Just back from 5 days in the Alps and Dolomites...am shattered and ready to give the bike a rest for a bit...second time out there and it is stunning...if there is anyway that you can make the visit, then do.
Couple of highlights: the 'wrong' way up the Gavia was the hardest climb I have ever done...brutal. Descending the Forzelonga (sp?) into Cortina in a thunderstorm with carbon rims (I use Zipp 303s) was 'interesting' to say the least, the Giau is a beast and climbing the Stelvio with a load of blokes on Bromptons will live in the memory...few pics on my f/book for those who know me or Instagram @mattowense10 Will upload to strava as and when my bike and Garmin make it back on Euro Tunnel...
enjoyed following it on instagram! (the pics of the beers mainly....)
Just back from 5 days in the Alps and Dolomites...am shattered and ready to give the bike a rest for a bit...second time out there and it is stunning...if there is anyway that you can make the visit, then do.
Couple of highlights: the 'wrong' way up the Gavia was the hardest climb I have ever done...brutal. Descending the Forzelonga (sp?) into Cortina in a thunderstorm with carbon rims (I use Zipp 303s) was 'interesting' to say the least, the Giau is a beast and climbing the Stelvio with a load of blokes on Bromptons will live in the memory...few pics on my f/book for those who know me or Instagram @mattowense10 Will upload to strava as and when my bike and Garmin make it back on Euro Tunnel...
enjoyed following it on instagram! (the pics of the beers mainly....)
@JohnBoyUK he had an operation yesterday to put a screw in his neck as he had cracked a vertebrae...recovering well and sending me abusive emails from hospital bed... Did it on day one the descent of the Gavia - came round a corner to find a lorry blocking his path...was enough of a gap but another cyclist (not one of us) headed there too and slammed the brakes on rather than coasting through, so Typo went right in to the back of him, over him and hit a bollard at the side of the road...he was lucky to get away with a broken (cracked) neck only - if he'd gone off the side he'd be dead now.. Another close call on Monday cycling back over the lido from Venice - dual carriage way (only way on and off) and one of the riders got his wheel stuck in a tram track at 35kph - flew across the road right in to the path of another car but managed to tuck his head away at the last minute, or he'd have been squashed...as it is, just severe cuts and road rash... All good fun!
Good luck - first 100 mile ride is always a good achievement. Regarding cadence, I'm the worst ever at heeding this advice, because I'm in the big ring 98% of the time, but it helps to ride at a higher cadence in a smaller gear. You save your legs that way and are able to keep turning much more efficiently when you get fatigued.
Re: fuelling, make sure you drink enough - take two bidons and fill one with water and the other with an electrolyte replacement fluid (hi 5 or similar). Jelly babies or something like them are good for getting carbs inside you - a couple every fifteen minutes are good, if you can't use gels. Aim to eat 'real' food at each stop - you should be on a three stop schedule for that distance if it's your first 100 miler - flapjacks, bananas etc
Good luck!
Re the stops, how long should I stop for? I'm thinking 15 minutes or so but is that right.
Good luck - first 100 mile ride is always a good achievement. Regarding cadence, I'm the worst ever at heeding this advice, because I'm in the big ring 98% of the time, but it helps to ride at a higher cadence in a smaller gear. You save your legs that way and are able to keep turning much more efficiently when you get fatigued.
Re: fuelling, make sure you drink enough - take two bidons and fill one with water and the other with an electrolyte replacement fluid (hi 5 or similar). Jelly babies or something like them are good for getting carbs inside you - a couple every fifteen minutes are good, if you can't use gels. Aim to eat 'real' food at each stop - you should be on a three stop schedule for that distance if it's your first 100 miler - flapjacks, bananas etc
Good luck!
Re the stops, how long should I stop for? I'm thinking 15 minutes or so but is that right.
Stop too long and you'll seize up. Oh and dont each TOO much. You'll regret it, especially if you've got climbing involved. The blood rushes to your stomach to help you digest the food, drawing blood away from your legs.
Good luck - first 100 mile ride is always a good achievement. Regarding cadence, I'm the worst ever at heeding this advice, because I'm in the big ring 98% of the time, but it helps to ride at a higher cadence in a smaller gear. You save your legs that way and are able to keep turning much more efficiently when you get fatigued.
Re: fuelling, make sure you drink enough - take two bidons and fill one with water and the other with an electrolyte replacement fluid (hi 5 or similar). Jelly babies or something like them are good for getting carbs inside you - a couple every fifteen minutes are good, if you can't use gels. Aim to eat 'real' food at each stop - you should be on a three stop schedule for that distance if it's your first 100 miler - flapjacks, bananas etc
Good luck!
Re the stops, how long should I stop for? I'm thinking 15 minutes or so but is that right.
Stop too long and you'll seize up. Oh and dont each TOO much. You'll regret it, especially if you've got climbing involved. The blood rushes to your stomach to help you digest the food, drawing blood away from your legs.
So a light snack, a stretch, a visit to the loo and away then. About 15 to 20 minutes.
Have been cycling between Prague and Budapest over the past week or so. Had a big off in Hungary at about 25mph and incredibly lucky to just suffer road rash and bad brusing. Split second different and the metal fence I wrapped myself around would have meant broken bones and a hospital visit.
Work over there but been on holiday for a few weeks, intending to spend my lunch break in there on Monday.
Just browsing now for a commuting backpack to complete my kit.
Bought new shorts, top and waterproof from Aldi as recommended on here. £8 per item and seek decent.
I use a Karrimor Urban 30 - From SportsDirect about £15. It secures across the front at the top and bottom, and is 30l in capacity.. More than enough for commuting. Padded back as well as two side mesh pockets.
Had my first one for 4 years before a zip went and have only just replaced it. If you shop around you can get them for circa £55 quid. They do some lairy colours so are good for standing out to drivers as well.
London to Paris ride was cancelled last weekend due to the f***ing French port blockade at Calais. It's now been rescheduled to September 5-7 - two weeks before I do a 24 hour time trial at Brands Hatch. Won't have much trouble making my monthly mileage target that month!
So I can average about 15mph on my mtb now, having fiddled with it a bit and top end on a flat surface I have hit was 19.5mph for about 1/2 a mile. Would a roady or road tires improve that much (i asked a similar question before I 'tuned' my MTB but I don't want to have to go spending wads on new tires if i'm only going to gain 1-2 mph.
I'm currently averaging around 16-18mph on my road bike. This is based on a return route from Danson Park to Canary Wharf, via Shooters Hill. Top speed is circa 40mph.
I'm currently averaging around 16-18mph on my road bike. This is based on a return route from Danson Park to Canary Wharf, via Shooters Hill. Top speed is circa 40mph.
That's about what I average on a commute. Slower than on a 'proper' ride, but great training for racing because the lights make it so stop/start
I hit 53mph on the descent of Box Hill on Saturday - fastest I've been since my accident and it was on aero rims. Had a bit of a wobble and shit myself so clamped on the anchors and coasted the rest of the way
Yeah agreed although lights are so frustrating when you're cruising along at a decent pace. My commute is only about 10 miles each way but nature of route helps to build up stamina. Now beginning to be aggressive up Shooters Hill rather than struggling and gasping for air.
I try and get a longer ride in at the weekend and currently up to around 30 miles. Aiming to get to Box Hill and back by the end of the summer.
On around 1200km a month at the moment. Not finding that too difficult with the weather like it is - it'll get tougher when it starts pissing down again though.
@Dazzler 21 - you will go much faster on a road bike...18/19 mph is a 'cruising'/commuting speed on a road bike (depending how hard you pedal of course!)....new tyres on an MTB will only add the 1 or 2 mph you talk about I reckon...
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https://www.strava.com/routes/2708350
Stay safe !
Just looking at their website, proper bike porn in there!
Just browsing now for a commuting backpack to complete my kit.
Bought new shorts, top and waterproof from Aldi as recommended on here. £8 per item and seek decent.
Bomb proof and also good water proofing.
Had my first one for 4 years before a zip went and have only just replaced it. If you shop around you can get them for circa £55 quid. They do some lairy colours so are good for standing out to drivers as well.
redhookcrit.com
8.5 hours in the saddle which I'm very happy with. Can't wait to do it again next year.
;-)
pubpit stops did you make?I hit 53mph on the descent of Box Hill on Saturday - fastest I've been since my accident and it was on aero rims. Had a bit of a wobble and shit myself so clamped on the anchors and coasted the rest of the way
I try and get a longer ride in at the weekend and currently up to around 30 miles. Aiming to get to Box Hill and back by the end of the summer.
It does take in Richmond Park, however, which is great
Currently aiming for 700 per month but it's proving tough!