Ready to start!

[Dogtrousers]

Regarding Ride London, and with all due respect to @rivers who didn't like it, don't just write it off completely on the basis of one negative report.

True, it's not to everyone's taste, and it does have its downsides but I know people who have done it and said it was a great experience.

I've not done it so I can't comment either way.

 

[Oxford Dave]

I rode a bicycle for the first time in about 15 years last Tuesday, when I rode about 2.5 miles. Today I rode 14 miles and could have gone further but I had to be somewhere, so cut it short. I'm 62, not particularly fit, and feel great every time I ride my bike. I'm hoping to be putting in a steady 20 miles a day by the end of this week - my limit will be time rather than stamina, as it seems that after the first mile or so, the rest just come naturally.

 

[LibraRider]

Regarding Ride London, and with all due respect to @rivers who didn't like it, don't just write it off completely on the basis of one negative report.

True, it's not to everyone's taste, and it does have its downsides but I know people who have done it and said it was a great experience.

I've not done it so I can't comment either way.

Thats true!

I am extremely tempted to do both the Velo and RideLondon in all honesty - IF I can.

Ive always wanted to do a sporting even for charity. Since running is a no go for me (i can't get past the mental block and the pounding is awful on my knees) cycling would be amazing. I figure if i can do one, I can do both.

Fundraising is another battle though

 

[LibraRider]

I rode a bicycle for the first time in about 15 years last Tuesday, when I rode about 2.5 miles. Today I rode 14 miles and could have gone further but I had to be somewhere, so cut it short. I'm 62, not particularly fit, and feel great every time I ride my bike. I'm hoping to be putting in a steady 20 mies a day by the end of this week - my limit will be time rather than stamina, as it seems that after the first mile or so, the rest just come naturally.

Thats amazing Dave!

Good for you!

What an inspiration! Keep going and ill keep you posted on my progress!

 

[LibraRider]

Ive been looking at 100 mile cycle training plans and just cycle training plans for beginners online.

Id love to get your opinions on these:

Breast Cancer Now 100m cycle training plan

Cancer Research UK beginners cycle plan

Thanks

 

[Racing roadkill]

I know a few people who couldn't ride a bike 5 miles, as for anything less is pointless, to you maybe but the advice above isn't meant for you ,
A lot of utility rides are less than 5 miles

Don’t forget the O.P. is aiming for a 100 mile ride this year, there’s not really time to mess about too much.

 

[Racing roadkill]

Ive been looking at 100 mile cycle training plans and just cycle training plans for beginners online.

Id love to get your opinions on these:

Breast Cancer Now 100m cycle training plan

Cancer Research UK beginners cycle plan

Thanks

The breast cancer one, is the one I’d concentrate your efforts on, if it were me, given I’m a very experienced, trained British Cycling ride leader, who specialises in getting people from newbie to 100 mile challenge rides, in relatively short spaces of time, as it’s more geared to getting you to your mileage goal. The C.R. one is a bit too vague, and not structured enough. Interestingly, the Breast Cancer one, starts at a 5 mile effort, which I’d agree with.
Here are some pics of me leading this sort of challenge training ride, for the charity Scope, a couple of years ago.

and here’s another group I got up to multiple 100 mile days, from beginners on a charity ride I did from Huddersfield to Southampton last year.

I’ve done lots of this sort of training / training plans over the years, and I’d definitely say the Breast Cancer plan you linked to is the better of the two.
Have a look at the Ride London site for their training plans, and maybe on the British cycling website too. They are all very useful resources.

 

[LibraRider]

The breast cancer one, is the one I’d concentrate your efforts on, as it’s more geared to getting you to your mileage goal. The C.R. one is a bit too vague, and not structured enough. Interestingly, the Breast Cancer one, starts at a 5 mile effort, which I’d agree with.

Thanks!

I thought perhaps start with the cancer one initially - while I’m getting used to cycling and building my confidence.
Then progress to the breast cancer one afterwards.
The velo is 21 weeks away. So this would give me a structured training program To build up to it?

 

[Racing roadkill]

Thanks!

I thought perhaps start with the cancer one initially - while I’m getting used to cycling and building my confidence.
Then progress to the breast cancer one afterwards.
The velo is 21 weeks away. So this would give me a structured training program To build up to it?

I’d say that’s a good plan.

 

[cyberknight]

Later in the year and if your confident to ride o. Open roads then st Giles runs sportive from Whittington that you could drive to great fun and fairly close to you. Ride to it did the sportive and ride back

 

[icowden]

I did my first sportives (london to brighton and New forest ride 100 (60 mile route) last year and found them to be really joyous fun days out. Incredibly supportive for the most part with plenty of room for the super-lycra gang and the "i just want to see if I can finish it" gang (I was in the latter, and for London to Brighton did half of it with my folding tern gaffa taped together as the hinge snapped).

 

[Dogtrousers]

folding tern gaffa taped together as the hinge snapped).

I hope you bought a replacement. After all, one good Tern ...

 

[LibraRider]

The breast cancer one, is the one I’d concentrate your efforts on, if it were me, given I’m a very experienced, trained British Cycling ride leader, who specialises in getting people from newbie to 100 mile challenge rides, in relatively short spaces of time, as it’s more geared to getting you to your mileage goal. The C.R. one is a bit too vague, and not structured enough. Interestingly, the Breast Cancer one, starts at a 5 mile effort, which I’d agree with.
Here are some pics of me leading this sort of challenge training ride, for the charity Scope, a couple of years ago.

View attachment 501550

View attachment 501551

View attachment 501552

View attachment 501553

View attachment 501554

View attachment 501555

and here’s another group I got up to multiple 100 mile days, from beginners on a charity ride I did from Huddersfield to Southampton last year.

View attachment 501558

I’ve done lots of this sort of training / training plans over the years, and I’d definitely say the Breast Cancer plan you linked to is the better of the two.
Have a look at the Ride London site for their training plans, and maybe on the British cycling website too. They are all very useful resources.

Oh wow - I have just seen your edits to this post!

I will definitely go have a look at the plans on those sites now.

Could you recommend any other training plans at all??

Thanks so much!

It looks like you had great fun in the pictures above!

 

[Racing roadkill]

Oh wow - I have just seen your edits to this post!

I will definitely go have a look at the plans on those sites now.

Could you recommend any other training plans at all??

Thanks so much!

It looks like you had great fun in the pictures above!

https://ridelondon.s3.eu-west-2.ama.../uploads/cms_page_media/948/Beginner_Plan.pdf

https://www.cyclinguk.org/article/cycling-guide/training-plan-for-sportives-and-charity-cycle-rides
These two are good for starters.

 

[Gunk]

You don’t need to do the plans to the letter, the basic principle is little and often building up the distance gradually, a more stretching ride once a week and a couple of rest days.