Avid rider in 50's looking to try a 200k - Training resources
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Avid rider in 50's looking to try a 200k - Training resources
Hello. I am an avid rider, do an annual 7 - 10 day tour and have ridden a few centuries. I am ready to move up to 200k + distance rides this year but would like to find some guidance for nutrition, training, etc. Is there a good book or magazine source you recommend for helping me make the switch? I know this a whole different animal than just slogging out a century ride and I want to learn how to do this well, not just to barely make it.
BTW, I do read this forum quite a bit lately, but have found it challenging to piece all of the little pieces of information into a full plan for myself.
Thanks!
Don
BTW, I do read this forum quite a bit lately, but have found it challenging to piece all of the little pieces of information into a full plan for myself.
Thanks!
Don
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Machka will probably pop on here with a bunch of online resources for you in the mean time you can check out https://www.ultracycling.com/sections/articles/ There is lots of great info there to get you started.
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If you are talking about 200k randonees/brevets, then you might be looking at it as a step towards longer rides (like 300k's). In that case, you might need to consider lighting requirements (many randonees/brevets start before daylight) and being able to navigate without road-markings (fairly common for organized centuries but not for randonees/brevets).
Last edited by njkayaker; 01-05-13 at 02:49 PM.
#4
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Join RUSA, it's fairly cheap, and they send you a reasonably handy handbook (may take several weeks to get it in, or at least it did me.)
Assuming you rode your centuries, weren't collapsed in a heap at the end, and didn't take 12 hours to do them, you're probably good for a 200k as well. Look up your area randonneuring group, and give a ride a try and see what you think. Perhaps wait a bit into spring so the days are longer where you're less likely to need lights.
Assuming you rode your centuries, weren't collapsed in a heap at the end, and didn't take 12 hours to do them, you're probably good for a 200k as well. Look up your area randonneuring group, and give a ride a try and see what you think. Perhaps wait a bit into spring so the days are longer where you're less likely to need lights.
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"be careful this rando stuff is addictive and dan's the 'pusher'."
"be careful this rando stuff is addictive and dan's the 'pusher'."
#6
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You've done 80% of 200 km already, doing the extra distance is not a watershed event (when I did my first 200+ km ride, I went from 155 km to 211 km and the longest training run for my first 300 km was a 235 km ride).
When I started doing rides beyond a century distance, elevation was a bigger factor for me than distance. Either way you have to deal with eating and drinking throughout the ride, but climbing slows you down a lot.
Where it becomes challenging is when you are constrained by a time limit (such as in brevets) and need to maintain a certain minimum average, despite terrain and possibly inclement weather. Faster is harder to train for than further.
When I started doing rides beyond a century distance, elevation was a bigger factor for me than distance. Either way you have to deal with eating and drinking throughout the ride, but climbing slows you down a lot.
Where it becomes challenging is when you are constrained by a time limit (such as in brevets) and need to maintain a certain minimum average, despite terrain and possibly inclement weather. Faster is harder to train for than further.
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Don-
congratulations on stepping up to a new challenge!
check out the googlegroup Randon- you'll meet folks who are all about randonneuring and other crazy events from all over the world. Also check out John Hughes' web site. He's one of the founders of UMCA (referenced in Homeyba's msg), a current long distance ultracycling coach, AND is a good source of info about the aging cyclist (see a variety of articles on his web site www.coach-hughes.com )
congratulations on stepping up to a new challenge!
check out the googlegroup Randon- you'll meet folks who are all about randonneuring and other crazy events from all over the world. Also check out John Hughes' web site. He's one of the founders of UMCA (referenced in Homeyba's msg), a current long distance ultracycling coach, AND is a good source of info about the aging cyclist (see a variety of articles on his web site www.coach-hughes.com )
Last edited by Sekhem; 01-15-13 at 08:10 PM.
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left foot, right foot. rinse repeat. just remember why you're out there..............it is to ride not sit around taking rest breaks of more than 10 minutes every hr.
And don't go out hard and fast, enjoy the scenery.
And don't go out hard and fast, enjoy the scenery.
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