Long Distance Cycling - Best kind of entertainment on long brevets?

Boredom is definitely a big problem on long rides. How do you deal with the crushing boredom of pedalling all day and all night?
My only source of entertainment is my VDO 1.0+ bike computer. It has lots of functions, and I just keep flicking from function to function, checking the altitude gained, inclination, and then back to speed and average speed.
Of course, on the PBP I was so sleep deprived that the last 2 and a half days were filled with priceless halucinations which kept me very entertained indeed.
I know that some folks carry Ipods and some have sophisticated GPS systems to play with.
What gets you through a long ride?

Socializing with the other riders, and with people I meet along the way, works for me. Of course during PBP sometimes I was surrounded by a bunch of riders that didn't speak English, but that in itself is entertaining. Friday morning I got bored until I reminded myself of what I was doing.

I enjoy a ride much more when it has semi-urban sections. Riding all day in remote areas gets old.

When I'm with other people I never seem to have a problem even on what some people would consider a boring 200k route.
By boring I mean no turns and nothing much around
Here is basically what a recent que sheet looked like
Turn left out of control
Turn Right
First Left
Control
go back the way you came
Turn Right
First Left
Control
100k out.. 100k back.

I had some really nice company though and there were a few interesting moments with dogs to brighten up the ride. Even if we don't talk or chat for hours.

When I'm solo by myself for pretty much 190k out of of 200k ride I keep thinking I need to replace my GPS with a Ipod Video and catchup on some documentaries although I'd probably fall asleep. :innocent:

I do have little speakers on the bike that I can hook up whatever too. Mostly I use them on my commutes.

What is this boredom thing of which you speak? Riding, and being fully involved in the experience, is plenty enough to keep me occupied, even on a 1200k. Of course, I ride a 'bent, so I can look around instead of down at my front wheel and at the pavement going by.... :rolleyes:


SP
Bend, OR
RUSA #3481
:recum:

Boredom is definitely a big problem on long rides. How do you deal with the crushing boredom of pedalling all day and all night?
My only source of entertainment is my VDO 1.0+ bike computer. It has lots of functions, and I just keep flicking from function to function, checking the altitude gained, inclination, and then back to speed and average speed.
Of course, on the PBP I was so sleep deprived that the last 2 and a half days were filled with priceless halucinations which kept me very entertained indeed.
I know that some folks carry Ipods and some have sophisticated GPS systems to play with.
What gets you through a long ride?

I'm with ronsmithjunior on this one: I'm a socializer. I like to talk to people while I ride... chat about other rides they've done, that I've done, about our bikes and equipment, etc.

Matter of fact, I think I spent about 10 or so miles talking with you at the Tour de Cure last year, heading into the Roesinger Park rest area until the long uphill shortly after the rest stop. It would be a spooky coincedence if there was some other guy named Mitchel, wearing a PBP 2k7 jersey, who regaled me with awesome tales of riding through 40 hours of hallucinations.

i like to look for photo-ops.

but at night, i just try to get through it w/out going crazy. talking helps, even if only to yourself.

i've been considering an mp3 player of sorts, that would play outloud via small speakers, but then battery life becomes an issue.

looking at the stars can be nice too, as long as you can keep your eyes on the road every once in a while.

My wife received as a random gift from her mother what seems to me to be the perfect long ride speaker. It takes 2 AAs, is waterproof and you can even put some stuff in it plus you only need to put the mp3 up to 1/3 to 1/2 volume to hear it so it saves MP3 battery life too. Haven't been able to find it again.

I have three other speakers I have purchased which use 2-3 AAAs but all have to be maxed out and eat through batteries every couple hours which is a problem on long brevets. I hacked one to use an 18650 battery (3.7 volt LI-ion) which gives it longer life but I'd still need to swap it on anything more hten a 200k.

For the MP3 player I have one of those Energizer cell phone rechargers which has both a Mini-USB plug and a plug that fits my phone so I can charge on the road and haven't had any problem except when I left my MP3 player in the texas sun and it went bonkers and died on me until I reformatted it.


On long rides I tend to ride by myself so I have alot of experience and testing of these kinds of things :( I'm way too slow to ride with most everyone in LSR and those who are potentially slow enough are on uprights and a weak upright rider and weak recumbent rider don't work well if there are hills. The only two rides that I have been in a group most of the way were other peoples first ride of the season and they were recovering from the twinkie flu or some kind of surgery. :o

I'm with ronsmithjunior on this one: I'm a socializer. I like to talk to people while I ride... chat about other rides they've done, that I've done, about our bikes and equipment, etc.

Matter of fact, I think I spent about 10 or so miles talking with you at the Tour de Cure last year, heading into the Roesinger Park rest area until the long uphill shortly after the rest stop. It would be a spooky coincedence if there was some other guy named Mitchel, wearing a PBP 2k7 jersey, who regaled me with awesome tales of riding through 40 hours of hallucinations.
Yup. That was me. I'll be doing the Tour de Cure again this year. I've signed up for quite a few rides already, and have pretty much filled my calendar.
And yes I agree: chatting while riding is the best entertainment. I just find that I'm too slow most of the time to keep up with the "group", and I seem to spend a lot of time alone.

The only randonneuring event I can think of on which I was actually bored was the Last Chance. Otherwise, the scenery and my own thoughts keep me entertained.

As for using music devices ... keep in mind that using music devices with headphones is illegal in some places. You might want to check the law wherever you're riding before using something like that.

i don't do long rides like you guys, only up to 200K, but i listen to an ipod shuffle, size of a postage stamp, $80, 20 hours of battery life, just keep the volume low enough.

on a really long ride, you could bring a charger called a mintyboost - about 1.5" x 2.5 ", 2 AA batteries, charges USB devices.

edit, or you could just hum

Audio books from Audiable, or podcasts. I have listened to several really good books over the years on rides. Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, Tipping Point, In Defense of Food, Into Thin Air.

I have my helmet wired up with headphones so there are no wires flapping around. I use Slipstreamz (google it). They place the headphone near your ear but you can still hear cars and talk to people. I clip a 1GB iPod Shuffle to the back strap of my helmet. The Shuffle has really good battery life.

edit, or you could just hum

whistling is good too.

sometimes i opt for straight-up singing, if i'm alone that is. ever hear a rando do a capella reggae? you don't want to!!

My wife and I had thought about creating a set of small quiz cards that we could use while riding on our tandem. The stoker could quiz the captain and vice versa.

I usally like to spend my time inwardly reflecting while I am really bored or as matt m said singing goes along way.

My ipod went along way to keeping me going, but I washed with my work uniform and now it does not work so well.

My wife and I had thought about creating a set of small quiz cards that we could use while riding on our tandem. The stoker could quiz the captain and vice versa.

Ah.... a tandem. Yes, you have built in companionship/entertainment for as long as you're both on the same bike.

I enjoy a ride much more when it has semi-urban sections. Riding all day in remote areas gets old.


Not me. I'd much rather ride in remote areas. I try to route brevets around urban areas, unless I need a control. Mind you, we don't have much choice around here in the wilds of Canuckistan! :) Hence, if you ride, say, the "Tsunami" 300 or "Backroad" 400, you'll have to like your own company, or find a rando friend.

Scenery is its own reward ... plus I talk to the wildlife.

Not me. I'd much rather ride in remote areas. I try to route brevets around urban areas, unless I need a control. Mind you, we don't have much choice around here in the wilds of Canuckistan! :) Hence, if you ride, say, the "Tsunami" 300 or "Backroad" 400, you'll have to like your own company, or find a rando friend.

Scenery is its own reward ... plus I talk to the wildlife.

+1

And any brevets here in central Alberta will be remote. Yes, you will come across towns now and then ... I try to create them so a rider will encounter a town at least every 100 km, but you'll spend a good portion of your time out in the middle of nowhere.

Most of the Alberta and Manitoba brevets are designed that way.


And I, too, talk to the wildlife.

+1

And any brevets here in central Alberta will be remote. Yes, you will come across towns now and then ... I try to create them so a rider will encounter a town at least every 100 km, but you'll spend a good portion of your time out in the middle of nowhere.

Most of the Alberta and Manitoba brevets are designed that way.


And I, too, talk to the wildlife.

I do the same.Tell me,does your wildlife answer back?

I use Slipstreamz (google it). They place the headphone near your ear but you can still hear cars and talk to people. I clip a 1GB iPod Shuffle to the back strap of my helmet. The Shuffle has really good battery life.
I checked them out online, and decided to give the Slipstreamz a try. Thanks for the suggestion. I ordered some.
I've never even used an Ipod before, but I'm going to give it a try. My wife has the Shuffle and a newer Nano as well. I think there's also a radio you can get for your Ipod.

I do the same.Tell me,does your wildlife answer back?

But of course! They grunt and squeak and squawk (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bx6nGZapOYE).

I checked them out online, and decided to give the Slipstreamz a try. Thanks for the suggestion. I ordered some.
I've never even used an Ipod before, but I'm going to give it a try. My wife has the Shuffle and a newer Nano as well. I think there's also a radio you can get for your Ipod.

If you're into it mostly for the radio, look at the Zune. It's got the radio tuner built into it, or if you like the iPod (the UI is nicer than the Zune's) Apple sells an inline FM tuner/remote.

the Sansa MP3s are 50 bucks at best buy. 4 gigs, FM tuner, lightweight, 15 hours battery life. not too shabby.

I like the odd joint if I'm getting bored. (shh dont tell)

But of course! They grunt and squeak and squawk (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bx6nGZapOYE).

My mind turned to jello halfway through that video. Funny how the wildlife talkers like to ride in remote areas. ;) Me, I like to talk to people. I suppose I am just a city boy!

How do you deal with the crushing boredom of pedalling all day and all night? You really need to re-examine your rational for cycling.

If you can't keep interested in what's around the corner or over the hill - give it up.

If you are the stronger rider in the group - sing opera - very loudly, if you are weak and sucking air, study your partner's chain line and imperfections in his pedal stroke.

You really need to re-examine your rational for cycling.

If you can't keep interested in what's around the corner or over the hill - give it up.

I love RC's gentle words of encouragement. :rolleyes:

I love RC's gentle words of encouragement. :rolleyes:

I hear he worked in the State Department during the recent Bush administration. ;)

On the other hand, despite his lack of diplomacy, he usually seems to know what he's talking about.

You really need to re-examine your rational for cycling.
If you can't keep interested in what's around the corner or over the hill - give it up.
If you are the stronger rider in the group - sing opera - very loudly, if you are weak and sucking air, study your partner's chain line and imperfections in his pedal stroke.


I hear he worked in the State Department during the recent Bush administration. ;)

On the other hand, despite his lack of diplomacy, he usually seems to know what he's talking about.

I guess I'll have alot of time to think about this on my first 400k (which is a short ride for some of you I know) next Saturday/Sunday. While I'm completely alone on endless roads talking it over with all the cows.
:cry::cry:

Cows have some pretty interesting insights, but have become a little jaded along the way ... like some domesticated cyclists who have lost their connection to nature.

Llamas and alpacas (http://www.randonneurs.bc.ca/galleries/gal_2006/photo-pages/vi400b/17.html) on the other hand, still have stars in their eyes and are some of our biggest fans. They'll get up before dawn to cheer randonneurs on.

murder mystery audio books. nothing like a sherlock holmes or a miss marple in one ear when the scenery gets dull.

Cows have some pretty interesting insights, but have become a little jaded along the way ... like some domesticated cyclists who have lost their connection to nature.

Llamas and alpacas (http://www.randonneurs.bc.ca/galleries/gal_2006/photo-pages/vi400b/17.html) on the other hand, still have stars in their eyes and are some of our biggest fans. They'll get up before dawn to cheer randonneurs on.

Hey send some more of those llamas and alpacas down here! After listening to the 200th or so longhorn complain about the same thing oy.
I guess I should be really thankful for the nature I get sometimes
and an hour or two down the the road this place got some rain

Hey send some more of those llamas and alpacas down here! After listening to the 200th or so longhorn complain about the same thing oy.
I guess I should be really thankful for the nature I get sometimes

That looks like a lot of nature (well, corny nature) ... as far as the eye can see. The terrain tends to be a bit more varied round these here parts. That, of course, means lots of climbing. Another reason we don't have time to get bored.:thumb:

I am a observation junkie. I like to look at everyplace I ride through.

What do the roads look like?
What kind of fence is that?
Wow, that looks cool!
Why do they bale their hay in huge bundles here?
What kind of dog is that chasing me?
Is that a cul de sac or does that road connect through?

I wave at people, I say good morning, good afternoon and good evening. I talk to myself and others. I observe lighting conditions and sometimes I hallucinate.

I do the same.Tell me,does your wildlife answer back?

Only in English or French after about 40 hours in the saddle. :D

I am a observation junkie. I like to look at everyplace I ride through.

What do the roads look like?
What kind of fence is that?
Wow, that looks cool!
Why do they bale their hay in huge bundles here?
What kind of dog is that chasing me?
Is that a cul de sac or does that road connect through?

I wave at people, I say good morning, good afternoon and good evening. I talk to myself and others. I observe lighting conditions and sometimes I hallucinate.

+1

I also think when I ride.

I think through issues and difficulties I might be encountering at school or work. I think about projects I'm working on and how I'm going to set those projects up.

I look at the old, fallen-down farm houses from way back when and think about the people who might have built the house, and why they would have chosen that particular spot, and what their lives might have been like.

I look at a barn and mentally convert it into a house, complete with furnishings.

I imagine setting up a business - usually a different business each time. I used to imagine what it would be like to win a million dollars, but that one got boring.

I try to imagine my life 5 years or 10 years or 20 years from now.

And I interject all that with various mathematical calculations and observations about the scenery.

And then, if the ride is long enough, my brain usually turns mush and I don't think about much of anything for a while, I just watch the scenery go by. But toward the end of the ride, I start thinking about what I want to do the next day.

But as I said before, I'm rarely bored out there.

I don't ever remember being bored on a ride. I always have my own sound track playing in my head. I also love just watching the world go by. Sometimes I work on math problems in my head like trying to calculate exactly what time I'll get to my next destination or how many revolutions my wheels will make over the course of my ride or something like that.

I don't take long rides like you crazies, but I usually go the iPod route for my daily commute and ho-hum errands and such. For recreational road rides and mountain biking I go without it. Also, there is very little need to get a radio receiver for your iPod because you can just listen to podcasts instead. I listen to my local public radio daily news on the iPod and also audiobooks. I've enjoyed using some of my saddle time to explore new music as well.

Boredom is definitely a big problem on long rides. How do you deal with the crushing boredom of pedalling all day and all night?
My only source of entertainment is my VDO 1.0+ bike computer. It has lots of functions, and I just keep flicking from function to function, checking the altitude gained, inclination, and then back to speed and average speed.
Of course, on the PBP I was so sleep deprived that the last 2 and a half days were filled with priceless halucinations which kept me very entertained indeed.
I know that some folks carry Ipods and some have sophisticated GPS systems to play with.
What gets you through a long ride?

you need an suv bike, with sat radio, dvd player, cup holders, ipod ports, screaming kids, cell phone, etc.
isn't the ride what its about?
why are you out there if riding from a to b is a chore that requires some reality altering device to get you through? i don't get it.

I like bmike's idea. I ride with a guy who is an electrical engineer (actually he works with microwave communication between satellites terrestrial based communication stations). He has his LHT rigged up with a Sirus/XM satellite antenna and radio. The antenna is attached to a custom bracket, which in turn is attached to the tip of his aero bar for a clear view of the sky.

Think of the possibilities with a dyno hub and a USB cable connected to the dyno hub. A search on BF and/or google will provide a wiring diagram for the dyno USB set up. Endless supply of content. Now if you could get a good bluetooth adapter and headphones you could be wireless too.

Now I understand not having too much technonlgy while riding as well. Heck I'm a geographer by education and profession and have very little interest in messing around with any of the GPS capabilities of my Garmin Edge.

On last year's Bordeaux-Paris I played "tennis-water tower" with the friend I was riding with. It's very simple: the first person who sees a water tower gets points like a tennis game (15-0, 30-0 and so on). It kept us busy for the 600 km ride, and still the game wasn't finished when we reached Paris.
Other than that I'm rarely bored on a long ride, even though I don't listen to music or anything. Staying focused on the route and chatting with my riding partners keeps me entertained. But mind you, I ride in France where there are villages every 5 km or so, and the scenery is usually quite nice to look at.

Last weekend on a ride I was talking about becoming a Real Estate Randonneur. Can you imagine? I've got 3 houses to show you today, but it's going to take ALL day. ;^)

Steve

Last weekend on a ride I was talking about becoming a Real Estate Randonneur. Can you imagine? I've got 3 houses to show you today, but it's going to take ALL day. ;^)

Steve

boulder and portland have you beat. (http://bikeportland.org/2008/08/29/real-estate-pedalers-from-boulder-will-open-office-in-portland/)

I usually just listen to my inner soundtrack... but it can backfire sometimes.

One morning as I was leaving the house for a long ride, the television blared that annoying commercial for freecreditreport.com... you know the jingle:

F-R-E-E that spells free,
credit report dot com, baby!

It stuck in my head and try as I might, I couldn't get it out of my head. For 5 hours that song ate at my brain like a rabid gerbil! It went through my head in endless loops in perfect time with my pedal strokes... hellish! :eek:

I usually just listen to my inner soundtrack... but it can backfire sometimes.

One morning as I was leaving the house for a long ride, the television blared that annoying commercial for freecreditreport.com... you know the jingle:

F-R-E-E that spells free,
credit report dot com, baby!

It stuck in my head and try as I might, I couldn't get it out of my head. For 5 hours that song ate at my brain like a rabid gerbil! It went through my head in endless loops in perfect time with my pedal strokes... hellish! :eek:

Argh! I hate when that happens.
I admit to listening to the local HS radio station which plays pop/dance music, but sometimes my brain gets stuck on a song from that station just because it's a good cadence match. I can tune out a Hillary Duff song for 3 minutes on the radio. It's tougher to do when there's no "next song" to bump it with. I think the worst one, though, was Bumble Bee Tuna by Mephiskapheles. I suppose it's my own fault for listening to some of the stuff I do. :p

I usually just listen to my inner soundtrack... but it can backfire sometimes.

One morning as I was leaving the house for a long ride, the television blared that annoying commercial for freecreditreport.com... you know the jingle:

F-R-E-E that spells free,
credit report dot com, baby! :eek:

That reminds me of some years back, when I ran away to the mountains. I was living in a remote alpine meadow. After some months there, I was horrified one day to wake up with a jingle running in my head. There I was, standing in the middle of this pristine environment, circled by shining mountains, with that old McDonald's jingle "You deserve a break today ..." lodged in the old noggin. It was of the devil. I couldn't get a break from it for days!

On a recent brevet, I had a visit from a more angelic deity, in the form of a Mark Knoppfler guitar riff looping 'round my head. It's one of my favourites and it seemed to put power in my legs. I did my fastest time ever on that 200 route!

I usually just listen to my inner soundtrack... but it can backfire sometimes.

One morning as I was leaving the house for a long ride, the television blared that annoying commercial for freecreditreport.com... you know the jingle:

F-R-E-E that spells free,
credit report dot com, baby!

It stuck in my head and try as I might, I couldn't get it out of my head. For 5 hours that song ate at my brain like a rabid gerbil! It went through my head in endless loops in perfect time with my pedal strokes... hellish! :eek:

oh man, have i ever been there. for me i was on a 300k, and that "$5 footlong" song from subway was in my head... it's not even a song! oh god that was annoying. after that i thought about bringing a zune or something in case it happens again, just to make it go away.

(or i could stop watching so much tv... but a rando's gotta rest some time, right?)

Best kind of entertainment on long brevets?A turn. Going in a new direction. Sunsets, moon rises, hills (mostly down) - winds (mostly tail) - dogs (only one at a time)

Anything you pass by that didn't come from Walmart. Like home made yard art, heck "home made" homes! And the locals, especially the ones that are looking and talking about you.