Machka 

I just completed my longest solo ride this past weekend ... my 600 km (373 miles) brevet. 600 kms in 37.5 hours, including all breaks.

Prior to that, my previous longest solo ride was about 400 kms (250 miles).


I don't think I would want to ride solo much further than 600 kms all in one go like that. It gets a little lonely out there, and you find yourself talking to the animals, plants, etc. that you pass by.


How about you ... what's the longest solo ride you've done?

Dead Roman

100 miles. from my house, to my LBS in waco, back to my house. They though i was a nutter.

Bizurke

164 miles on mostly road some trails on a mountain bike with knobby tires. I must say this gave me much appreciation for my road bike. Unfortunatly 100% of my riding is done solo :-(

531Aussie

oh my god, you're a freak!!!

What sort of 'breaks' are you talking about?

I ride pretty much every day, unless it's very wet, and my best run is 62 consecutive riding days, but I've never ridden more than about 125km in one go!! I think I'm scared if I ride too far I might have to take the next day off

formula4

I'm curious also. Did you stay awake the entire time or what?

PartyPat

great effort,
Mine-165km, a mere speck next to that 600k epic.

trmcgeehan

There was an article in Bicycling Magazine recently about Jure Robick (sp?), a member of some obscure European racing team, who unofficially cycled 500 miles in 24 hours. He has won the Race Across America 2-3 times. The title of the article was something like: "That which makes me stronger makes me stranger."
My longest ride was 125 miles, when I participated in a road race from Mexicali to San Felipe, Mexico on the Baja. Took me about 7 hours. This was 25 years ago, when I was around 40. I am still riding the same bike -- a Univega.

spokenword

I did much of my first 300K brevet solo and a lot of my training rides between brevets (normally between 80 and 100K) have also been done solo. I agree that it can get really lonely and is a bit of a mental challenge, but it's also nice not having to ride up to someone else's pace. I tend to ride a little slower than many of my friends (who prefer doing shorter distances at a faster speed) and I feel bad for holding them back. I was fortunate in finding another rider on the 400 who had a pace that was closer to mine, and having his company for 80% of the 400 made a huge difference. Also, riding in New England, one is never more than 5 or 10 miles from a shop or restaurant where you can stop for supplies or meals, and spend some time chatting to storekeepers or waitresses. It's a mental rest stop to go along with the physical break.

Of course, this isn't an option on the long nights of a brevet, but time seems to pass differently then, too.

zimbo

I interpreted "solo ride" to mean by yourself as in not a group and with no SAG. My longest under those conditions is 100 miles.

--Steve

oboeguy

Probably around 80-odd miles is my longest truly solo ride (non-solo around 150+).

spokenword

oh, that's supposed to be "between 80 and 100 mi."

Bockman

You're an aminal, machka.

howsteepisit

102 miles, and that was a long time ago. BAck then it was just over 5 hours. Now I cannot seem to ride faster than 15 mph average.

BlastRadius

Wow, awesome.

El Diablo Rojo

My last trip to LA I did a 125 mile solo ride. It started in Thousand Oaks and included some of the Santa Monica mountains best climbs, Decker Canyon, Stunt Road, Encinal, and Yurba Buena. Next day I did Thousand Oaks/PCH/Mullholland/Decker. That was a great weekend!

The Octopus 

600K in 37.5hrs. without any drafting is whipping it pretty good. Congrats on a great ride! How much of that 37.5 was off-the-bike time? You're definitely getting faster!

I've been scratching my head here, and honestly I don't think I've ever gone much more than 100 miles, maybe 200K, without riding with someone else for at least part of the ride. Soloing for 600K is a pretty mighty feat!

El Diablo Rojo

I'm not sure I like myself that much to spend that much time alone with me

roadfix

Good going!! Can we expect some sort of ride report?..

brunop

you guys are freakin' 'CORE!!! do it up!!

my longest is 62 miles on a fixed fear.

Machka 

A few of you asked about what sort of breaks I took on that 600K ....

I had several (not sure exactly how many) 5-10 minute breaks for using the toilet, eating, taking off my jacket, putting on my jacket, having my brevet card signed, and things like that.

There was one 15-20 minute break for coffee on the second morning.

There was one approx. 20 minute break to change two flat tires.

And I took 3 hours off the bicycle between 2 am and 5 am, during which time I slept 2.5 hours. That is the longest sleep I've ever had on a 600K, by a full hour!


And yes, a full ride report is coming a little later today.

WheresWaldo

Longest ride, solo, no support, no one else to ride with was about 15 yrs ago, Eugene to Bend, OR over the McKensie Pass, 135 miles with only stops to eat and pee.

HAMMER MAN

120 miles when I lived in S. Ca. that was in my thirties, now @ 54 about 75 miles

bigskymacadam

103 miles solo. Great job Machka.

Topper

That's crazy...where do you store everything like jacket, tubes, food etc.. Do you carry a small backpack or an attachment on the bike? Also, where did you sleep and on what?

Hipcycler

Can't you ever get off this distance thing?!






Just teasing you....

72 mi. for me.