mcrae44

Hi guys. I just did my first 'long distance' ride today, of 135 km. before that I've only done 70km, twice, which wasn't so bad, but i really died on this ride today. It took about 7.5 hours, with maybe 1-1.5 hours worth of breaks. I figure there was a couple things working against me:

-diet: i only had two frozen pizzas beforehand, and was feelings really drained until i grabbed an apple midway through, after which i really noticed more energy. the rest of the food i ate during the day sucked too, some chips, pop, ice cream and some turkey sub. What are the good foods to eat during and before longer rides?

-bike: I ride a 'giant' mountain bike, on which i maintain 20 km/h and can maintain 25-27 over shorter distances. I've read that others here ride in the mid 30's... which makes me want a roadbike, lol. I was thinking about switching out my wheels for road wheels/tires. is this a dumb idea, or even possible? I have disc brakes btw.

-clothing: I don't have any cycling pants, and though I've thought about buying them, the whole concept of small, elastic shorts doesn't appeal to me. But, wearing my regular street wear got really uncomfortable. Is that possibly just my seat/stance, or more likely the clothes?

thanks for your help!

DanielS

Nice work!

I think you need to work on getting your energy in smaller doses. Muesli bars (granola bars?) and gatorade are a pretty good way to do this. Aim for 250ish cals per hour (1000 kJs). You'll also want to be consuming about 500-750mL of water an hour too, more on a hot day.

Nothing wrong with mountain bikes, but they are heavier and a less aerodynamic than a road bike. Best way to get faster is to get fitter though Definitely swap your mtb tyres out for slick ones though, you'll notice a big difference. Yes, its possible without changing the wheels.

Bike shorts definitely make things more comfy down stairs. If you're really dead set on not wearing tight clothing you can get loose shorts designed for cycling with a padded section sewed in. But, it is possible that your discomfort is saddle or position related.... that's a whole other story though. Try https://sheldonbrown.com/saddles.html as a starter.

Good luck!

Six jours

Huh. I don't have a single thing to add to that. Agree with everything said.

Paul Barnard

I'll second the comment that skinny slick tires will make a huge difference. HUGE!