Richard Cranium

I'm going to lead a double century this Saturday. And none of the three riders coming along have ridden a double century before. (they are all veteran century riders)

Since this ride is going to take some time, and I will not need to ride as fast as I can, would it be rude for me to use a hybrid bike even though they are riding racing bikes?

This ride will be on a fairly tough route with a mix of hills, heat and humidity. I want to try for a 12 hour ride time and two hours off the bike. Does this sound too fast for a first time double rider?

CliftonGK1

Depending on their experience beyond the 100 mile mark, that could be a very ambitious time schedule. With a couple of 200k rides under my belt, my first double century was 14h 45m total with 13h 15m ride time. It was in the heat and humidity but the course was easy.

StephenH

I don't know your riders, so I can't really say. I know there are lots of randonneuring people out there that could do that ride, but would take a lot longer than 12 hours to do it. My last three 200k rides have been hot, and took 11-12 hours.

On the hybrid bike question- I would say, take your road bike, in the unlikely event they're faster than you think they are. Or if you start having problems you didn't anticipate, you sure don't want to be the one that can't do the distance.

BikerJoeP

I am not sure what you are asking regarding the rudeness of riding a hybrid bike for a double century. As far as I am concerned you can ride a tricycle. I won't be anymore or any less impressed with your riding prowess either way. My concern would be with me knocking down a 12 hour (in the saddle) double. Frankly, I don't know if I am capable of a double at that pace or not. But then I am 71 years old and only have done century rides. You have not provided enough information regarding the other riders abilities to truly answer the the last question

Carbonfiberboy 

You should definitely ride the hybrid and pull most of the way. Much better shelter for your fellow riders.

StephenH

I'm curious how it came out.

Richard Cranium

Actually, the ride "came out" with a split result. One guy bonked and had to take a short cut back AND we ALL riders had to take longer than 15 hours to finish. (15:40)

Conditions were difficult as one could expect for a hot and humid ride. (heat index above 100)

And I misjudged my ability to muscle a hybrid and expected too much benefit from drafting the other four riders who were using "near race light" equipment.

Because I failed to control the strongest rider, and failed to benefit from him as well during the first 50 miles, the group never rode consistently as a group. This early solo effort resulted in assuring the rest of the ride would be very, very hard.

I've come to expect too much sophistication or accommodation from riders in groups and will never count on the help of riders that I have not previously, successfully worked with before. Its pretty much every cyclist for himself.......

Richard Cranium

Oh, and this mean 10 out 12 poll answers were correct!

StephenH

Well, good deal that most of y'all made the distance, and that everyone appears unscathed. Some of those issues are things that us slow riders deal with quite frequently (ie, can't ride fast enough to stay in the draft, and extra fat = extra heat), so it does get rough on occasion.

Carbonfiberboy 

The first double I ever did was with a female aerobics instructor, her husband, and a female friend of hers. The aerobics instructor said we'd do it in 10 hours. Her husband blew his knees out about 100 miles, the other woman couldn't do anything, and I pulled them both the last 70 miles. A 16 hour STP disaster. LD riding is not aerobics.

STP is fastest solo. Second best is a well-drilled team. For ordinary companions, the best rule on a double is "if you can't keep up, or want to go off the front, you're gone," unless one is doing charity, same as a brevet. Which can lead to hard feelings, but that's infantile, IMHO. Though charity is a good thing, too. And you gotta set the rules before the start.

12 hrs. was always my benchmark. Occasionally made it, more often not. I always thought that after the Bridge was the most fun. Can really let it rip then, 'cause it's usually downwind and no matter how hard you go, the finish line is reachable.

Maybe my Stoker's butt will toughen up over time and we'll get to do it on the tandem.