Building up to longer distances

[gavgav]

Seriously no need for this when he is already knocking out 40 milers. Just ride the extra 10 miles, but ride it at 10% lower effort if you need to.

Wasn't suggesting there was, I was posting as to how I worked up to do that mileage!

 

[Fab Foodie]

Is there any specific way to build up to doing a 50 mile ride as I have seen a 50 mile sportive that I would like to take part in .do you just go further every time you go out or is there a more precise science to it .have done 40 miles a few times but not yet gone up to 50

50 mile Sportive you say?

Well first you'll need a new bike, at least £3k Carbon Campag, something by Pinarello or Bianchi, you know, Italian .... Trek is soooo passe these days and Specialized/Giant too common, then kit, it must be Rapha or Team Sky. Make sure ancillary equipment is made by Lezyne and your shoes are white with ratchets.
FFS, don't forget yer Gel bars. You may have Pasta loaded the night before but you'll be farked doing 50 miles without at least 10 Gel bars. Have you read and completed the Bike Radar 112 point plan to riding a Sportive? If not you're bu99ered. Make sure your helmet costs >£120 otherwise you'll be laughed at. Shave your legs. Did I mention Gelbars? get some. At least 20 .... and Protein recovery shakes. Schitt, I nearly forgot Energy Drink, Rehydration Tabs and Caffiene. You'll need all of these. Make sure you have compression tights for afterwards and enough ice for the bath. Finally Strava, bl00dy make sure you're fully conversant with Strava otherwise everyone will take the p155 and your day will be ruined.
Enjoy.

 

[ianrauk]

don't forget yer Gel bars

Did I mention Gelbars?

At least 20

And don't forget to throw the empty wrappers into the hedge rows. You don't want to get sticky goo in your Sky jersey back pocket.

 

[Fab Foodie]

And don't forget to throw the empty wrappers into the hedge rows. You don't want to get sticky goo in your Sky jersey back pocket.

.... and your dead inner tubes and CO2 cartridges ...
And remember that in the New Forest it is customary to Sch1tt on the village greens :-)

 

[jefmcg]

If you are riding 40 miles in January, eschew the 50 mile sportive. Unless it's in the next 3 weeks, aim for something bigger, 80 or 100 miles. You should be able to do this from your base.

Hell, follow @Fab Foodie's advice, and your grandma could do it. Gels are the trick to riding sportives.

 

[Montydog]

Is there any specific way to build up to doing a 50 mile ride as I have seen a 50 mile sportive that I would like to take part in .do you just go further every time you go out or is there a more precise science to it .have done 40 miles a few times but not yet gone up to 50

think you will be fine fella........I only did upto 30 miles 3 times a week and did a 100k sportive on probs....like others have said, nice an steady at start....drink and eat and you will survive

 

[Kajjal]

Just take it easy and have a rucksack with 10kg of haribo on your back for the energy boost

Its all about pacing yourself for the conditions. I spent an hour and a half pedaling into a strong wind Saturday, but by holding back enough was in good shape for the wind assisted return. Also food and drink are important.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Up till last September i hadn't done anymore than a 35 mile ride since in my 20's. Then i joined a club,my first ride out was 55 miles. I was tiring after 30 odd miles but i kept going, you have to or get left behind. After a few 50 odd milers it became easier and now it's no harder than 30 odd miles though a little more time consuming.

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

Longer distances are often largely influenced by just state of mind. If you set out to ride 100 miles you'll do it. But if you set out to ride 50 miles and then after finishing try to persuade yourself to ride another 50 then most of us would fail.

 

[bozmandb9]

Is there any specific way to build up to doing a 50 mile ride as I have seen a 50 mile sportive that I would like to take part in .do you just go further every time you go out or is there a more precise science to it .have done 40 miles a few times but not yet gone up to 50

As others have said, an extra 10 miles is no really relevant. UNLESS- well it's elevation which really counts isn't it. Which Sportuve? What's the elevation profile? It could be easier than your regular 40 miles, could be a killer, all down to the hills. But the group effect will likely see you through even if you've been riding pancake routes (unlikely in your neck of the woods).

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

The other thing about longer distances is to be prepared for ups and downs. You don't just start feeling good then gradually go downhill from there. You can have spells of feeling absolutely stuffed then 30 mins later be feeling right as rain again. So if you start feeling bad take a break, have some food, tell yourself you'll be fine after another few miles.

 

[Ajax Bay]

if you start feeling bad

give yourself a stiff talking to, change down a gear, think 'turn the pedal axle in a circle' rather than 'push down on the pedals', and help yourself to a few jellybabies, washed down with water your preferred 'sports drink' solution.

 

[Tin Pot]

Is there any specific way to build up to doing a 50 mile ride as I have seen a 50 mile sportive that I would like to take part in .do you just go further every time you go out or is there a more precise science to it .have done 40 miles a few times but not yet gone up to 50

As others have said, if "surviving" is your concern, don't be concerned. You'll complete.

On the other hand, if you want to build up your performance to make it easier and/or more enjoyable, there are some free plans here:

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/knowledge/training-plans

In my humble opinion, three rides a week would help most people something like: 2hr tempo ride, 1hr hard indoor or hill ride, and a varying long ride 2-4hrs at an easier pace.

 

[jefmcg]

So if you start feeling bad take a break, have some food, tell yourself you'll be fine after another few miles.

give yourself a stiff talking to, change down a gear, think 'turn the pedal axle in a circle' rather than 'push down on the pedals', and help yourself to a few jellybabies, washed down with water your preferred 'sports drink' solution.

I prefer @Flick of the Elbow approach for a novice. A sit down (on the grass or with coffee and cake) can bring the spirits (and glycogen?) back up pretty quickly. I've taken several people London to Brighton who really only could cycle 10 miles or so. But with a good break every 10 miles you can pretty well recover completely, so a 60 mile ride becomes 6 10 miles rides, which they can do.

Powering through has it's uses, but if you are close to bonking, it's miserable, and you will just get slower and slower and sadder and sadder.

 

[BEHMOTH66]

I'd only done 2 40 mile rides before I did Manchester to Blackpool which is 63 miles and half the miles were rolled away while chatting while riding, and as in an above post lots of fluids and some food