robbiep said:
Hi Maclean (or anybody else!!)
How did you manage with the relentless mileage that is required for the 9/10 day effort, does it really start to 'come on top' after a few days or did you just manage to grind through it?
I'm concerned that if I've done 2 loaded back to back 100's (as recommended on site) I may be open for a rude awakening after a few days and be a bit 'under cooked', or is this good preparation?
Our plan is a 9 dayer (top to bottom) and we've agreed we like the route you posted on page 7 of this thread, a 120 ish opening day from JOG, 920 ish in total.
With hindsight do you feel like you did enough training or did you feel more long distance rides were required?
Many thanks.....
Rob
Hi Robbie,
First things first, on our last day we cut out that 120mile route for the 100mile one and just went along the costal road, due to us having so many mechanicals we were behind schedule. But not at all a reason for you not to do it, I just don't know that road now.
100 miles a day feels tough at first but after 2 or 3 days you will start getting into the routine. First day or two you'll probabbly be walking like a cowboy every time you get off the bike but once you get on to day4+ you should start becoming adapted to hours in the saddle.
My mates got some nasty knee pains along the way, thankfully I didn't, I can only recommend not being in too high a gear too often putting un necessary strain on the knees. Its a long distance so get in a lower gear and get the legs spinning faster rather than straining them in higher gears, not a race so dont ware yourself out.
Sometimes for very steep hills even the granny gear is tough going with all the weight so sometimes standing up and doing a slow standing pedal is best way of not straining yourself.
1 very important thing I would say is be disaplined with breaks, we had this awful habbit of swanning around town centeres spending way too long and as a result having to grind that much harder and longer later on in the evening.
As long as you have done a good few 75miles+ runs then I think you should be okay just like us.
Not sure if you're camping in campsites or if you're doing what we done and just finding a suitable bit of land anywhere! If the later make sure you know when it gets dark and start your search for a campsite with plenty of time to spare!
You will find yourself and you're mates going through peaks and troughs of strength, i.e you'll feel really strong and fast for a bit, then few hours later you'll feel knackered and someone else will feel strong. Just make sure no one gets left behind!
We wern't exactly the best trained and we managed so I think you should be fine man.
Although be ready for the hills of devon and cornwall near the end! They really are much worse than anything you get in the highlands!
I have done over 1,000 miles in training over the last few months and only had 1 puncture so far. Admittedly I have not yet loaded up the panniers, but I'm pretty heavy (i.e. overweight) so the bike's already carrying a lot of weight! If this is normal I'm going to have to fill one pannier with just spares. My bike is the EBC Country Explorer.I have done over 1,000 miles in training over the last few months and only had 1 puncture so far. Admittedly I have not yet loaded up the panniers, but I'm pretty heavy (i.e. overweight) so the bike's already carrying a lot of weight! If this is normal I'm going to have to fill one pannier with just spares. My bike is the EBC Country Explorer.
