Milage

[presta]

This is an intriguing thread, it's the first time I've ever seen any cyclists admit to doing less than about 60mpd or less than 12mph. I notice nobody mentions their age. (Me:53)

Last August I did 1400m in 27 days = 52mpd (longest 96, shortest 30). Speed about 8.5mph excluding stops, or 6.5mph including stops, but no time for sightseeing. Going uphill I've even been overtaken by walkers.
Route (YHA): Home, Cambridge, Thurlby, National Forest, Ilam, Castleton, Mankinholes, Ingleton, Elterwater, Elterwater, Wasdale Hall, Barrow Hse, Ninebanks, Birdoswald, Kielder, Edmundbyers, Alston, Hawes, Kettlewell, Earby, Earby, Mankinholes, Edale, Ravenstor, Sherwood, Thurlby Cambridge, Home.

Last year I did 640m in 10 days but that was flatter.

2009: 880m in 20 days.

 

[Tigerbiten]

This is an intriguing thread, it's the first time I've ever seen any cyclists admit to doing less than about 60mpd or less than 12mph. I notice nobody mentions their age. (Me:53)

The knees are the limiting factor for me, how much stress will they will recover from overnight now that I'm 52 ........

This summer I did 4,104 miles in 116 days door to door, 21 days off in that time.
The longest day was 78 miles, I had an extra day off due to the weather so combined two days into one going down the Hebs.
The shortest was and slowest was only 19 miles in 4.5 hours, but I did go over Bealach na Ba that day.
Fastest was 75 miles at around a 15 mph average, but I had a +20 mph gale behind me most of that day hence the speed and distance.

I did a short section of the A65 on my tour, Kirby Longsdale -> Ingleton.
It was ok-ish to cycle on if you happy on fast roads, but its really the only option for that strech.

 

[superbadger]

Yeah mate am wild camping or campsite if i come across one, just taking sleeping bag, my old bivvi and a tarp for extra protection. Am takin my old faithfull Trangia too.

Oh thats excellent because you can make it up as you go along.... Thats when you have even more fun . For campsites click here. Plenty of good places listed and i would read the reviews as a rule,although most moan about facilities etc which won't bother you too much because you will just want your bed!! Also on some sites it gives the option to visit their website which is good because you get even more info . I reckon you will do more than 30 on day 1 because your legs will be fresh;. The more done on the 1st day the more you can enjoy that lovely scenery on days 2,3 and 4...

A fair point about the hills; Even when you push it wears you out . Always hydrate and have a bar when you have done the worst ones; If you can get the gradient planner thats even better..

 

[SurlyNomad]

Cheers Badge! @ Presta, all very commendable mate on your times and milages, but im not in it for how far,how fast i can go. I just want to get there in one piece and safley too. Enjoy the scenery on the way. Total milage i think is around the 220 mark. if i do it in 4,5,or 6 days it dosnt matter to me. Ive prommised myself for two years now that im going to do it but something always came up. It was reading Badgers exploits that re ignited the fire under my arse that got me motivated again. @ Vernon, Right then fella, i was thinking of A65, ya got me thinking now! I travel by car when i go up to Barrow in Furness to see family and i suppose your right it does get a bit hairy on that road. Looks so different in a car. What route do you suggest?

 

[doog]

I know everyone is different in one way or another and taking into account weather at the time and whatever else life throws at you on the road but what is a comfortable distance per day while touring? I mean im commuting at the momment on the surly lht with front and rear rack fitted to help me get used to a bit of weight until i can hopefully do a tour of the lake district next year but im knackered when i get to work 15 miles away. Ok i do put my foot down as i have to get there so it takes me about an hour and 10 to an hour and 30 depending on how well i slept the night before or how i feel.

You will surprise yourself with your mileages, dont worry about any extra training that commuting distance will see you fine I reckon. The whole point of touring is stopping, eating, drinking, looking around and walking up mega steep hills

.

On my recent tour I did between 40 and 140 miles a day.....the lower mileages were in the Pyrenees and the 140 miler was a dash to make a ferry- it was such a glorious day in France I just kept going and going..it was nuts but fantastic at the same time, i cycled until midnight and slept in a wood. (thats what makes this hobby epic- there are no rules)

 

[SurlyNomad]

doog! did you blog it? would like to read about that. Yeah am not too worried about milage i just want to get there and back in one piece. Any advice about roughing it? i was, like ive said to Badger in the army 20 odd years ago i suppose it will come back to me eventually. Gonna wait for a dry day and practice putting up the basha just to see how long it takes me.

 

[vernon]

@ Vernon, Right then fella, i was thinking of A65, ya got me thinking now! I travel by car when i go up to Barrow in Furness to see family and i suppose your right it does get a bit hairy on that road. Looks so different in a car. What route do you suggest?

If you pick your day, you'll get away with less traffic. Weekdays sees a lot of HGVs. Friday/Sat sees caravans.

Some of the A65 has parallel minor roads that would be a good alternative but you'd best look at map and use something like www.mapmyride.com to check the distances and gradient profiles.

Alternatively catch a train up to Northallerton and ride eastwards through Wensleydale. Once again check on a map to see if it meets your needs.

 

[doog]

doog! did you blog it? would like to read about that. Yeah am not too worried about milage i just want to get there and back in one piece. Any advice about roughing it? i was, like ive said to Badger in the army 20 odd years ago i suppose it will come back to me eventually. Gonna wait for a dry day and practice putting up the basha just to see how long it takes me.

the whole ride is here, brief but to the point

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=1r4vFZo&doc_id=8963&v=3U

 

[superbadger]

Vernons right about the A-Roads and there are smaller roads that go in the same direction which would offer better scenery and safety.. On going to Norfolk i had to go along the A17 and that was scary!!!. The amount of 'roadkill' was unreal! You got a great 'mindset and attitude' i reckon;. Ok i am bias because i do 'wild-camping' and take a risk etc... But thats a good thing and it makes you feel alive! Doog is sooooo right. I can see your route changing because you have covered more miles than you expected per day or you finish a day or two earlier if you stick with it. From your feedback you are flexible which is great..

You got to do a blog mate; So that means take loads of pics. Ask the odd person to take 1 of you on the bike doing this . Sorted.

 

[presta]

im not in it for how far,how fast i can go.

Neither am I, but mileage does have important implications and consequences. As the YHA close more and more hostels they get further and further apart, which is making it harder to ride between them and still have time for sightseeing and varying the route. I'd like to go to the west coast of Scotland, but I'm not sure I can hack the mileages, especially when there are few alternative hostels.

My fastest rides have been the easiest, and my slowest the hardest which also has important implications for fitness and training. If you turn a blind eye to bad training or loss of fitness you run the risk of declining all the faster.

 

[Tigerbiten]

One reason I'm in the Camping and Caravan club as there main sites in England tend to be around 40-60 miles apart.
This is a nice distance for me to cover in a day.
So a lot of my route through England on my last tour was planed so that I hopped from site to site.
A free hot shower every night and being a member means it averaged out at around £6 per night ........

Its still under £10 per night high season if your not a member of the club.

 

[oldfatfool]

Not sure how worried I should be getting reading these posts

I am planning a tour in the alps and pyranees next July, a little over 1500 KM in 21 days. Fully loaded I was thinking along the lines of 50 - 80 KM on hilly days, Bonnett, Ventoux, Verdon, Vars etc and then upto 120 KM ish on flatter days through the Camargue, allowing 3 rest days.

I am an early riser though so would expect to be up and off by 7 - 7.30am hopefully being where I want to be before the heat of mid afternoon. So thinking about 7 - 8 hours in the saddle a day including lunch and photo stops. Am I being unrealistic??

 

[Tigerbiten]

Not sure how worried I should be getting reading these posts

I am planning a tour in the alps and pyranees next July, a little over 1500 KM in 21 days. Fully loaded I was thinking along the lines of 50 - 80 KM on hilly days, Bonnett, Ventoux, Verdon, Vars etc and then upto 120 KM ish on flatter days through the Camargue, allowing 3 rest days.

I am an early riser though so would expect to be up and off by 7 - 7.30am hopefully being where I want to be before the heat of mid afternoon. So thinking about 7 - 8 hours in the saddle a day including lunch and photo stops. Am I being unrealistic??

No.

Converting those distances from kilometers to miles, 30-50 in the hills and upto 75 on the flat, thats what I would plan on doing in that type of time once I got ride fit.
So as long as your reasonably ride fit at the start, you souldn't have any problems.

Luck .........

 

[Dunlopdave]

Hi mate luv your blog.Ive been to the campsite at Llanberis good pub on site good food and half size railway runs through it so you won't oversleep

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

You could also consider taking out the http://www.backpackersclub.co.uk/" backpackers club membership which comes with a list of farmers who allow camping in their fields (not normally advertised) (aimed at lightweight camping including cycle tourers). It is not expensive, but is done by snail mail still (or at least last year before I left the UK it still was), but it is genuine and we did use some of those sites.

EDIT - corrected typo