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

?

[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?

[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!