our biggest ride yet

[Bigjase]

Me and my friend have recently taken up cycling and loving it. Both of us have set some big challenges for this year which are a bit extreme for beginners but with me being a personal trainer and my friend ex army im sure we can find a way to get through them and to make it more worth while we are thinking about doing it for charity.
today we have done our biggest ride yet of 64 mile and only our 4th time out even though i'm feeling it now. It makes you appreciate how fit your guys are.Below are 3 of our main targets for this year any advise on ways to best prepare for them would be really appreciated.
wolverhampton to aberdovey
wolverhampton to blackpool
wolverhampton to telford ( reakin ) climb reakin and cycle back if this one is done a wolverhampton to snowdon ride climb snowdon and cycle back this one would be done in a couple of days.
do you think this is possible for a couple of new guys coming into the cycling world lol.

 

[Kies]

with the right training and nutrition en route - anything is possible

 

[young Ed]

sounds good!
congrats i have been cycling for about 6 or maybe 9 months now and still my most miles in a day is 46! oh well i have a target of my first 100 mile ride in a day to be this year so we shall see what happens!
Cheers Ed

 

[young Ed]

struggling to tell from your profile pic what bike you have there? and you do know it is cycling policy to have at the very least 2 bikes but 3 or more is very very highly recommended!
Cheers Ed

 

[Bigjase]

Lol you don't know my mrs it took me all my efforts for her to agree for me to have one so 2 or 3 I'd be living on my bike

 

[Bigjase]

My bike is a carrera Tdf

 

[young Ed]

Lol you don't know my mrs it took me all my efforts for her to agree for me to have one so 2 or 3 I'd be living on my bike

HAHA don't worry she will soon see how healthy and fit and handsome it makes you and then she will buy bikes for you! (may not work if you are a personal trainer like yourself!)

My bike is a carrera Tdf

many have started or still ride on carreras and they are great bikes but may i recommend either investing in the tools for the job and watching lots of youtube vids and reading lots of online guides or spending some of the beer money with your Local Bike Shop (LBS) and rebuild the bike as halfords really don't assemble them well!
Cheers Ed

 

[Bigjase]

Next year a boardman is on the cards. I don't drink or smoke so all going on the bike and mrs of course lol

 

[young Ed]

Next year a boardman is on the cards. I don't drink or smoke so all going on the bike and mrs of course lol

good on you for not drinking or smoking it does mean more money for one of these!

different seat and post of course!
Cheers Ed

 

[Bigjase]

That would get some looks out there on the roads. One thing I am after if you know a good one a helmet cam looking into them but so many don't know which one is best for about £60 - 100

 

[superbadger]

I smoke and drink! Shame on me!!!! But I cycled from Leigh (near Wigan) through North Wales, across Anglesey to the South Stack, back over to Llanberis, Stripped bags off bike and Cycled up and down Mount Snowdon and then headed back home! Had all my kit on bike (tent, sleep bag, clothes, cooking stuff!) my bike is a Budget steel framed bike from Halfords (£80) it's still going??? haha. Did it in 5 days and it was about 306 miles; I did a blog and posted it on here if you fancy a read.


I'm just an average guy, not a fitness nut! So you guys should easily achieve your goals. I would say that a big part of myself and what I do is all down to my "Mind-Set". I am so determined when I plan to do something and I just don't want to fail! With yourself being a P-Trainer and your amigo Ex-Services you will be fine.

For the bigger trips are you touring or staying at B&B's?

 

[Bigjase]

The aim is to go from the gym o. The Saturday morning. Stay in a b&b Saturday nite and cycle back Sunday. Did a big ride today which killed us I've put it on strava the hills and rain took it's toll but did 65 miles. 12 weeks to go till wales run.

 

[Cuchilo]

I may have missed it but how far is the Wales run you plan ? Sounds fun !
Training wise ( not that I'm training for a reason other than fun riding ) I do loads of smaller rides .
A few 5-10 mile rides a day and then one or two bigger rides at the weekend . The smaller rides are the key to fitness but then you know that given your job .

 

[Bigjase]

From Wolverhampton it's between just over 100 mile to 120 mile depending on the route on my other thread on here a chap posted a route I'm looking at just trying to find out the elevations throughout the ride and the overall ft climbed so I can get my practice in as close to the big ride as I can. Looking at the main muscle groups used for such a ride so I've put together a weight session in the gym centrering around shoulder , lower back and big hamstring exercises. Bring new to cycling this is a big challenge to take on so early but we'll do it if I have to drag my arse to the finishing point lol

 

[IDMark2]

Looking at the main muscle groups used for such a ride so I've put together a weight session in the gym centrering around shoulder , lower back and big hamstring exercises.

I may be wrong in my assumption but I think you have to consider more 'core' strength than anything else, a lot of the balance on the bike and support for the muscle groups doing the heavy work will benefit. The pedalling muscles will get all the training they need from pedalling!