Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Cycling the UK 7 times in a row, 100 miles a day?

Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.
just1moreperson
03-21-08, 09:46 AM
Hiya everyone, first post here.
I am looking to cycle the UK 7 times in a row for charity in the summer. I have a timeframe of about 70 days to do this in. The overall distance is around 6400 miles I think so I figured I can go 100 miles a day and do it in around 64 days.
I am looking for advice on how to achieve this goal? I am 19 years old and I'm not an avid cyclist. Right now I am doing 20-30 miles a day on my bike for 4-5 days a week. I feel I can definately do 100 miles a day but I recognise that doing 100 miles a day constantly over 2 months is tough going. I am cycling in honour of 7 kids who died from Huntington's Disease which is why I want to cycle the length of the UK 7 times in a row instead of just once. I'm determined but lack knowledge of cycling such distances for such a period of time. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Take Care, Matt.
wow, sounds like quite the adventure! you should definitely do a century beforehand, and even two on consecutive days to see how you feel.
doing 100 miles a day for 60-70 days is a tough proposisition, even for the most seasoned cyclotourist. (also you might check out the touring forum, as this trip sounds like touring more than plain long-distance cycling).
also i realize why you want to do 7 loops, but perhaps you should just shoot for one? it'd still be a statement for the kids, and still a big adventure.
good luck!
Bacciagalupe
03-21-08, 02:48 PM
100 miles a day, on a loaded bike, for 64 days in a row, is very ambitious.
To give you an idea, a typical "TransAm" (crossing the US) is about 4200 miles, takes 90 days total (15 rest days included), and is considered to be rather difficult.
How about getting 7 riders to go from, I dunno.... Cornwall to Newcastle?
just1moreperson
03-21-08, 03:41 PM
lol I realise It's tough but that gets more attention for the charity involved. I havent committed to it yet, I can back down and do just the one cycle. But I really want to go for it. I will put this thread in the touring section aswel, see what I get.
hairytoes
03-26-08, 09:16 AM
You would need rest days.
TBH, you (yeah you personally) have no idea how your body will handle the consecutive punishment. I ride to work and back 5 days a week, 50 miles a day. If I wasn't working, I could do 100miles 5 days a week, easy. I don't think I could do 100miles every day for weeks. Hmm, no, that's wrong. I'm CERTAIN I couldn't do it.
The cummulative wear and tear is huge. You will hit exhaustion levels where you will be weeping at the thought of carrying on.
You may have the sort of physique that means you can do this. However, I doubt you will have the endurance yet. I'm 40 now, and I can ride for longer than I could when I was 20. Slower, but longer.
Try to get in at least one 4-5 hour bike ride every weekend. That will start to build your endurance.
fitrider
03-26-08, 09:28 AM
You would definitely need rest days and also have to be very well paced - you should seek the help of a professional fitness trainer - he will be able to assist you with achieving some realistic goals provide you with some useful training to get you there! -
Training is going to be key for this. Get someone with some cycling background to help you develop a strategy for preparing you for this.
From my experience training for long rides does not happen by simply riding long distances. A rookie mistake would be training by doing 100 mile rides leaving you with lengthy recovery times and slowing down your development.
You'll need to develop your endurance and power. No small thing.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.1.12 Copyright © 2013 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.