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I think I belong here...and I want to take my cycling to a new level.

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Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling Do you enjoy centuries, double centuries, brevets, randonnees, and 24-hour time trials? Share ride reports, and exchange training, equipment, and nutrition information specific to long distance cycling. This isn't for tours, this is for endurance events cycling

I think I belong here...and I want to take my cycling to a new level.

Old 02-24-11, 10:28 AM
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I think I belong here...and I want to take my cycling to a new level.

I have been floating around these forums for a few years now and rarely posted much...

I was having a browse as opposed to my more usual targeted searching and found the long-distance forum.

I am not interested in what type of rider I am or what others think of how/where/when I ride, however, I have been taking interested in taking my cycling to a new level.

I am comfortable with a daily 100 - 150 miles back to back for a 10 days or so (time allowing). I have no structure to my nutrition but know what my body needs to do it. I have always ridden on my own almost exclusively.

Does anyone have any advice about taking my cycling to a new level in a more communal and perhaps competitive way?

I know little to nothing about the structure of events in the UK or anywhere else in the world. I know my first step should probably be joining a cycling club, and quite possibly buy some riders a drink or two to ingratiate myself!

I started cycling because I enjoyed it, I feel I have gotten to a place where some wiser and more experienced pedalling bodies would be of great benefit.

Anyway, greetings all!
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Old 02-24-11, 10:32 AM
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Join a local club ride, see if you are able to stay with them.
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Old 02-24-11, 12:54 PM
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First off, figure out if you want to race or want to ride long distances at whatever speed you feel like.

For racing, scroll down through here, and note a few events in the UK:
https://www.ultracycling.com/events/races.php
Try a 12 or 24 hour event, see what you think. If in doubt, go watch one or volunteer to help out with one and see how it all works. In the US, some of these events are drafting, some are not, and you'll have some really good riders and some regular people all mixed together. I assume it's similar in your area.

For randonneuring, hunt up your local randonneuring club, go try a 200k or similar ride, see what you think.

For both randonneuring and ultra-racing, there are very experienced people doing them, but if you've done 10 days of back-to-back centuries, you may have done more riding than some of the people participating. When I did my first randonneuring 200k, I had previously completed a total of 5 centuries.
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Old 02-24-11, 01:45 PM
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You sound like a good candidate for randonneuring (non-competitive timed, distance events). The biggest rando event in the world will be held this year in Paris (PBP, held every 4 years). Presumably, it might not be a budget-buster for you to get there. To qualify, you must ride a series of brevets (I think you guys call them 'sportives') of 200k, 300k, 400k, and 600k. Each ride has a time limit. For example, 300k (@190 miles) must be completed in 20 hours. The ride in Paris in August is 1200k, including sleeping, meals and such, in 90 hours or less.

You seem to have the base of miles to jump right in finish in time. I am sure you can find a club running brevets near enough. Good luck if you try.
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Old 02-25-11, 01:31 AM
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Radonneur events tend to be known as "audaxes" in the UK. The association you want to check out is Audax UK, they should have all the info about clubs and events in your area. Have fun!
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Old 02-25-11, 05:16 PM
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Does anyone have any advice about taking my cycling to a new level in a more communal and perhaps competitive way?
Ahhh, I think you mean you don't know how to set a goal for yourself.

It helps if you think about what you find lacking in your current situation and what you want to do about it.

Taking on bouts of exercise that involve remarkable endurance are easily talked about, much less often carried out.
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Old 02-25-11, 07:15 PM
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Go here: https://www.aukweb.net/

find an event, put it on your calendar, and do it.
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Old 02-26-11, 03:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Richard Cranium
Ahhh, I think you mean you don't know how to set a goal for yourself.

It helps if you think about what you find lacking in your current situation and what you want to do about it.
My goal is always defined as seeing what I can achieve doing the things I enjoy. When riding they centre around pushing further and faster be that a set distance or a set time limit.

I have always what I want to do and often in the way that seems most immediately appropriate, though I always reach a point where I want to integrate into the existing community and knowledge/experience base, find companionship and friendly faces who don't consider me crazy!

Originally Posted by Richard Cranium
Taking on bouts of exercise that involve remarkable endurance are easily talked about, much less often carried out.
Fortunately I already know I can perform to a satisfactory level, I think you could be more encouraging as there may be others not so confident.
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Old 03-01-11, 09:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Richard Cranium

Taking on bouts of exercise that involve remarkable endurance are easily talked about, much less often carried out.
I agree this was a miserable statement. First of all just because you think its takes "remakable endurance" doesn't mean the OP doesnt do it with out breaking a sweat. While i am sure he rides hard it is plausable that he is in better shape and its not that remarkable to him. Who are you to infur that he may not have what it takes. I rode a century within one month of starting cycling at 36 years old and having been a smoker for 20 years and it was on a 29er with nobbies. I averaged 15.5 MPH stop twice for short brakes finished in like 8.5 hrs or something. This in my opinion was not "remarkable" but in some peoples opinion it might be. Who are you to judge.
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Old 03-01-11, 11:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Richard Cranium
Ahhh, I think you mean you don't know how to set a goal for yourself.

It helps if you think about what you find lacking in your current situation and what you want to do about it.

Taking on bouts of exercise that involve remarkable endurance are easily talked about, much less often carried out.
WOW! People are sure reading lots into that last line. From where I am sitting there are several ways to interpret that one, not all negative.

Last edited by hooligancyclist; 03-01-11 at 11:33 PM. Reason: I want to make the smileyface icon better
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Old 03-02-11, 08:56 AM
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Originally Posted by hooligancyclist
WOW! People are sure reading lots into that last line. From where I am sitting there are several ways to interpret that one, not all negative.
I felt that in the spirit of my original post that the last part was unhelpful. Personally I prefer to take it as a challenge and use it as motivation but at another time in my life it would certainly have been discouraging.
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