Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Long distance cycling and time to recover.

Intrigued with idea of doing a long distance cycling event across state of South Dakota in August (Gut Check- http://www.gutcheck212.com/) . Idea is to finish 420-mile ride in 48 hours to officially complete. I have ridden a few centuries (5.5 hours best time of five did last year) and will probably test run a double C sometime this summer.

I am not concerned about beating anyone but making it within time limit and feeling good enough that I could return back again and also do the return ride within 48 hours. This would be the “Hell and Back” option for this event (840 miles in 96 hours).

I will not attempt to push myself to meet this goal unless I am feeling okay and if wind and weather conditions are favorable. This will be an unsupported ride for me and I will probably carry about 10-15 lbs. of gear including water, nutrients, tarp tent and lightweight bivy bag. Have some towns along the way, which will be essential in supplying nutrition and liquids.

Did a 1,400 mile tour around Lake Superior a couple of years ago with about 35 lbs. of gear and averaging around 70 miles a day. What I remember about this trip is how I gradually got stronger each day. Felt great and seemed as long as I took a few rest breaks and kept fueled and hydrated I had no problem. Wondered if one can actually similarly improve condition in a more intense concentrated ride? Can the body quickly rebound if you take short intermittent sleep periods?

I have got a new Low Racer, which is extremely comfortable to ride and I am equipped for nighttime riding. I plan to do riding segments of 8 hours interspersed with complete rest/sleep periods of about 6 hours. There would also be break periods within the riding periods. I am expecting to average about 15-17mph overall during the riding segments, including break stops. Push-off time is 3 pm and I would try to ride as follows.

3 pm to midnight ride 125 miles, then rest tell 6 a.m.
6 am to 2 pm ride 125 miles, then rest tell 7 pm.
7 pm to 1 am ride 90 miles, then rest tell 7 am.
7 am to noon ride 80 miles to finish in 45 hours.

Depending on how I feel I would rest a few hours and take off for the return trip with similar ride to rest ratio. If I need to take 4 days instead of 2 to make the return ride without exhausting myself so be it.

Comments, advice, related experiences, questions etc. appreciated.

Karjak

Did a 1,400 mile tour around Lake Superior a couple of years ago with about 35 lbs. of gear and averaging around 70 miles a day. What I remember about this trip is how I gradually got stronger each day. Felt great and seemed as long as I took a few rest breaks and kept fueled and hydrated I had no problem. Wondered if one can actually similarly improve condition in a more intense concentrated ride? Can the body quickly rebound if you take short intermittent sleep periods?



No. On a more intense concentrated ride, your body continually wears down. If you look at the times on the Paris-Brest-Paris and other 1200Ks, for example, you'll see that most riders go slower on the second half than they do on the first ... even the fast riders ... and that's because they're tired and worn out.

Now I would recommend building up your riding, and perhaps doing something similar to your 1400 mile tour locally because as you noted, you gradually got stronger each day when you rode approx. 70 miles a day. Build up so that you're comfortable doing back-to-back centuries in the time limit you'd like to complete them. Build up so you're comfortable knocking off a 150 mile ride (yes, longer than the longest distance you're planning to do) and then getting up after 6 hours of sleep and doing an 80 mile ride. It'll help. :)

I have to agree with Machka. Training for racing years ago I usually felt like I could do 350-400 miles a week indefinitely, as long as I ate and slept sufficiently. Without sufficient food or sleep, however, things went pretty quickly down the toilet.

The one big ride I went on was at the end of my best season, and I took off for 5 days and 750 miles, solo. I felt good, but lost 15 lbs, going from 160 to 145, and was definitely not stronger at the end. A bit more miles than I could do sustainably.

It sounds like you have a good plan to get the ride done, and it sounds like a real epic...worth doing whether it wears you out or not. Life's short, you know :thumb:

Wondered if one can actually similarly improve condition in a more intense concentrated ride? Can the body quickly rebound if you take short intermittent sleep periods?


It depends. The fastest riding of a 1200 brevet for me is the first day but the second day is usually the slowest with the third and (if needed) fourth days being faster than the second. This is riding averages only, I tend to take more time off the bike as the ride goes on.

Your ride looks like fun and your plan looks mostly sensible. I'd prefer to shorten the daytime break and to finish each day before midnight.

Sounds like the "west-to-east" option could be a fun ride. I'd forget about trying to ride west bound, especially after logging a couple of doubles.

It's just another one of those crazy rides, weather can make it or break it. South Dakota in August can be beautiful or bad-landish..... Good luck.