to work?

I used to in Holland, I used a Goretex running jacket, and neoprene overboots and left my bottom half got wet. It was only about 9 miles each way, and was endurable. Some decent gloves to keep your hands warm/dryish are also a good plan. And steady round corners!