Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Books for Long Distance Cycling

With winter around the corner here in Chicago, I'm going to have a little free time on my hands.

Can anyone recommend training or general information books that would be useful to long distance riders?

I'm considering "The Complete Book of Long-Distance Cycling: Build the Strength, Skills, and Confidence to Ride as Far as You Want." Has anyone reviewed this book?

Any other suggestions?

Michael

A bit unconventional maybe but I've found it very useful to track down and read as many 1200k ride reports as i can find. PBP, Cascade, Rocky Mountain, etc. I've learned a whole lot from them. They also motivate me to do longer and longer rides. Perhaps most valuable is seeing what kinds of things go wrong and how people have overcome them. More than anything the reports have taught me (and I've subsequently re-enforced from personal experience) that no matter how bad I feel I have always been able to prevent a DNF with some rest, a little fuel and some water. I find that kind of information much more practical than a table in a book that says I should be be doing intervals and that on the 17th day I should spend 13.5 minutes at <insert a complex equation involving HR, Vo2max, phase of moon, etc.>.

Michael, I read the first book you mentioned, and found it worthwhile. I imagine you will find some parts of it too 'introductory', as I did, since I know you have also spent a lot of time on this site. Still, there are a lot of good tips in there, about nutrition and training, any one of which is worth the price of the book.

I'm interested to see if any other recommendations come up. I've seen this question before, and the reading list was short. Good luck.

Michael, I read the first book you mentioned, and found it worthwhile. I imagine you will find some parts of it too 'introductory', as I did, since I know you have also spent a lot of time on this site. Still, there are a lot of good tips in there, about nutrition and training, any one of which is worth the price of the book.

I'm interested to see if any other recommendations come up. I've seen this question before, and the reading list was short. Good luck.

+1

I searched for various books and ended up with the one mentioned. Some of it introductory, some great nutrition tips. Since you've spent time on this site, much of it will seem second hand.

I read this and was a little disappointed. I didn't really feel like I read anything earth-shattering or anything like that. There are some training programs to follow. I don't know what I was expecting. I guess the whole key to all this is to get out there and ride a bunch. I am new to all this so I thought I might pick up some interesting info. I feel like I get as much reading this forum as what was in that book. Just my opinion.

I have read the book as well.

It was a good book with some good info on bike fitting and nutrition but nothing that you couldn't find on this web-site.

i agree with one of the previous posters that ride reports for 1200K rides and other long distance adventures help me more than anything.

Endurance events are mostly mental. The training you do is as much for the mind as it is for the body.

The RUSA handbook is fairly worthwhile, but presumably you already have that.

http://www.ultracycling.com/training/training.html

http://www.ultracycling.com/equipment/equipment.html

http://www.ultracycling.com/nutrition/nutrition.html