Road Bike Racing - How hard does this tour sounds?

I was told today about a tour and I'm really interested in doing it. I've never toured and the terrain in my area doesn't compare, not even close (Florida, mostly flat) to the one on the tour. It is a 3 day event, with 150mi on the first day, 100mi on the 2nd and 125mi on the third... with 10,000 feet of climbing... in 90 degree weather. My longest rides so far has been 60 milers (with about 2 feet climb) averaging 16-17 MPH. The tour is in Feb 5, 2009 so there is a lot of time to train for it (around 8 months).

So I'm asking the veterans here, how hard does it sound?

Again, 10,000 feet of climbing, 3 days, 150mi on day one, 100 on the 2nd and 125Mi on the 3rd... 90 degree weather.

Doesn't sound that bad to me; I assume there will be a bunch of waves that you could draft in...

In my experience, the difference between 60 miles and 120 is primarily eating and (not) chafing.

Sounds challenging/interesting.

I'll second the motion that the extra distance is about non-fitness things. Eating, comfort, and doling out your energy in a smart way. No going 25 mph for the first hour of excitement.

Any time limits? You can always go slower and eat/drink more.

I have a feeling the second day will feel the worst, at the start. I know I'd be a bit demoralized at the prospect of 225 more miles with my already tired and sore legs at the start of that second day. The third day should be okay though, you'll realize it's not all that bad after you finish the second day.

Make sure you eat and drink plenty after each ride.

Personally I'd go and do a long ride to make sure I understood how my body reacted after 100 miles on the road. I've never done 150 miles but I've done 125-135 miles, and it seems that once I get to a certain point (80 miles or so), I have to eat/drink on a very regular and predictable schedule. You should learn stuff like that before the tour, not during it.

Sounds like great fun, good luck and enjoy it,
cdr

+1

The 10,000 feet over three days shouldn't be hard. It'll be the distance. Take it slower, eat/drink, etc...

Good luck.

as a race it sounds like it could be pretty hard.

Every other year a number of follks at my work participate in a fundraising event.....5 100 mile days in a row spanning MA....first day is on the Cape, so flat, but they do 3 days through Central and Western MA, with plenty of climbing.....

They usually build up to a 60 miler as the long ride of the week before heading off for this.

Totally doable, if, as the others have stated, it's done sensibly.

THX for the info guys... I'm gonna give it a shot.

I've been doing 20 miles daily. Sometimes on my days off I go up to 30 or 40 with no issues. Once every 3 weeks or so I do a 60 miler. I feel I can do more but I've been reading a lot around here and I know I might hurt my self if I don't increase the millage SLOWLY. The hills on the other side... I did that route once in a car. One hill was so long (aprox25mi constant climbing) and steep that the car died at the top :twitchy: and it had to be towed down. The radiator exploded.

I shall read lots...learn lots and ride lots....

10,000 feet of vertical in 3 days (or an average of 3333 a day) is not really that hilly. In perspective Six Gap (which is likely the closest hilly ride to you if you live in Florida) is 10,000 in one day, and it's hard, but not a death ride.