Originally Posted by
the beef
I've done this ride once before and averaged 19.8 mph over those 200 miles, split up into two days. That was two years ago, when I was fifteen, putting out 4.1 watts/kg on climbs and riding solo centuries every other week. I'm now seventeen years old, still pretty fit, but not nearly as active.
Any advice? I AM going to do it, there's no talking me out of it (chalk it up to youthful overconfidence and stubbornness) but advice about pacing, nutrition, precautions etc. would help. How should I use my one week of time in Seattle when I return?
First of all, you'll do fine so long as you do it vaguely smart.
I strongly recommend that you do not take a speedometer. You may be fit, but your legs aren't in condition. If you try to average anywhere near 20mph, you will be sooooooo hurting long before you get to the halfway mark.
Don't let pride screw you up. You're a young guy, you're trim and in shape compared to most people -- and it's going to be painful when women and guys in their 40's and 50's are dropping you like a rock. Let them by. They really are stronger cyclists than you even if you don't think they look it. If you try to hold a pace that you shouldn't, your legs will be screaming in pain later as you putter along at some pitiful rate while overweight people on hybrids pass you.
Like the others say, eat, drink, and see if you can do a 50 or 60 mile ride the week before to calibrate yourself. Just take it easy (particularly on the first day), and you'll be fine. If you save your stuff up, you can ride much faster the second day.