Where do i start, i need to get myself up to 100 miles a day...

[manimal]

Hi folks,
I'm needing advice in abundance!
A few weeks ago i put my name down to do a charity bike ride for Help for heroes, last week to my surprise i got accepted.
The ride is in september next year, from Brugge to Arnhem, 400 miles in 4 days(ouch)
To put you in the picture i am 38 years old,my cycling consisted of the odd sunday round clumber park with the kids etc.
I now am looking for some kind of training program i could follow, i have started cycling to work which is a 20 mile round trip, i do that 3 or 4 times a week which from nothing to that is a start!
This brings me on to my bike.....I have a 2009 felt QX80 which i bought on the C2W scheme in April, its a great bike but im wondering if a roadie may be in order, obviously i want to be able to do this on whatever is going to make the job easiest.
I bought the felt before i knew anything about this ride, it was bought to cycle to work on down towpaths and roads,specs are here
http://www.feltbicycles.com/International/2010-Product-Catalog/Mountain/QX-Series/QX-80.aspx
As i cant get another C2W till may(or afford to buy another bike without selling the felt) would i be better off selling the felt and getting a roadie or should i see the winter through on the felt and get a roadie in may????
The only problem i can see with that is availabilty of bikes in may with it being the start of the roadie season.....
I know ive asked a lot here but im confusing myself here with what to do as far as bike choices and could really do with some training pointers etc
Thanks!

 

[gavintc]

Sep 10 is a realistic goal for your development as long as you stick with the process, and keep the training going is achievable. The benefit will be that Bruges to Arnhem is relatively flat so you will not be struggling up serious mountain ranges. It will be rolling gradients.

Your current bike is Ok, and could probably be used for this challenge. But, IMO, a road bike will be more suitable. I do not think your current bike is yours to sell as I think you will find that you are leasing and do not technically own it. Perhaps, you could get a new bike next May and spend the time till then looking around for what option would suit best.

 

[manimal]

Thanks for the reply mate, i need to contact the C2W scheme to find out if i can sell it,do you have any training pointers?

 

[gavintc]

Training - you are well on track. Spend the winter getting a 'base mileage' done. Your 20 miles a day x 3/4 a week is good. On top of that do a 30 mile trip at the weekend. This will get harder during the depths of winter and you may need to kick it all off again in the spring. If you can get hold of a cheap turbo it may help, but they are boring as hell.

In the spring, you need to develop your weekend runs and start to get used to distance. Build up to 50 mile rides and then once a month do a longer one of 100 miles.

 

[Over The Hill]

Hi
Dont worry too much about it!
In the spring I did a 300 mile/3 day run to Paris. Training was generally 30 - 40 mile runs at weekends. Most I did was a 60 leading up to it.
Basically if you get your saddle right and are comefortable for 50 miles then you can do 100. We split the rides with a good hour break for lunch. Next day was fine after a 10 minute warm up.

I did it on a Felt F85 which is a bit of a racing bike for an old fart like me but my two cycling buddies did it on upright commuter bikes.

 

[Arch]

Being in a group makes it easier, so assuming the charity ride is a group thing, that will help you achieve stuff you'd find hard alone.

Just keep riding, keep your body used to turning the pedals, and you might be surprised what you can manage.

Make sure the bike you are going to use is set up just right - there are lots of little tweaks to get right to get just the right posture, seat etc...

 

[manimal]

Hi
Dont worry too much about it!
In the spring I did a 300 mile/3 day run to Paris. Training was generally 30 - 40 mile runs at weekends. Most I did was a 60 leading up to it.
Basically if you get your saddle right and are comefortable for 50 miles then you can do 100. We split the rides with a good hour break for lunch. Next day was fine after a 10 minute warm up.

I did it on a Felt F85 which is a bit of a racing bike for an old fart like me but my two cycling buddies did it on upright commuter bikes.

Thanks for that mate, i do need to "get the saddle right" as at the moment im walking like a baboon lol, but im sure its because i havent used a bike in anger since my teens and i just need more time in the saddle to get used to it!

 

[manimal]

Being in a group makes it easier, so assuming the charity ride is a group thing, that will help you achieve stuff you'd find hard alone.

Just keep riding, keep your body used to turning the pedals, and you might be surprised what you can manage.

Make sure the bike you are going to use is set up just right - there are lots of little tweaks to get right to get just the right posture, seat etc...

Yes mate its a group ride(200) so that should make it easier, i will look at fine tuning by bike, i just wish id have bought a roadie back in April when i got this one, it would have given me longer to get used to it

 

[Dilbert]

Thanks for the reply mate, i need to contact the C2W scheme to find out if i can sell it,do you have any training pointers?

Under C2W the bike belongs to the company until you buy it off them (for fair market value) at the end of the loan period. If you sell it I expect you would have to pay the company the full retail price, as you do if you leave the company for any reason during the loan period.

Best of luck with the training and the ride.

Alasdair

 

[Chrisz]

Hey manimal, I'll be on that ride too

I did the one last year (Cherbourg to Paris) which was fantastic - I could have turned around and done another week's worth- but the Arnhem gig sounds much more fun

Since it's not until September there's plenty of time to get ready. My plan will be to get plenty of Sportives done as well as plenty of regular rides during the week. To be honest, you will find that you get carried along by the group quite well. Mack in May 3 of us teamed up and hammered it - probably do the same thing again next year

Where abouts are you based? It'd definitely be worth your while finding a local cycle club and getting out with them - if only to get used to riding in a bunch - it also means you don't have to worry about routes.

Good luck

 

[WeeE]

No advice to offer - just... GOOD FOR YOU!!!!

 

[manimal]

Thanks fella!

 

[ColinJ]

Hey manimal - I just came across this thread. How did your ride go in September?