Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - coast-to-coast..

I am prepping for coast-to-coast ,some 6700km's in some 20 days Vancouver to Halifax 325-350 a day ,I would like to hear from people that have done similar rides .I have done alot of long rides but never attemted such a ride ,the issues that bother me are having no mobile ): ,I wanted to do this as a fund raiser and have a few to support me but the $$$$ seems diffucult to come across ,and it would be interesting to have a few more involved so this may perhaps be an invitation (: ,at such a pace riding light is almost a must ,any suggestions would be appreciated ....Oh yeah I am a vegan ,that is one of the promos for this tour ...:D

It seems like every once and a while we get a post like this and it's hard to tell whether the OP is an experienced rider or just someone with a lot more ambition than ability.

What kind of distances have you done? You're asking us for tips, so obviously your no expert but I would hope you've at least done something similar to a 1200 km brevet at a faster pace than what you're planning on doing for nearly 7000. I think you better consider adding a few rest days in there and maybe making it an even 4 weeks instead of 20 days.

Thanks for the response ,I can imagine that every-so often people must make these kinds of claims :D I rode a 1000 k with some 14 % hills and the ocean wind howling in my face in 34 hrs ,and have done alot of 200-325 km rides ,so I think I am ready for this attempt if the knees blow-out there are buses everywhere :( I would like to ride with someone but its not an issue ,I posted to hear if anyone in here has done something similar ,I will ride the same course as the h2v did ...

Steven....

I thought I'd wait and see what kind of responses this generated. Glad to see these are klicks and not miles. I would agree with the above poster - plan some rest. While 100 miles/kilometers are not difficult by themselves, or even back to back, more than two in a row will wear you down more than you think. Stop and enjoy the scenery. One day of rest, or a short 30 klick ride in between uber-centuries does wonders for the next leg of the trip.

Good luck to you. When do you plan to start this trip? Given that you are undertaking to do more than five consecutive 1200K rides, a successful completion would be a significant accomplishment.

As far as others having done something similar, you should enquire on the Ultracycling google group. What you are contemplating is similar to RAAM. You might find someone there who can provide guidance.

Please keep us updated on your plans.

Well it sounds like your experienced enough, but I think you're planning an unrealistic pace, especially if you're on a fully loaded touring bike rather than a lightly equipped rando rig.

If I were you I'd ease into it. Start with 4 days of 100-150k back to back, take a day off and then bump up to 200km a day for a few days, followed by another rest day or two. That ought to eat up close to 1000 km and get your body more accustomed to the back to back distances. Also, any problems with equipment or fit will pop their head up early, before they could pose a serious threat to completing your ride.

Then, you could just treat the remaining distance like 5 1200k's in a row, taking off a day or two between but still taking a challenging pace of 300+ km a day.

In my opinion the most important thing is to get used to the distances and condition yourself for them. It's too easy to go too hard to early and wind up injured and your dream ruined.

Although i do eat a very small amount of meat (3 times a month max) living on fruit and veg, as well as a rider doing audax rides up to 1200 km you MUST have trained your body to do such distances on such a diet,
I have lived on such a diet due to major illness when i was 23 so me living on such a diet is due to health issues and not a choice. For such a diet to work you must have conditioned your body to run as a super efficent machine as you can not run it on calories alone but through energy transfer efficency in which you have trained your body to do. This is done through strict discipline, in my case it has been what has kept me alive.
Rest is also vital doing such riding on such a diet as you dont have surplus calories to fall back on.

The best thing you can do Lux 1 is email me directly and i can direct you in the way of some books that may be able to direct you in your thinking and endevours.

Cheers Scott

set up your bike on rollers on a flat bed truck. that'd save some ergs. plus, you can use an umbrella for the snowy/rainy days.

good luck!

I thought I'd wait and see what kind of responses this generated. Glad to see these are klicks and not miles. I would agree with the above poster - plan some rest. While 100 miles/kilometers are not difficult by themselves, or even back to back, more than two in a row will wear you down more than you think. Stop and enjoy the scenery. One day of rest, or a short 30 klick ride in between uber-centuries does wonders for the next leg of the trip. That will be 175 mile days ,I think I mentioned this as 325-350 km days back to back ....Thanks for the suggestions about scenery ,if I have no mobile there will be soft pedal days ...

Thanks Steven...

Good luck to you. When do you plan to start this trip? Given that you are undertaking to do more than five consecutive 1200K rides, a successful completion would be a significant accomplishment.

As far as others having done something similar, you should enquire on the Ultracycling google group. What you are contemplating is similar to RAAM. You might find someone there who can provide guidance.

Please keep us updated on your plans.
Thanks alot I have visited the ultra riding site RAAM as yes others has done something similar ,maybe not solo ,I will go back and ask some questions there ...

I will keep you guys up dated my pilot ride will be in may-june a 2000 km ride in 6 days ..

Thanks once again for constructive advice ,I can use words like this ...

Steven...

Well it sounds like your experienced enough, but I think you're planning an unrealistic pace, especially if you're on a fully loaded touring bike rather than a lightly equipped rando rig.

If I were you I'd ease into it. Start with 4 days of 100-150k back to back, take a day off and then bump up to 200km a day for a few days, followed by another rest day or two. That ought to eat up close to 1000 km and get your body more accustomed to the back to back distances. Also, any problems with equipment or fit will pop their head up early, before they could pose a serious threat to completing your ride.

Then, you could just treat the remaining distance like 5 1200k's in a row, taking off a day or two between but still taking a challenging pace of 300+ km a day.

In my opinion the most important thing is to get used to the distances and condition yourself for them. It's too easy to go too hard to early and wind up injured and your dream ruined.+

I am not riding touring ,actually I am riding s-works WITH VERY STRICK MINIMUM its not about touring !!!!
Thanks for the advice but my pace is more aggresive then that ,100 k should be completed well before noon (:...I should be able to break between 100 mile intervals ...

Its a challenge ..

Thanks for the advice and yes injuries haunt me like KNEES and this is a dream ,at the worse off the bus will bring us back ...

Steven...

Although i do eat a very small amount of meat (3 times a month max) living on fruit and veg, as well as a rider doing audax rides up to 1200 km you MUST have trained your body to do such distances on such a diet,
I have lived on such a diet due to major illness when i was 23 so me living on such a diet is due to health issues and not a choice. For such a diet to work you must have conditioned your body to run as a super efficent machine as you can not run it on calories alone but through energy transfer efficency in which you have trained your body to do. This is done through strict discipline, in my case it has been what has kept me alive.
Rest is also vital doing such riding on such a diet as you dont have surplus calories to fall back on.

The best thing you can do Lux 1 is email me directly and i can direct you in the way of some books that may be able to direct you in your thinking and endevours.

Cheers Scott
Thanks Scott for the advice and yes I have conditioned myself ,we do have sufficient stores to enable us to do millage when well conditioned ,I was a nutritional consultant and personal trainer at a local gym so I have intensive background knowledge when nutrition is envolved and yes a case scenerio like this the body is machine and eyes are only to look in front of you ....

Thanks ...Steven...

set up your bike on rollers on a flat bed truck. that'd save some ergs. plus, you can use an umbrella for the snowy/rainy days.

good luck!

Cute (: I dont have rollers !!!! I am bald (: My 3 trainers will remain at home but hehhh thanks forthe humor I expected to recieve something like this and it makes me chuckle ..

Steven...

When are you planning on doing this? If I'm around then and you want some help on the east coast side let me know. I was also planning on doing a similar trip this summer, Halifax to Calgary as I'm moving out there but it might not happen now due to time constraints.

I'm not an expert but on multi day rides I found it good to start big but not really big (maybe around 250km) then take a shorter day (around 150km) then work up to 350 or so. Have you decided your route yet?

Thanks for the advice ....

I am riding a pilot ride at the end of april ,and if all goes well I should ride coast to coast end of june ,I am working on my route but time is an issue ,I will try to ride the same route as team h2v ,I will try to contact one of the riders....

All the help I can get is heh great ,I rode the gape ride last summer but never down east so yes I could use some advice on the mapping over there ...

Thanks ...

Steven...