Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - How far do you go on personal/solo rides?

Alright, so i'm now almost a super randonneur (i'm missing a 300k because i was sick in April, but i've done a 200, 400, and 600) , but i've never done much more than 200k in a day riding by myself. Does anybody here do really long rides solo?

i find 50-70 miles a good ride length when i'm not training for longer distances. any longer than that then i feel i'm not giving myself enough time to do other things that i enjoy.

At least twice a month I have friends who travel to Toronto drop me off in Kingston and I'll ride the 320km back to Montreal with the prevailing wind.

I've done my last two 600K brevets solo. That's the longest I've done so far, and I think that's about the longest I'd want to do solo.

When I started Randonneuring I rode in Manitoba, and there was usually a group to ride with. Back then, the longest distance I rode solo was a double century training ride that got a bit carried away, and turned into 380 kms.

Then I moved to Alberta. The motto of the club here seems to be "every man/woman for him/herself". I've ridden most of my 200Ks with someone, so that has been nice. But in 2005, I rode my 300K and 400K solo, and then ended up DNF'ing two 600Ks for various reasons so the 400K became my longest solo ride. In 2006 I rode my 300K solo, I rode with someone for about 40 kms of my 400K, and then I rode my 600K solo. This year I rode with someone for half my 300K, and then rode my 400K and 600K solo.


In the thread about what we think about on our rides, I mentioned that I brought my MP3 player and used it for the first 7 hours of both my 400K and 600K this year. That helped. I listened to a rural radio station so the announcers talked about what was going on in the communities I was cycling through and near, and they played music. It was pleasantly distracting. If you're venturing into longer solo rides, you might consider doing something like that too.

I do 200+ km rides by myself. My usual distances are about 50+ with moderate range ones being 100+. All solo.

I just completed a 202 mile ride yesterday. I've been riding "independent" Double Centuries for many years. Often I have another ultracyclist as a partner. I like the idea of riding from sun-up to sun-down.

I think 200 miles is just the right distance to work out. Although, I admit conditions and route can make 200 seem like a little too much. I encourage riders to "step back" from their normal exercise and cycling routines and load up their favorite road bike and just go for "all-day" rides.

If you make your goal, simply to ride all day, without stressing about exact timing or distance you may find a new perspective toward cycling that will last a lifetime.

I am just so glad I am not the only one.

I like to do "permanent" 600kms as I can do them solo ( or is that soslo LOL)

Riding through the night and napping here and there. Everyone else I know wants to have a full 7 or 8 hours shut-eye.

On organised 400 and 600's there is always someone to ride with for a while.

george

a typical solo ride would be 35 miles. When pumped up maybe 65. Longest ever 143.

I am just so glad I am not the only one.

I like to do "permanent" 600kms as I can do them solo ( or is that soslo LOL)

Riding through the night and napping here and there. Everyone else I know wants to have a full 7 or 8 hours shut-eye.

On organised 400 and 600's there is always someone to ride with for a while.

george


There definitely IS an appeal to riding long events solo ... you can ride the event how you want to ride the event. And in my case soslo probably applies. :D

I just completed a 202 mile ride yesterday. I've been riding "independent" Double Centuries for many years. Often I have another ultracyclist as a partner. I like the idea of riding from sun-up to sun-down.

I think 200 miles is just the right distance to work out. Although, I admit conditions and route can make 200 seem like a little too much. I encourage riders to "step back" from their normal exercise and cycling routines and load up their favorite road bike and just go for "all-day" rides.

If you make your goal, simply to ride all day, without stressing about exact timing or distance you may find a new perspective toward cycling that will last a lifetime.

Do you plan routes ahead of time or just take a map?

Do you plan routes ahead of time or just take a map?

When I do my unorganized centuries and double centuries ... I do either ... or both. Depends on my mood, what the day is like, what I want to accomplish, etc.

300K as overnight rides quite regularily. a few hours napping in a ditch :D then continue on.

I usually fit in a 50-75 mile ride on weekends, although I managed recently managed a solo century.

Though I've never done it, I could ride 200km solo no problem. In fact, that's a goal for this season. :)

I've cycled across the US once with a partner- great fun but with it's negatives at times, and twice (across US once and Canada once) solo. Being alone day after day had it's down side I must admit. But I wouldn't trade the experience for anything.

I do most of my cycling solo these days- I used to be a racer and club rider but I really love the long solo rides I do now. My usual rides are about 75 miles lately with occasional centuries and a regular 140 mile route I do across the state of MA a few times during the summer.

I'll also go off with some frequency, as I just did, visiting friends and family over the course of 3 days or so doing 50-100 miles each day- all solo.

I agree with the poster that said a 200 miler makes for a great all day solo experience. I couldn't agree more and getting one of those in once or twice a season always feels like an accomplishment to me.

My usual rides are about 75 miles lately with occasional centuries and a regular 140 mile route I do across the state of MA a few times during the summer. would you mind sharing the route? I'm contemplating doing something similar in July and was trying to cobble stuff together from Rubel maps, but am more than happy to crib off someone else's notes ;)

to the question -- for brevet training, I've done solo centuries before, both with planned routes and with stuff that I've made up as I've gone along. A few times, I'll opt to visit friends who live in the outer suburbs, and might plan a weekend ride where I'll think, "ok, I'll visit so-and-so in Groton, then so-and-so in Rockport, then ride home" and make up the route in between those points as I go along.

Riding solo gives one flexibility, but it is also sometimes nice to have a little conversation in some quieter routes -- and, of course, a partner for swapping pulls. The biggest complication with having a partner in long distances is finding someone who has the right balance of talkativeness. As great as it is to have someone to talk to, it's equally fabulous to have a friend who's comfortable with being quiet for long stretches of time, as well.

would you mind sharing the route? I'm contemplating doing something similar in July and was trying to cobble stuff together from Rubel maps, but am more than happy to crib off someone else's notes ;)

I'll PM you. I'm all over the map :rolleyes: (pun intended) in terms of routes but I'll let you know what hasn't worked and why and some stuff that's been pretty good.:)