Living Car Free - Hello bike forums, I'm going on my first 12 mile bike ride

Hello all, you guys are all awesome and supportive. And have inspired me to start going car-light and car-free.:D:D:D

I've never done a 40 mile bike ride to the beach before, so i was just wondering what i should expect? What should i bring? Any tips and tricks? And advice in general.

Thank you guys. you are awesome!;)

-Artistic.

EDIT: My friend just told me it's a 40 mile bike ride. :eek:

If you note the address on the left, you'll see I have very little experience with riding on beaches. I do know, however, that unless the beach sand is very well packed, you are going to need quads of steel.

Myself, if I find out the location of a nearby beach, I'll ride to it and find a spot for an umbrella and a mojito.

Gerv,

Already got a few coronas in my pack for the ride.

I'd bring some carbs to eat along the way as well. Is the 40 miles including the ride home? What bike are you riding?

Obviously, bring water to drink. Make sure you carry any weight (Such as the Corona) it a comfortable way. Having 20lbs of things randomly stuffed in a messenger bag really sucks on long rides.

40 miles can be hard if u are not a regular rider, u might be too tired/sore to want to ride back!

riding on beaches

Gerv, post#1 was about riding 40 miles TO the beach, not riding 40 miles ON the beach. ;)

40 miles of riding on sand sounds like something you'd do if you wanted mountain-climbing to seem easy afterwards. ;)

OP how did it go for you.

Hey guys,

the ride went really swell. The first 10 miles or so i was like, okay i can do this. Eventually around halfway i felt my legs giving out on me. Luckily I brought plenty of water and some granola bars as you guys suggested. My friends were very supportive on my ride and we took a lot of breaks.

We got to the beach - Newport Beach, Ca. And ate some burgers at this one mom and pop place. Chilled for a bit, drank the coronas i packed in my pack. And enjoyed a few little rollies of green stuff. Oh man have you guys ever rode while buzzin a little bit? It's quite enjoyable, esp with some nice tunes. Such an incredible experience.

Here's what i'm currently riding. It isn't much, but it's a complete and i'm happy with it:
Vilano, Freewheel. Currently riding on fixed. 16T Cog

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs307.snc3/28981_1439958193434_1067407044_1323281_3323276_n.jpg

here's some pics i took of the bike ride there... we went really late. It was too dark to take any pictures on my phone; of the beach. Sorry guys.

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs589.snc3/31081_1444037735420_1067407044_1334582_2156753_n.jpg

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs569.snc3/31081_1444037215407_1067407044_1334581_341793_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs569.snc3/31081_1444038375436_1067407044_1334583_3983768_n.jpg

I assume you live in OC? The terrain there is not too bad, especially if you bike alongside the river.

Make sure for long-distance rides you use a bike with gear shifting. Fixies won't be good for steep hills.