Training & Nutrition - I have a goal to do 200 miles in one day

For a long time I have had a goal to do 200 miles in one day. I have done a lot of 100 miles in one day before, on a mountain bike. I dicided to get serous about my double centry goal. And I figured I should train better then I did for the centries I did. So I am looking all suggestions to get me ready to do a double centry near the end of Sep 2005.

Steven

step # 1: learn to spell century
step #2: Ride a lot.

good luck bro.

I would just start riding like crazy. Try riding 180miles in a day or something close to your goal. Also remember to have some snacks and stuff on the day that you attempt the 200miler, don't want to bonk on the ride.

What is the total mileage that you guys have done in one day, for me I was a self sufficent tour in near northern Ontario, 163 miles, on a bike that was weighted with 60 Lbs of stuff, At the end of the day I felt like I was drunk, and slurring my words.

120miles in one day. It was a semi-organized century. My dad and mom were waiting at two seperate rest stops on my route with food and fresh bottles. I carried a camelback+ 2 waterbottles, patch kit, cell phone and some $$$ incase i got lost:D

That was a month ago. I think I could do a bit more now.

If I was ever gonna ride 180, I would just do the last 20 and get it over with. :)

If you've done several centuries... I really don't see 200 as being a problem provided you spend even more time eating and drinking.

Try adding 10% more mileage to your ride each month. This way by the time September 05 comes you'll be right there without having to struggle.

112 miles was my longest, fully loaded as well, and boy, was that rough. The last mile was clear up Richmond's Main street (all up hill for well over a mile) and by then I was just too tire d to deal with it, but so close to the end.

Did 100 miles last Friday though and that wasn't too bad at all, just takes doing the big ones fairly often, but 200 miles, woah! I'd need a really long day for that one.

Also remember to have some snacks and stuff on the day that you attempt the 200miler, don't want to bonk on the ride.


This might just qualify for the understatement of the century.

-mark

I've participated in a double metric century (126 miles) for the past three summers. I've averaged 6 hours 40 minutes. I don't know if I would have another 74 miles in me though! :eek:

I guess you would have to pace yourself for 200 instead of 100.

For a long time I have had a goal to do 200 miles in one day. I have done a lot of 100 miles in one day before, on a mountain bike. I dicided to get serous about my double centry goal. And I figured I should train better then I did for the centries I did. So I am looking all suggestions to get me ready to do a double centry near the end of Sep 2005.

Steven

These are the guys who not only put on some some of the best doubles in the Western U.S., They've got some good info on the web site:

Planet Ultra (http://www.planetultra.com/training/index.html)

The longest I have done in one day was 150 miles. That was around 4 or 5 years ago.

Steven

These are the guys who not only put on some some of the best doubles in the Western U.S., They've got some good info on the web site:

Planet Ultra (http://www.planetultra.com/training/index.html)

Thanks, that is more in lines what I was looking for. I will spend some time reading the info.

Steven

I tried the double, I failed. I am a big guy and the hills in the first hundred did me in, I live in a flat area so I was unprepared in addition to having to lug my beer gut up hill. Next year I will be back, lighter and better prepared because failing at that ride still bothers me to this day, but I digress. My friend however completed the ride, 16 something pace, in preparing for it he just rode alot, on a fixed gear. Did the ride on a geared bike though. The longest training session we did was 123 miles a few weeks before and then 95 the next day, that was tough. We also did a couple centuries in the weeks before in addition to other long training rides. The ride was in June I guess we really started preparing in late February. Check out the Book of Long Distance Cycling, I think that is what it called. It seriously is much tougher than a century is certain aspects and in other aspects you just do what you do for a hundred miles twice, like food and stuff. Just ride alot, and good luck.

People from the club that I ride with do doubles quite a bit. I actually have the double goal next summer... we will see...

I did 180 miles once and 150 miles a few times. However, after awhile, I figured out that after I have ridden 100 miles, I have had all the fun I am going to have on a bike that day. Miles after 100 just seem to me to be grueling. I guess I could do it, but why should I want to?

You might want to take some hints from the Cascade Bike Club's suggested training regimen for completing the Seattle-to-Portland Ride (200 miles) in one day (http://www.cascade.org/EandR/stp/stp_mileage.cfm#one).

What is the point of talking about distance when it all depends on the type of trail you are riding? With a difficult enough trail 200 miles is next to impossible for all but the elite.

We have many 24 hour races here in Toronto. At my local mtb center (we have lots of technical single track) the very best manage to do a bit over 170 miles over 24 hours (about 18-19 loops). Most of the top 10 manage less than 140-150 miles. Doing 10 loops (or near 100 miles) over 24 hours on these trails would be a fantastic achievement for 99% of riders.

My point is that not all trails are equal and talking about distances is VERY meaningless, unless we all talk about the same trail.

What is the point of talking about distance when it all depends on the type of trail you are riding? With a difficult enough trail 200 miles is next to impossible for all but the elite.

I think the original poster was talking road mileage here. Albiet the terrain is still a factour. Riding 200 miles with lots of elevation changes is going to be harder than riding 200 miles in relatively flat areas.

Oops sorry, I though it was off-road milage. My mistake.

I think the original poster was talking road mileage here. Albiet the terrain is still a factour. Riding 200 miles with lots of elevation changes is going to be harder than riding 200 miles in relatively flat areas.
200 miles here in East TN would be a LOT different than 200 miles in TX, OK or KS. In my area, there is no such thing as flat land. Everything is inclined in some form or fashion. I did about 94 miles way way back about 4 years ago and it nearly killed me. I hate TN.

aero bars might be worth a try. and a good light set. i think you will need about 8-10 hours for this.

pick a flat course on a windy day. Plan on lots of eating and drinking and this will be no problemo. Only need to average about 10 mph :D

Not an answer to your suggestion, but an interesting read
http://neups.tripod.com/daysride.html

My suggestion? Train for and get comfortable with a century. That will give you the basic conditioning. Deal with the extra 100 by eating and drinking adequately and pacing... i.e. stay aerobic. Going from 100 to 200, I would try 125, then 150 or 175. Use those to guage your preparation and get a feel for pace and how much to eat and drink.

I've topped 200 miles twice. The first time in Cornwall and the second on the'98 Seattle to Portland. The second time was much easier although my overall fitness was probably unchanged and the terrain was roughly equivalent. I think what made the most difference was the group I was riding with. I didn't know them before the day of the race but we pushed one another the whole way, the last bit from St. Helens to Portland was brutal. My Cornish double century was solo.

My suggestion is to find someone who shares your goals and set up a realistic training schedule. I think you'll find that it's a lot easier than you think, just give yourself a day or two to recover.