clayperez

I'm wondering if anyone here has had any experience with long-distance mountain bike tours on fire-road only terrain. I have plotted a course that tapers from 119 miles on day one to 86 miles on day 3. I plan on doing this on Memorial Day weekend with a couple of friends. We are all avid cyclists and race regularly but none of us have ever done a tour of this magnitude before. We're not looking to go into it being completely knowledgeable about every aspect of what we're about to do, but some advice and personal experience would be nice to hear.

Sparing the obvious (water, food, etc...), is it realistic to think that we can keep a 100mile/day pace for three days? I've done 50 mile MTB races at race-pace without any trouble, and could have physically doubled it if it wasn't race-pace. My body says yes, but experience is lacking.

Thanks in advance for any feedback!
Regards,
Carlos

tourbike

Not knowing the terrain as much as you do, and considering this would be a loaded tour, I would be dubious given the information. Notably, your first day is the toughest day, your last the lightest. Very ambitious, I should think. Given that you're traveling as a group, take out time for flats, breaks, and catch-ups (face-plants?) it could cut a lot out of your overall time. I'm not saying it's (potentially) do-able, but very ambitious, considering your lack of loaded experience and the pace...

wheelin

After having done more than a week of dirt road riding in Cambodia with a group of thirty riders, with one day of 100 miles, I'd say that you'll have no problem. I'm sparing the obvious lol.

clayperez

Haha.. You're probably sparing all the panniers too. Just kidding. Thanks for the feedback guys. We're all quite strong riders, and "ambitious" is a good way to put it. If there are problems we can always head back.

What about dreaded saddle-sores? I've never dealt with much more than a sore ass, and I was considering buying some Bag Balm - people seem to rave about it for long-distance stuff.

Camel

I use chamois buttr' occasionally to keep clothes from rubbing/chafing into skin (I wear briefs under bike shorts under regular shorts). Works great. Chafing is probably less of a worry to folks who go commando.

Use good hygiene-wipe down with alcohol wipes after you "go"-keeps things clean and dry.

EDIT: Chamois buttr' - I put some in a little 2 oz squeeze bottle, lasts me longer than a months tour.

jeff williams

100 the first, 60 the second. I'm thinking it would be 4-5 days for me.
I have a 21 lb mtb....I don't think I've ever done a century...
Maybe 75 in a day..once.
Mind you i'm doing 'burst energy' offroad, not protracted XC riding.
No real flatland here.