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Having done my first 100km sole and then a few more 65/70 milers in recent weeks I'm becoming more interested in challenging myself to a 100 mile or so Sportive.
However having only ridden 71 miles, not overly knackered at the end but do t feel I could have done another 30miles, I'm wondering if riding in a group and the occasion could spur me to the extra miles?
I've only ever ridden solo apart from the odd time somebody's drafted me and returned the further randomly for a few miles a couple of times so not sure also if I can tag onto a group what the real world benefit in miles would be. Also ve no idea of the etiquette for joining or asking to tag onto a group.
Any feedback is appreciated.
I'm looking at the ride Ribblesdale ride as my first one, steady miles and climbing and I've ridden most of ribble side before it ventures into the dales so at least I know what's in store in part.
http://www.ribblevalleyride.org/100m-elite/
Any other soloists that are thinking of entering let me know and maybe we can team up. I only average 14/15mph over a 60/70 mile ride with 4000/5000 ft of climbing just so you know if I'll slow you down or not.
Potentially have a look at Audax
Generally a more friendly bunch as its a ride to complete, rather than a 'race'.
If you can ride that distance on your own, its easy to tick off the extra miles chatting to someone random, and you'll always find someone to ride with.
Effective riding in a group needs to be disciplined to be effective, so not something i'd recommend without experience.
100 is just a number.. You could roll out your front door tomorrow and do it. Just eat and drink plenty at a sensible pace.. Easy up the bigger hills. It just gets a bit boring talking to yourself for 6 hours
I'd say if you've ridden 70miles solo than a 100 mile Sportive shouldn't pose any problem- you'll be fine. There's no need to "race" it at all if you're just aiming to finish.
Generally speaking for any event, I'd personally only aim to train up to 3/4rs of the total distance/ascent anyway. I'd do the rest on the day.
Nothing to add over what Duggan has said, you'll be fine.
Cheers for that chew, the audax also seem a lot low priced, I take it these are smaller affairs and may not have the support, food stops, broom wagon?? I'm in fear that I may need the broom wagon or at least it makes me feel better knowing there is one.
If you're feeling a bit knackered when you get to Gargrave, just hop on the train to Settle and pick up from there. No-one will be any the wiser. 🙂
Bugger, I'd have done it with you as it's just down the road from me. First day of our holiday though. Got my first sportive booked over in Ripon on the 24th.
[stw_grumpy] just need to learn how to throw gel wrappers, suck wheels and ride on the wrong side of the road[/stw_grumpy]
Good fun, easy to follow just get out and do one. 100miles isn't that far
Do sportives have broom wagons?
Are any audax 'only' 100 miles?
Are any audacious 'only' 100 miles?
I think they start at 1,000,000 miles and requires a specialist miserable training course and surgical shoulder chip op first.
You'll be fine - if you can do 70mi then a few more gels and some determination will get you to 100 no bother.
Don't be tempted to race it, been there done that, and all you end up with is a memory of suffering, take your time, take in the views and have a nice chat with people going a similar speed.
Are any audax 'only' 100 miles?
Audax tend to do their distances in km being a French run / devised format , hence 100, 200, 400, etc. Maybe post brexit we can do 100 miles and give them a good British name #[i]takingbackcontrol[/i]
I've done the Ribble Valley Ride 100miler for the last two years. Doing the Sam Houghton the day before this year though, so as of yet haven't decided to enter this years ride.
Oh, & as for:
If you're feeling a bit knackered when you get to Gargrave, just hop on the train to Settle and pick up from there. No-one will be any the wiser.
If you are feeling knackered by Gargrave, you'll definitely be in trouble, as this years route is being done in reverse to the previous ones, so Gargrave comes early on in the ride.
Having done my first sportive not all that long I'd highly recommend it. I did the 100 miler CX route and it was easy especially if you're regularly covering 70 miles. My average a few months lead up was 100 miles over a week. I'd have no hesitation doing it solo now either as everyone was very friendly and chatty. They didn't mind me tagging along in places as well as my mate was miles back at the time!
I always think what seems a lot on your own can seem an easy ride in good company. For the first time in a while I did a big group ride this week. Nowhere near the 100 but it's all relative to what's normal.
Fantastic, friendly atmosphere, great riding and the ebb and flow of the group and the ability to share the wind or break the rhythm for a bit and have a quick chat really shortened the whole thing mentally.
Battling on for miles on your own is, I think, the real killer if you don't have that distraction/mental block. I know people who find that easy, me when I'm stretching myself I like someone to suffer with!
Good luck and remember to pocket those gel wrappers!
Edit: I'm now wondering what sportive/audax type ride next but I could do with a bit of a group manners/hand signals input that doesn't involve chain gangs!
If you're fit enough to do 70 miles, I really wouldn't stress it. Long distance is a mental game and just all about pacing yourself. It's an extra couple of hours in the saddle, so the main thing is being comfortable on the bike over that time.
The only thing that would really make a difference, is if you're going out into a different area with more climbing than you're used to. Otherwise you'll likely find some benefit of drafting - just be careful not to try to match the pace of faster riders!
Don't think about it too much, just do it.
Until last month the furthest I'd ever cycled was 80 miles, then I did the Dirty Reiver around Kielder Forest, my Garmin recorded 123 miles and 12000ft of climbing!
Ensure you drink and eat enough during the ride and your body will keep going, the rest is just the mental will to continue when every bit of your body is hurting.
On a Sportive you'll get some banter with other folk, take a break at the feed stations, and remember it's not a race, just aim to finish the event and have fun!
As others have said I'm sure you'll be fine.
I'm doing the Taunton Flyer next weekend, at 111 miles it'll be the longest ride I've ever done, the longest ride I've done recently is about 40 miles.
I'm only a bit worried..
When I booked my first 100 mile sportive I'd never ridden more than 35 miles in one go. I did a long ride a couple of weeks before and did 76 then the 100 on the day. I went out far far far too fast and stick with a group that was only doing the middle distance so ended up on my own for the last 40 odd miles. It was a struggle but managed it ok.
TL;DR version. You'll be fine just start slower than you think you should and build up.
Think minimal gains. Don't pedal on the down hills and take it easy on the ups.
You'll be fine if you've already done 70+.
It's really just a number. First 100km seems like a challenge, first 100 miles seems like a challenge and so on. If you're riding regularly and can do 100km, 100 miles is actually not that much harder as long as you don't absolutely cane it at the start and you remember to eat and drink. My first long event I got sucked into a group and forgot to eat/drink properly and blew up a bit around 100km in and despite a long stop, never really got the mojo back which made the rest quite tough. Lesson learned though.
Looking back I should just have enjoyed it all a bit more and taken it easy, as if I was on a solo ride or a ride with a couple of mates.