London-Edinburgh-London 2013: The thread

[arallsopp]

I have one more ride to do for my SR this year....Wish us luck!

Good luck, both. Sounds like an amazing ride. It'll be good to have knowledge of the route ahead of the day. I'd imagine you'll both save a fair amount of nervous energy on the day if you've got a memory of what the turns look like.

Plus, good luck to McShroom. The 400 eluded me many times in '09, and its a great one to have.

Andy

 

[Tynan]

Given the time of year, presumably an early start each day means all the riding can be done in daylight, or at least not at night?

 

[martint235]

Apart from the first 24 hours, my plan A is to ride during the day

 

[Trickedem]

We picked the right time for this. Progressing well. We left Thurrock at 6pm. 13 hours in we are 276km in, with less than 200km left to do today. Sun is up and Yorkshire beckons.

 

[Tynan]

Apart from the first 24 hours, my plan A is to ride during the day

that's to get a buffer?

doesn't quite answer the question though

surely riding when tired is going to spoil it a bit and starting it tired is going to mean tired for the whole time?

 

[yello]

Given the time of year, presumably an early start each day means all the riding can be done in daylight, or at least not at night?

Correct.

It'd be wise to be prepared for events to scupper any plan though. I'd advise you ride overnight at least once as a part of your preparation (note I don't call it 'training'!). Not just for you but also to ensure the bike, lights, etc are good to go.

 

[rb58]

Deckertim of this parish and I rode the outbound leg this week. We rode from the Dartford Crossing, picked up the route in Loughton and then made our way to Edinburgh.

50 1/4 hours elapsed time. 460 miles.

Learning.
1. It's hard.
2. It's very hard.
3. The Fens is boring beyond compare and will be tough if there's a headwind. You will pray for a hill. A corner. Anything.
4. The hills proper start at 200 miles.
There are no insane hills, but fatigued legs make even the normally easiest a challenge towards the end of a leg.
5. Riding the first 300 miles in one hit is not a good plan.
6. Eat proper food whenever you can - sandwiches and cereal bars is not good enough.
7. If you lose your appetite, force it down. Little and often. Don't forget this.
(I bonked about 4 miles from the end and it wasn't until later that I realised how little I'd eaten during the preceding 16 hours)
8. Be sure you are comfortable on your bike, especially the saddle. A Saturday club run is not the same as 48 hours solid.
9. They do a good roast dinner at the Gretna Green visitor centre. That's the only reason to stop there. And don't expect any veg!
9. Don't do it if you expect to enjoy it.


I'm sure once my body and mind have healed I'll be able to provide some more considered advice!

I'm now heading to the station for a well deserved 5 hour sit down journey back to London.

Later.

EDIT: corrected the distance to miles, not km)

 

[arallsopp]

Sound advice there. Thanks.

 

[mcshroom]

I bailed out with a rear wheel problem early on yesterday. Unfortunately it also gave me time to think about riding through the night on my own with a massive distance still to go, and I've decided I'm sticking to rides up to 200km for the time being. I think that means I'm out of LEL

 

[arallsopp]

Sorry to hear this. Hope you can find a pace buddy on the 200s, as there's no need to ride LEL on your own. My experience (on a recumbent) had me in a different speed profile from the uprights, so I know the difficulties of the lone rider.

 

[PpPete]

With 750 riders on the road you'll not be on your own much.

And 5 days of 16-18 hours should be enough to get you round with very little night riding.

Sent from my HTC Wildfire S A510e using Tapatalk 2

 

[Tynan]

Deckertim of this parish and I rode the outbound leg this week. We rode from the Dartford Crossing, picked up the route in Loughton and then made our way to Edinburgh.

50 1/4 hours elapsed time. 460 miles.

Learning.
1. It's hard.
2. It's very hard.
3. The Fens is boring beyond compare and will be tough if there's a headwind. You will pray for a hill. A corner. Anything.
4. The hills proper start at 200 miles.
There are no insane hills, but fatigued legs make even the normally easiest a challenge towards the end of a leg.
5. Riding the first 300 miles in one hit is not a good plan.
6. Eat proper food whenever you can - sandwiches and cereal bars is not good enough.
7. If you lose your appetite, force it down. Little and often. Don't forget this.
(I bonked about 4 miles from the end and it wasn't until later that I realised how little I'd eaten during the preceding 16 hours)
8. Be sure you are comfortable on your bike, especially the saddle. A Saturday club run is not the same as 48 hours solid.
9. They do a good roast dinner at the Gretna Green visitor centre. That's the only reason to stop there. And don't expect any veg!
9. Don't do it if you expect to enjoy it.


I'm sure once my body and mind have healed I'll be able to provide some more considered advice!

I'm now heading to the station for a well deserved 5 hour sit down journey back to London.

Later.

EDIT: corrected the distance to miles, not km)

hmmm, not all good news there is it, and you're a rather good rider aintcha

I don't care for 1,2 and 9, especialy 9

the idea of turning round and riding back didn't appeal I take it?

 

[martint235]

hmmm, not all good news there is it, and you're a rather good rider aintcha

I don't care for 1,2 and 9, especialy 9

the idea of turning round and riding back didn't appeal I take it?

I think that this is one of those things that if you start worrying about it, you'll never do it. Remember that the average age of entrants is way, way above yours and the vast majority (iirc around 90%) succeed.

 

[Tynan]

yes but I do have a childish dream that I might enjoy it, granted in a perhaps grimly determined way

I think I've made my mind up now anyway, I nearly asked the LBS to sponsor me on Friday

not sure anout 'way, way, what is the average age?

 

[martint235]

I'm not sure that enjoying is on the agenda really. It's a challenge with a sense of achievement at the end hopefully. I'm expecting to be cursing my bike by day 4

I'm sure I read somewhere that it's around 59 but I've just tried finding where I'd read that and I can't!