Originally Posted by somnambulant
I had been planning on doing it this year.. but my training plan has sort of fallen apart. I'll see how I feel leading up to it. I might do the overnight TNT that happens a couple weeks before and maybe a 200k brevet or two with the randonneurs and see how that feels. *shrug* Playin' it by ear.
you know what? doing a brevet is totally different as you are required to stop every 50km or so, and the guys who ride it are not the same type of rider that does the hairshirt. i would say that if you can do a short brevet, you can do the hairshirt no problem so long as you maintain the pace you're comfortable at. if you plan on doing a brevet let me know as i should probably show up for a ride and renew my membership. i'm not sure how much an overnight ride will prepare you for a double century.
and cam, you won't cramp or barf so long as you've got your food situation dialled in (of course i type this as i'm eating brownies and drinking beer). i had a big old bonkfest happening my during my first hairshirt because i tried to hang with some fast riders until niagara, didn't eat, didn't drink enough etc. that's why i think if we fixed gear riders do the ride and stick together and leave no man behind we'll be fine. remember, the ride is pretty much pancake flat and scenic. think about it.