50 mile coming up

[Ashgarth]

bah! I am doing a 50 mile in about 1.5 weeks and I have never biked that far before! My bf says I can do it (yeah he bikes 80miles just to go out for lunch!) so to him 50 is nothing!

I have only been riding my bike to and from work (16 miles round trip) so I am no where NEAR ready for the 50 miler!! yikes! what did I get myself into!!!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

If you can do a couple of 30's in the coming week, you probably will be able to do a 50 if you muster your inner strength.
Try a 30 mile ride as soon as possible.

[Starfish]

And, if you haven't already, consider a conversation and trial ride with your boyfriend to practice riding in his draft, and to make you're you're "on the same page" about pace, breaks, etc. Also, don't forget all the great advice on these forums about nutrition, hydration, etc!

[Zen]

Great advice so far.

Did your bf promise to stay with you?

Is there a sag vehicle?

[marni]

Having just completed my first three 85 mile days back to back followed by a 120 mile, I think the training that did me the most good was putting in TITS time of at least 3 hours on a daily basis. Of course I was riding for charity and not racing which meant that on those long days I could stop everyhour on the fifteen for hydration, sustenance and fanny fatigue break- Chamois butter liberally applied and reapplied is a good thing also.

Break the ride down into small segments and set goals and rewards mentally- something like when I finish the next five miles I will take a five minute break.

Do not try to keep up with your boyfriend but do consider using him to pull while you draft.

Finally find yourself a good cadence setting theme song that you can hum mentally and focus on that and the white line.

You'll do it if you want to. good luck!!!

marni

[Starfish]

TITS time

? :confused:

[Zen]

Time In The Saddle (TITS)

[Ashgarth]

HA! He is a 'real' rider---he said he will wait for me at the finish line with cookies and coffee ;)

He's one of those riders that will ride with me but its a 'chat ride' so it isn't very serious/fun for him...he perfers riding with the boys

:rolleyes:

lol

I love him though

[madscot13]

Having just completed my first three 85 mile days back to back followed by a 120 mile, I think the training that did me the most good was putting in TITS time of at least 3 hours on a daily basis. Of course I was riding for charity and not racing which meant that on those long days I could stop everyhour on the fifteen for hydration, sustenance and fanny fatigue break- Chamois butter liberally applied and reapplied is a good thing also.

marni

does this mean your first stop was after one hour and 15 minutes? Or did you stop more frequently?

[Nokomis]

How's your recovery after your normal ride? Are you sucking wind and can't move for hours, or do you feel strong & refreshed quickly? If you can recover fairly quickly, then (in addition to the great advice above) break down the 50 into smaller rides w/ a break in between. Use those rest stops to recover then go for the next ride, break, ride, done!

Mentally this helped me to get thru my first Long rides by thinking of them as a sequence of short rides - go & have fun!!

[RoadRaven]

Way to go, Ash... I did my first 100km in December last year (about 62miles)

The general advice in training books and articles, is to increase your riding by about 10% each week.
So do take Lisa's advice and try a couple of 25-35milers before you set out for your 50 odd miles.
We are asking our bodies to change and respond at a metabolic level, so we need to ease into such distances carefully.

Having said that, just set yourself a gentle pace, and you will be fine!
Looking forward to hearing about it
:)

[Ashgarth]

I am very excited and this is all great advice. :)
I am also riding with a very supportive group of women, so every little bit helps!

trust me.....I will take FULL advantage of the rest stops!

[HappyAnika]

Hmm, I just heard this last night from a friend who read it in a book or a magazine (not sure if its a reputable source). The idea is that if you add up your weekly mileage, that's the number of miles you should be able to do in one ride. From my perspective, I might be able to complete the ride, but I don't think I'd be very comfortable for about the last third of it. Anyone else heard of this? Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

[Starfish]

Time In The Saddle (TITS)

Aaaah, thanks! I had never heard/seen this.

[marni]

Mad Scot- Actually what I do is eat/hydrate 15 minutes before I start a long ride, then I go 1 hour 15 before the first break. After that I hydrate, eat as necessary on the 15 before and after the hour. I have developed this system for myself because otherwise I tend to just put my head down and go until I am wobbly from hunger or so dry mouthed I can't swallow. Having my watch beep is a good reminder to lift my head, look around, stretch, admire the scenery and take a couple of good deep lung clearning breaths.

marni

[Jiffer]

I'd say to definitely try to get at least a couple of 30-ish milers in before the ride. If you feel okay with those, you'll probably survive 50.

[Ashgarth]

yesterday I met up with some women and we did a 31 mile. It sure does help to have others biking to help push you along and quit procrastinating!

So combined with my meeting up with them and then biking home, I did 35 miles. I feel good, not in too much pain other than the sunburn. Yeah! *proud*

[Jenn]

You can do it!!!:)

[Starfish]

Yeah, you can definitely do it!

[Ashgarth]

thank you for the support everyone, I will keep you posted after I do it on Sunday! :)

[Ashgarth]

we did it!!! a bunch of us girls stuck together and we all biked the 50 miles! It was the first time for many of us to bike that kind of distance. I am so happy and so proud of myself. We will have to see how much pain I am in tomorrow! I hope I can walk!

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e277/ashgarth1/P1040194.jpg

[madscot13]

That is absolutely fantastic! Congratulations!


PS- sweet ride!

[HoosierGiant]

Congrats!

“We have more possibilities available in each moment than we realize.”
Thich Nhat Hanh (Vietnamese monk, activist and writer)

[stacie13]

Woohoo! Congrats!! That's awesome to see, thanks for the update! :)

[Tri Girl]

I wish I'd seen your post earlier- I'd have wished you good luck (although it looks like you didn't need it). YOU DID IT!!!! CONGRATS!!! :D
Congrats on finishing your race! How do you feel today?
Nice bike- you look so happy on it!

[Nokomis]

Hooray! :D Awesome job! You look very happy on your bike ~ that's a great pic!!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

YAY FOR YOU, GREAT JOB!!!!!!

[Ashgarth]

I feel great actually! I don't have any muscle pain today (a little stiffness in the shoulders) but over all A-OK.

My bf was BEEMING with pride, he told me he is going to brag to all his cycling buddies LOL

another TE member told me about an upcoming 62 mile that gives you a free pie at the end....now that I did the 50, I might be able to bike another 12 for a free pie!!!!

[Tri Girl]

another TE member told me about an upcoming 62 mile that gives you a free pie at the end....now that I did the 50, I might be able to bike another 12 for a free pie!!!!

All I heard was free pie. Don't care about the distance. Where do I get a free pie??? :p Where and when is this famed ride???

Glad you're feeling great!!!! Makes doing another not so worrisome when this one went so well, eh??

[Ashgarth]

LOL the Pie Ride is in Janesville Wisconsin (near Madison)

http://www.janesvillebikerides.com/Rotary%20PIE.htm


I think it sounds like a hoot!

[mtbdarby]

Great Job! I bet Sue told you about that ride - she's got me talked into it too. Hope to see you there:p

[Ashgarth]

yep! it was Sue alright----!!!

I might just do the 30 now, since my bf is racing at 2:00 pm that day at the Giro d'Grafton. That is another cool one--the pros races at night, in the dark! yikes!

:)

[mtbdarby]

I'm still debating between the 50k and the 100k. My longest ride this summer is only 30 miles . I'm sure I could make 100k if I go slow - I just might pay for it the next day:p Either way - see you there!

[deena]

I did the 50 with Ashgarth on Sunday - my longest ride so far too. It was soooo much easier with support and the distraction of all the others riders. The last 10 miles were right along the lakefront - a really good startegy to make us forget the headwinds and sprinkles in the middle....:p

mtbdarby - you should ride with us....

[Tri Girl]

That pie ride looks like a lot of fun!!! If it wasn't 1000 miles away I might come join you. I'll just have to ride on my own that day and buy myself a pie on the way home. :p
Have fun out there ladies, and do tell all about it when you finish (and take pictures so we can see you in action)!!!

[Starfish]

I'll just have to ride on my own that day and buy myself a pie on the way home. :p


Hey, any day can be a pie day! LOL

Great job, Ashgarth, and all. :)

[Ashgarth]

pictures from the Janesville pie ride!!!

TE members with their prize apple or cherry pies:

mtbdarby, SJczar, and ashgarth

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e277/ashgarth1/P1040451.jpg

[jobob]

Whoa ! I need to go on that ride ! :cool:

LeeBob would do it twice so he could get more pie :rolleyes:

[Sheesh]

The Pie Ride sounds like a ton of fun!

Ashgarth - Count me in for next year! And, congrats on the distance!!

[Zen]

Are you wearing sneakers and using platform pedals?

(now back to thinking about pie)

[short cut sally]

Looks like you gals had a fun time. AND pies to boot. How much better can it get? Friends, food, and a good time biking. THE best things in life. Thanks for sharing the photo.

[mtbdarby]

WHAT????? You noticed her sneakers and platform pedals and no one noticed her Mickey Mouse ears?????? Come on ladies:p She was the apple of the photographers eye with those ears!

The ride was great, the company awesome and the weather too darn hot. But all in the name of pie:p