Training for a long ride

[andym]

OK if the advice of someone who's lazy and not afraid to admit it, is any use: doing 50 miles in a day (or even more) is one thing but if you're touring you're riding everyday. I think the best 'training' would be simply to go somewhere for a weekend - say 50 miles there and then, next day, ride 50 miles back. If that works out OK (as it should) then you can extend the distance, or turn it into a long weekend - ie 3 days at 50 miles each.

Yes OK £50 for a saddle is a lot if you're on a limited income, but on a longish ride having a saddle you get on with is going to make a huge difference (or at least a saddle you don't get on with could make the whole thing a real penance). Buying a cheap saddle could be a false economy. There is a 'saddle library' which means you can borrow a saddle to try it out. I've never used it, so I know nothing about it, but you might want to check out this link:

https://www.cyclechat.net/

 

[Bigsharn]

I don't recall it being that bad a ride from the bridge to york however, I did it a couple of christmas's back. Not sure what route I took, but iirc quickly clear the wolds then it's flat to york on the lanes.

I looked it up on Ridewithgps and those are the exact measurements (and it's been pretty accurate in the past)

Do whatever distance you feel is okay in training.
I was just saying i did 100 but now i only do 50 a week, yet i stil feel comfortable and confident about doing more than 1000 miles of cycling in a reasonably short space of time.

Like I say, I've never had the luxury of doing 100 miles in a week and it being relatively easy... Looking at the route I really need to start doing some hill training as well, so I think a few York-Wetherby rides are in order

OK if the advice of someone who's lazy and not afraid to admit it, is any use: doing 50 miles in a day (or even more) is one thing but if you're touring you're riding everyday. I think the best 'training' would be simply to go somewhere for a weekend - say 50 miles there and then, next day, ride 50 miles back. If that works out OK (as it should) then you can extend the distance, or turn it into a long weekend - ie 3 days at 50 miles each.

Saddle library link

I plan to get my 100k ride in before I go for a longer weekend. I've got friends out in West Yorkshire so I think they might be worth a visit around Easter time

And thanks for the suggestion, but it's not going to make a blind bit of difference if I still can't afford to buy the saddle after trying it XD I may just take the saddle off my old Kona. It's not the prettiest or the most waterproof, but I suppose at least it's comfortable

 

[stephenjubb]

Getting to the Humber Bridge is an atrocious ride, the roads are horrible (I know from being in the car) and there's a section which climbs 450ft over 3 miles or 200ft over .8 of a mile depending which way you go. The original plan was to use the Transpennine trail to Selby, then Goole, then carry on with the original route on depending how sore my rear is when I do that before I go.

if you are referring to the A63 or A164 then yes, but there are plenty of minor roads that make it more safer and enjoyable.

where possible cyclist should always try and avoid roads of the above type.

 

[Bigsharn]

I actually meant the hills you need to tackle to get to the Humber Bridge. In honesty most of the roads in East Yorkshire are an atrocious surface anyway

 

[stephenjubb]

In honesty most of the roads in East Yorkshire are an atrocious surface anyway

true we've got a lot of potholes but curious as to how the surfaces are atrocious? Havn't actually seen roads of this description yet but would love to know where they are so I can avoid them as I intend to start training in the countryside for my upcoming tour of scotland.

 

[Bigsharn]

Well whatever you do keep off the A166 between Fridaythorpe and Wetwang (Google screenshot of the typical road down there here)

For that matter, keep off the back roads around there as well

There's a section of road on the A63 that I wouldn't dream of riding either, IIRC the A163's not too bad a road

 

[hubbike]

Looking at the title I thought this might be interesting. How to train for a long ride? like 10,000 miles, 5000 miles or 1000 miles but no just 160!

This is Touring and Expedition, no? 160 miles in a weekend is something almost anyone without any training could hop on a bike and do. Albeit perhaps with aching legs on the Monday.

A short tour like that is great fun but really needs no planning, no forethought, no anxiety. Just go and do it. For heaven's sake its just a weekend jolly!

 

[andym]

his is Touring and Expedition, no? 160 miles in a weekend is something almost anyone without any training could hop on a bike and do. Albeit perhaps with aching legs on the Monday.

Hmm. 'Almost anyone'? I think you're laying it on a bit thick there.

Having just come back from a year-long tour of South America, 160 miles probably doesn't sound like much to you, but everyone has got to start somewhere. (I suspect that your first tour was in the tens of miles rather than hundreds or even thousands).

 

[zacsheahan]

I think plenty of this stuff is in the mind, in the event you are focussed and determined, as I usually am, then I think I will be fine without much training. I'll still expect to do 60 to 80 miles per day with small training.Partly because I do know it can be done. If the roads are flat it gives me an optimistic outlook on the day, I am never keen on hills.

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