guybierhaus

Just back from a 33.8 mile ride. Since I started week with a 51 mile ride and plan to end week with a 60 mile ride, I had the weird thought I might be able to put together a 200 mile week. What was I thinking!!! Didn't do my math very well. Figuring I had a few trail miles earlier in week, plus 33 miles today and maybe 15 tomorrow and I'd be over 200 with 60 on Saturday. But no, seems I fall short and will have to ride 33 plus miles tomorrow as well. So now it's a toss up. Can't imagine when I'll be this close again, so seems a shame not to go for it. Then again who cares?? Just me, and only for a couple hours. Just to put this in perspective, for month of July and August, I averaged 277 miles for entire month. Will wait and see what legs say tomorrow. The real fear is I'll next want to ride 500 miles for month, does it ever end?

stonecrd

If it was me and my legs felt up to it I would go for it. I love hitting new personal bests. 175 is my current week high.

guybierhaus

I will probably go for it; although tomorrows route will be flatter then todays ride. And if I get grass cut today, I won't have an excuse. Which is a way of saying I have to get off this computer and do something.

Yen

Listen to your legs and knees... and have a good time whatever you decide to do.

stapfam

Forget body- and the legs and the butt and the pain-GO FOR IT.

This is a target to tell your mates at work about on Monday. That is if they are not avoiding you because of the funny way you are walking.

Being this close- You should give it a try but listen to the body. Eat a few more carbs and take the "Extra" ride to bring up the milage at a slightly lower pace. Don't worry about a few muscle aches but any Knee pain or Sudden Twinges and call the back up to recover you.

Beverly

Go for it! If the legs aren't a problem don't miss this chance.

George

+1, you'll be real happy when you do.

BSLeVan

Oh, my. I sure hope not.

wrafl

You can do 500 miles easy in a month. I set a goal of min 150 miles a week but
was short of that for June with a total of 573. Did 458 for July. Last month was
horrific, I did only a total of 173 mainly due to 2 weeks of rain and an injury end
of July. September is looking good so far, have 123 miles on the bag and when I
ride again on Friday, I'll cover at least 150 total for the week and need to keep it
up to record 600 for the month of September. Go for it.

speedlever

Ya know, when I did my 56/age today, I wasn't even thinking of it in those terms. It was what I needed to hit 200 miles for the week (another personal best). It was only when I read that other thread that it dawned on me I had ridden my age.

Kurt Erlenbach

Do it, bro. The trouble is you can always go farther and faster. 200 this week means shooting for 250 later.

Sandwarrior

My goal from the outset has been to ride between 100 and 125 miles per week. This has been hampered by several factors, the most annoying is this rotating shift work I do. The two weeks I work the Mid shift, I can barely manage 60 miles a week, unless I get some really good breaks in the weather. Ahhhhh well, better to ride 60 miles a week than none at all.

guybierhaus

Well I rode 34 miles this morning. Legs getting tired; but butt bothered me the most. Thank goodness tomorrow I rest. To finish the week I ride the 60 mile option at the Amish Country Tour out of Dover, DE. Very flat, so sounds easy, but its pretty much a constant pedaling. No hills to climb but no hills to coast down either. It does look like there will be a weather challenge. Current forecast is 86F and 76% humidity. I'm not fond of humidity and will hope to start early. Will probably be dumping more water on me then drinking. Anyway at 141 miles for week, that is already my highest week. Wife is complaining I'm not around. So this is not a pace I could keep up for long.

Beverly

Usually the only thing you need to worry about on those flat rides is headwinds. Hope you have tailwinds all the way

stonecrd

Your getting close now.

Doing 500/mo is a pretty reasonable goal, the way I have done that is:

Sun 65
Mon rest
Tues 20
Wed 20
Thurs 20
Fri 20
Sat Yard Work

Get 500 easy and even have some slack for rain days. My best month has been 590 miles

guybierhaus

Well of course after the 200 mile week I'd shoot for 500 mile month; however my normal schedule would produce just 11 cycling days in Sept after this Sunday. I'd have to average 27.2 miles per day, which is 7 miles above my norm. This exercise is certainly pointing out to me just how difficult racking up some major miles can be for a normal 80mile/week rider. A 20 mile ride every other day isn't gonna do it. I also have the problem of too slow an average speed just 12 to 13 mph. I believe my legs could do a full 100 mile century; but it looks like a 10 to 11 hour day for me to actually ride 100 miles. Not something I want to do at this time. Anyway, after Saturday I'm scheduled to ride the beach/board walk with wife and sister. Expecting no more then 10 miles with those two. To have a chance at 500 month I'll have to probably ride three 30 mile rides before midnight, Sept 16th.

Rick@OCRR

You should be aiming for a 200 mile day! Double Centuries are all kinds of fun (and often adventure!). We have 18 or 19 each year here in CA; not sure how many organized doubles you have in PA.

Rick / OCRR

stonecrd

You have to have some sort of perverted sense of pain to do a double century. I know many people relish challenges like this and more such as full Ironman competitions. My hat is off to them but I think that is just too much body abuse. I had a close friend who when younger was doing triathlons almost weekly, he was constantly having problems with stress fractures, muscle pulls etc. He is now over 50 and suffers from arthritis in both knees.

speedlever

Agreed.

Reminds me of this:
https://www.ironbuttrally.com/IBR/default.cfm

For 2007, the 11th place finisher did 12,658 miles in 11 days.
In 2005, the 1st place finisher did 13,277 miles in 11 days.

Sometimes, there's just too much of a good thing. (wasn't there a country music song about this?... too much money and too much fun...)

Rick@OCRR

Hi stonecrd,

Actually, if you train correctly for a double century there's no pain involved. Of course you have to stay hydrated and nourished, pay attention to the route slip and ride smart overall, but no pain unless something goes horribly wrong; which, thankfully, it usually doesn't.

Not sure what doubles you have in FL, but you can check out the CA site at:

https://www.caltriplecrown.com/

Hope to see you on a double century sometime!

Rick / OCRR

az_cyclist

I may have 230 from last Saturday including tomorrow. I am at 173 right now, with 60+ planned for tomorrow

stonecrd

I enjoy riding, I really do. But 3-4hrs is it for me even if there were frequent breaks with Pizza and Beer. I just don't enjoy doing anything for 8 hrs straight including my job

guybierhaus

A Double Century at my current level of fitness would probably be a 24 hour event. Would have to arrange for breaks every 4 hours with 30 minutes in a hot tub. Wonder how many batteries I'd go through for lights?

BluesDawg

If you had said that with good preparation a double century is very possible and can be quite enjoyable, I would go along with that (in theory at least, I have not ridden more than 110 in a day), but to say there would be no pain involved? Get real! I would not expect extreme pain or unbearable pain, but I would sure expect some pain.

Rick@OCRR

Okay Guybierhaus,

Then a double with a 24 hour time limit would be a good place to start. I recommend the Grand Tour which is organized by the Los Angeles Wheelmen on the longest (daylight) weekend day of the year. It starts from Malibu and goes to Ojai via Moorpark.

They also have a "Lowland" route if you don't like to climb!

Click here for details: https://www.lawheelmen.org/gtoverview07.htm

No, the checkpoints don't have hot-tubs, but you could recover in a hot-tub at your motel after you finished the ride!

Regarding batteries, you could have spares sent to the final checkpoint (Port Heueneme) and you should be good!

Rick / OCRR