Newbie needs help!

[FastBrass]

Hi all: this is a call for help and advice at the highest level!

I am a complete beginner in cycling (haven't cycled since since I was about 12) and have decided to undertake a slight challenge - I want to cycle the whole of the Thames from source to Southend, some 215 miles, for charity. And I would ideally like to do it in less than 4 days!

I need a lot of help in preparing for this, namely: how much training it will take, how to train, what bike and any route planning advice! Not much I know

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[jags]

hi fastbrass bit of a challange you got yourself into but doable.if you haven't cycled in years then your going to have to build up the miles slowly.no need to be doing big miles ,try more time on the bike as in ,i hour rideing time half hour out half hour back ,then just build up time from that ,eat little and often drink plenty,wear the right gear ,dont push big gears (hero gears) if you can get your hands on a nice light weight raceing bike great make things so much easer ,best of luck .

 

[bauldbairn]

Welcome to the CC Forum and good luck with your cycle challenge.

 

[Arch]

Absolutely doable, and a nice idea.

214 miles, in 4 days. That's 54 miles a day. At a fairly leisurely 10 mph, that's only 5 hours cycling a day, so you can afford plenty of little rests along the way

How to train? Get a bike, almost any bike, and go out on it. Regularly. Ideally, you want something you'll be comfortable on, and that is efficient, so a BMX or a full suspension MTB with knobbly tyres isn't ideal. A very upright town style bike wouldn't be ideal either, although do-able. Look at hybrids, commuters, road bikes, and tourers - your choice will depend to some extent how much you want to carry, how fast you want to be. (I'm assuming you mean riding on roads, or at least good quality cyclepaths).

When do you plan to do this, and are you basically fit? Can you start commuting to work for example - this is often a good way to build up the miles in your legs, day in, day out, and then you'll find adding to the distance at the weekend much easier.

I would suggest that a complete novice (by which I mean someone who can ride a bike, but hasn't for years) can ride 5 miles, if they really try (and probably more). Do that a couple of times, and you'll be able to take on 10. Do that a couple of times, 15 is doable. Etc etc. Once you're up to 30, you'll find that 50 is not such a leap.

 

[FastBrass]

That's great, thyanks guys.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Welcome FastBrass

Yes it's doable, get the right kind of steed (plenty help here) and it needn't cost a fortune, a few pieces of decent kit (proper shorts and gloves essential). A good training plan is for a gradual build-up is required (we can help here) and a good bit of route advice (we can probably help here). Basic maintainace knowledge will be required and a few tools and away you go. No worries. Ask lots of questions.

 

[FastBrass]

Thanks again - the route is going to be the main issue I think: the plan is to go from the source of the Thames in Thames Head to Southend, and finding a good journey plan is important! Apparently parts of the Thames aren't always cycle-friendly? Also wondering if it would be easier to camp out each night or stop off in B&Bs?

 

[Andy in Sig]

To train up, try this: find a loop near where you live of about 10 miles. Do this three evenings a week. On one day at the weekend get in a 20 miler. Repeat the next week. In the third week do the same evening runs but do a 30 miler at the weekend. Repeat. In the fifth week up the evening loops to 15 miles and do a 40 at the weekend. Repeat.

If you push yourself up to a 60 miler at the weekend you will find the whole thing very easy. Those distances assume a low level of starting fitness. If you feel you are not being challenged enough from the start then up the distances slightly.

 

[Brains]

I have canoed from near the source to Oxford, and I have rowed from Oxford to Greenwich.
I have also ridden a bike from Dartford to Reading (and then on to bath)

For the section between Reading and Dartford, there is a cycle route, it is mostly on the south side of the Thames, I followed the 'Sustrans' map. Whilst there are off road sections it's all do-able on a normal bike with standard tyres

Having canoed your route, the upper section can be done with a mixture of roads and canalside tow paths, however once you get down a bit, the tow paths have long since gone and the gardens of the rich and famous now come right down to the river

I think you need a selection of O/S maps, the Sustrans cycle map, and probably a walking guide, it depends on how close you want to stick to the river route as by bike there are a number of places where you can easily cut off some pretty big loops in the river.

So along with a bike and some panniers you also need a 'handlebar bag' (to hold the maps so you can read as you go along)

Re camping en route, it can be done, it will double your weight (but it's flat so that does not matter) but you MUST be able to 'stelth camp' there are stealth sites all along the river as we camped on all three of my trips, staying in such places as the back garden of the local Surgery (it was a Saturday night, so we figured they would not be opening the next day), several parks, lots of fields, and many times on the edge of the tow path. For the London section the last stelth camp is before Putney (Festing Road) and the first on the other side is after Abbywood (Crossness)