London-Edinburgh-London 2013: The thread

[Arch]

Oh, and I'd said I wanted to do a century by the end of May. I'm running out of time. I may manage it this weekend, but I've got a lot of stuff to do before the holiday...

So that might slip. But then I have two weeks of 50 miles a day coming up, and I'll maybe get the century in soon after I get back.

 

[Ian H]

Training...there are loads of Audax rides around the country - just choose your distance.
Training for LEL...Paris-Brest-Paris is next year. It's excellent preparation for LEL.

 

[Amanda P]

I've managed to do two 100s and a 150 km audax. So it's stepping up gradually.

Was thinking of trying the Hull 200 this weekend (which would make me a Randonneur 500!) but I'm going to be busy doing something else.

Still, 2013 is still a way off... I still aim to become a Randonneru 500 this year. Baby steps.

 

[Greenbank]

You can also think of training in terms of time rather than distance. Before LEL 09 I was travelling around Chile and Argentina for the whole of November and December 2008 so my training didn't start until January 2009. Two months off the bike meant my fitness at dropped massively.

In 2009 my total hours (moving time, not elapsed time of rides) were:-

Jan: 27h
Feb: 23h
Mar: 61h
Apr: 27h
May: 41h
Jun: 39h
Jul: 26h (obviously not including the 70 hours of LEL).

 

[arallsopp]

Very interesting Greenbank. Wish I had my cyclogs data from the year, but suspect I went some way over your numbers in April / May. Baseline from start of year was 6 hours (moving) minimum commute per week. By April I was aiming for 18 hour(+) single day efforts about once a fortnight. Not that it all happened, of course, and I might have been better to have spent an hour shopping online for spare parts

I'm not sure I'd have had the confidence to tackle LEL before managing a 400km, even if it was an unofficial day ride.

 

[PpPete]

I've managed to do two 100s and a 150 km audax. So it's stepping up gradually.

Was thinking of trying the Hull 200 this weekend (which would make me a Randonneur 500!) but I'm going to be busy doing something else.

Still, 2013 is still a way off... I still aim to become a Randonneru 500 this year. Baby steps.

Similar really.
Done a 100km and a 150km so far. And my next local 200km is on a date when I have child care responsibilities. May just have to haul littl'un around the 100km on the tandem. Flattish 70km is OK on the tandem, lumpy 100km I suspect will be quite a challenge, but I better get used to it because I think the little beggar is going to want to do most of our JoGLE as tandem stoker rather than support vehicle navigator!

Not sure I'm too worried about Randonneur awards until I've an SR series under my belt... hopefully 2012.

 

[Nuncio]

Remeber porkypete and Uncle Phil, that when you complete a 200km Audax you become a 'randonneur'. And that's for life! In Audax terms it's the shortest long distance event, if you see what I mean. I found that distance quite a stepping stone - not that I didn't gain pride and a sense of achievement in the 100s and 150 which preceded it.

 

[mcshroom]

I'm slowly upping the mileage, and added two extra 25 mile training rides on weekday evening to my commutes. I'm touring for 4 days next month and looking at the Three Bridges 160 at the end of July (so hopefully a couple 75 milers before hand)

Oh and just ordered a dawes vantage to train on rather than my unreliable hybrid

 

[Arch]

I feel very dedicated with my extra miles. Today I didn't feel so great this morning, so went straight in (3 miles), meaning I needed to do more this evening to keep up the 10 per day average. Anyway, I detoured over the river, and down the riverside path, and just after Skeldergate bridge, caught up with my boss who'd left after me, and come a more direct route. Down as far as the Millennium Bridge, and I was up to 49 for the week (that includes 10 on Sunday), so it was a u-turn and back home to finish on 50ish.

I'll stick to 10 a day for next week, except Friday, when I have a 50-60 mile ride to Sheffield, from where we set off on Saturday to drive to Portsmouth for the holiday!

After the holiday, I'll see about adding in a mile or two more each day - that'll mean properly getting out of town, instead of just adding little urban loops.

Ever since I got into cycling, I've seen and admired the practicality, and enjoyed the acheivement of touring and so on, but I think this is the first time I've had that slightly addicted feeling...

 

[Amanda P]

Slightly addicted? That's like being slightly pregnant.

You're hooked good - admit it!

 

[Arch]

Slightly addicted? That's like being slightly pregnant.

You're hooked good - admit it!

No, I'm definitely not even slightly pregnant....

I am hooked. Although I have to admit that after a pint and a half after work yesterday, I failed to complete the 10 miles for the day - I was barely safe to ride home directly... So it's 55 miles for the week (including last Sunday). And despite beig tired at the end of the working day, the extended ride home never feels like effort.

And yesterday, on the way in, I felt fast, and overtook 10 other cyclists. Ok, only two of them were really trying, and only one then hung on my tail forcing me to maintain my pace, and one of them was a woman on a Raleigh 20 with a flat back tyre....

Taking the trike out tomorrow, no idea how far, it'll depend on how early I feel like getting up, how hot it gets etc.

Talking to my hairdresser today, told her I was riding to Sheffield next week (the start of my holiday, riding to a friend who giving me a lift to Portsmouth). Her shock was impressive. I decided not to mention the concept of the LEL...

 

[arallsopp]

I hear you there Arch.

My neighbour (who has a bike, but doesn't really ride) used to catch me in the mornings as I'd head out the drive.

"Where you going? I should really get out on my bike some time."
"London" (20 miles)
"I'll come next time"

"Where you going? I should really get out on my bike some time."
"Brighton" (50 miles)
"I'll come next time"

"Where you going? I should really get out on my bike some time."
"Manningtree" (120 miles)
"I'll come next time"

"Where you going? I should really get out on my bike some time."
"Dunwich" (250 miles)
"What? Nobody can ride 250 miles!"

I still remember the feeling of deep satisfaction seeing him getting into his car as I rolled back from Lea Valley.

"Nice ride?"
"Yes thanks"
"Weather's good though, innit?"
"Wasn't in Scotland..."

Got bike and self indoors before he managed to get his jaw back.

Thing is, with time, food, rest and zipties, I really don't think there's an upperbound distance one can travel.

 

[Wildduck]

Been lurking a while on this forum and never saying much. Building the strength and stamina on the trike. Awaiting delivery of the Rapto midracer next month. LEL looks like the excuse I need to go just that 'little' bit further.......

 

[Arch]

Excellent! If you'd like to be on the map, PM me a rough location - town name will do, unless it's 'London', in which case, narrow it down a bit.

Did 57 very hot miles today, with touring luggage (testing for next week). I hurt a bit by the end, partly due to bad suncream application leading to patches of burn, and partly due to numb/painful feet. Not sure what the problem is there....

And when I got home, the milk made my tea lumpy...

 

[arallsopp]

Suncream. Gah! Rode around yesterday in the heat of the day and got a little rash (but only from hitting the tarmac). Commuted this morning lovingly coated in the stuff by Evey. By the time I hit the top of the first hill, I reckon I was 90% blind!

Ouch.

Numb feet? This on a 'bent? How high is the BB relative to your hips?
Painful feet? Pinched at the sides, rubbing on your shoes, or a dull ache in the base of the foot, approximately over the pedal?