Cruising speed?

[chasm54]

My point is that you don't need to stop riding to rest and recover. You can do it on the bike. Of course, there will be times when you really have to stop and sit down, but you can keep that to a minimum by getting better at on-bike recovery.

Personally, on most events where I'm riding alone I try to ride the first 200k without any more off-bike time than is necessary to deal with getting my card signed, bottles filled, food purchased, layers added/removed and bladder emptied. Everything else is done on the bike. After the first 200k, I might allow myself a few minutes every 100k or so to sit and eat something real, but I still try to do my real resting on the bike by just slowing down.

Spot on. A few years ago I found myself riding alongside a guy who had placed fourth in our national 24-hour TT championship. He said that in the course of the 24 hours he had spent 15 minutes off the bike.

[contango]

Resting on the bike makes a lot of sense, must get some practise in at eating and drinking on the move. Today I was riding in a regular T-shirt rather than a jersey but still tried to figure using one hand to fiddle in a back pocket to reach for something while riding. At present I find I can freewheel one-handed quite easily, I can keep pedalling with my left hand off the bars, but if I pedal with my right hand off the bars I'm not so stable.

Something else to work on

If I didn't already say it (and I'm not sure I did) thanks everyone for replies. I do appreciate the pointers.

[berner]

My longer rides come mid-summer, when my endurance is up, are in the 45 to 70 mile range. These rides, especially if I'm pushing the pace, lead to cramping in my right calf. I came across recommendations for a product called Sport Legs. I've begun to use it and cramps seem to be much diminished. Has anyone else used this product and if so, with what results?

[bikenh]

I haven't worn a jersey in years now. Either I go topless or I havea t-shirt on during the summer months. Generally once it starts to get into the upper 50s in the AM/start time I go topless and carry a shirt with me in a daypack on my back. I use an old fanny pack that fits on my handlebars like a charm. I put food and extra water bottles in the fanny pack and pull food out of the fanny all the time while I'm not climbing or starting/stopping at stop lights. I was constantly on the eat during my 198 mile ride/211 mile day back on Monday. I've gotten so use to it in the two times I've been doing that I don't think a thing about it anymore. It all comes down to having everything in the fanny pack/handlebar bag organized. Granted I don't have a sense of taste or smell so it only food to me and not anything more than that.

[Homeyba]

I haven't worn a jersey in years now. Either I go topless or I havea t-shirt on during the summer months. Generally once it starts to get into the upper 50s in the AM/start time I go topless and carry a shirt with me in a daypack on my back. I use an old fanny pack that fits on my handlebars like a charm. I put food and extra water bottles in the fanny pack and pull food out of the fanny all the time while I'm not climbing or starting/stopping at stop lights. I was constantly on the eat during my 198 mile ride/211 mile day back on Monday. I've gotten so use to it in the two times I've been doing that I don't think a thing about it anymore. It all comes down to having everything in the fanny pack/handlebar bag organized. Granted I don't have a sense of taste or smell so it only food to me and not anything more than that.

Hope you're using sunscreen.

[Six jours]

My "cruising" speed is 16-17 MPH. So far as I know I can do that essentially forever, as long as I have a steady supply of food and drink. My average speed tends to be about 12 MPH. This invariably shocks me, but apparently any time spent at 0 MPH has a strongly negative effect...

I cramp when my electrolytes get out of balance, which happens when I ride in the summer with water in my bottles. Popping the occasional tab of Endurolytes (or equivalent from any other manufacturer) solves that problem for me. (So does Gatorade in the bottles, but I always end those rides covered in sticky and dead things.)

[contango]

I haven't worn a jersey in years now. Either I go topless or I havea t-shirt on during the summer months. Generally once it starts to get into the upper 50s in the AM/start time I go topless and carry a shirt with me in a daypack on my back. I use an old fanny pack that fits on my handlebars like a charm. I put food and extra water bottles in the fanny pack and pull food out of the fanny all the time while I'm not climbing or starting/stopping at stop lights. I was constantly on the eat during my 198 mile ride/211 mile day back on Monday. I've gotten so use to it in the two times I've been doing that I don't think a thing about it anymore. It all comes down to having everything in the fanny pack/handlebar bag organized. Granted I don't have a sense of taste or smell so it only food to me and not anything more than that.

I need something to cover me or I will burn. I tried using a cheap jersey recently and found I really liked it (and, being a heavier rider, liked the fact I could fit in it without looking like a quart in a pint pot). When I wore a regular T-shirt yesterday I found it didn't breathe as well and I got home much hotter and sweatier than I would have been in the jersey.

Must look at the fanny pack on the handlebars approach, although handlebar space is at a premium for me.

[chasm54]

My "cruising" speed is 16-17 MPH. So far as I know I can do that essentially forever, as long as I have a steady supply of food and drink. My average speed tends to be about 12 MPH. This invariably shocks me, but apparently any time spent at 0 MPH has a strongly negative effect...

You appear to be me, but with better bike-handling skills. I've often wondered how long, properly fed and watered, (and catheterised, i guess) I could cruise along at about 16mph if only I could stay awake...

[Six jours]

I'm better looking, too.

[chasm54]

I'm better looking, too.

LOL. Maybe even wittier.

Once I've learned how to steer a preceding rider's rear wheel with my front wheel, I'll give you an argument. Until then, I'll stay humble.

[Six jours]

Spend a couple of hours on it and it'll be yours forever.

I, however, will still be better looking.

[c.miller64]

just wondering if there's specific training I need to be doing here.

If you want to achieve a faster long distance "cruising speed". IMHO there is only one way- interval training.

A few years ago, before adding intervals to my training, I was lucky to average 16-17mph (not including stops) for flat century rides. Recently I was able to average over 17mph in a 24hr race (including stops).

[Gnosis]

...but I speed up at around 100 miles because my body has finally given in and said, "he's not stopping, we must be running from something dangerous".