Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - untrained long distance ride

I don't know if this is a really bad idea or not.

I've only gotten a couple of 17 mile rides in this year, but I did ride all winter. I was going to bike to a meeting next week when I thought it was 30 miles, and get back home around 10:00 PM. So I ordered a spare battery for my bike light and was all ready.

Then I mapped it. It's more like 60 miles one way (which was my longest ride mid-summer last year). I still want to do it, but then I'll be looking at around 1 or 2 AM. Am I totally nuts? Or should I just bite the bullet and go for it.

I say go for it. In my neck of the woods riding at night is a relief from
all the other traffic on the road and makes the ride more enjoyable.

If you've ridden that distance before and thoroughly trust your lighting, go for it. Otherwise, it could be a bad time to experiment on distance riding.

Only ride it if your lights will last that long and your sure you can make it home. Riding on dark roads around here without light is not so much fun. Not to mention that any other traffic on the road won't see you either until they run over you...

So you are saying you are doing about a 200K (60mi one-way= 120mi rt) single man brevet in the dead of night with no support and an untested lighting system? Oh what the heck- go nuts! ;p

So you are saying you are doing about a 200K (60mi one-way= 120mi rt) single man brevet in the dead of night with no support and an untested lighting system? Oh what the heck- go nuts! ;p

The light system has been tested, I just purchased a second battery for additional capacity. I know I can get at least 2 hours out of the battery on high before it indicates needing charged, at least twice that on medium which is acceptable for most road conditions.

If it's any better, probably only 40 of the miles will be at night. The first 60 will be before 6:00 PM, resuming again around 7:00 PM. I should get about 2 hours of light before I need lighting to see at that point.

I did think I was completely nuts, but it sounds like either I'm not completely nuts or everyone else around here is as loony as I am.

How much fitness have you lost. Is it an easy ride..
If it's an easy ride, i'd go for it.. Returning at 2 am. I think I'd buy a third battery.. And be well " reflecterized. "

How much fitness have you lost. Is it an easy ride..
If it's an easy ride, i'd go for it.. Returning at 2 am. I think I'd buy a third battery.. And be well " reflecterized. "

Not an easy ride, this is western PA and any time I go south I start getting into the hills. I took back to my 17 mile morning ride with no problem, but that is an easy ride. And I use a class II vest when I ride in inclement conditions.

I think I'm going to take a 35 (IIRC, to the Ohio state line and back) mile sample ride tomorrow night if the weather cooperates and see how I feel on Thursday.

In many situations you can ride a bicycle at 10 miles per hour as easily as walking at 3 miles per hour. Go figure.

I still want to do it, but then I'll be looking at around 1 or 2 AM. Am I totally nuts? Or should I just bite the bullet and go for it.
What time to the bars close in your area? You don't want to be on the road at that time and for about an hour afterwards.

What time to the bars close in your area? You don't want to be on the road at that time and for about an hour afterwards.

Yea, I thought of that last night when I was riding and noticed a few drunks walking around town. Bars close at 2:00 AM, so I should be safe from the hard core drinkers hopefully.

I did a 34 mile ride last night, averaging 14 mile per hour. Started around 9:10 and finished up sometime around 11:40, I think. Lighting worked well. Discovered the medium works great in dark areas as long as I keep my light pointed down more than I would intuitively have it. According to the documentation, I should get 4+ hours out of a battery on medium. Since high gets me 2 - 2 1/2 hours, that seems accurate.

I know this is nuts, but is there a compelling reason not to do this (other than my body being angry for several days afterward)?

In case anyone was curious, due to a couple of errors on my part I ended up not being able to take the ride. Probably for the best.