consecutive long rides

[Look]

Help me get my head around this.
This is my first summer riding in a long time, so I went from 0 miles in April (not counting spinning class) to a 65 mile organized ride in July. I built up to that slowly, lengthening my long weekend rides to prepare. It went fine, but I was tired and I really couldn't get back to my typical speeds even on short rides for at least a week, maybe 10 days.

Now I have 2 opportunities to do 65 mile organized rides on successive weekends. I want to do both: fun people, lovely countryside, but I want to ENJOY them BOTH. I know many more experienced, fit and younger riders would do this on back to back days, but my recovery time is an issue. Also, I'll be on a camping trip until about 5 days before the first ride so I won't have a lot of time in the saddle just prior.

Any tips or strategies? Or should I just choose the short route for one of them? That seems like such a waste of a planned course and sag stations!

Thanks!

[KnottedYet]

Perhaps if you just make sure to eat and drink a bit more often on the bike (like if you normally eat every 45 min, eat at every 30 min instead) and go at a comfortable cruising speed during your first ride, you won't be too tired for the second the following weekend?

(I assume you've already covered bike fit, and found your preferred electrolyte replacement drink and carbo rich bike food.)

It might be a matter of pacing yourself and keeping fueled so you don't dip into your body's reserves, so you will not be so tired for the next weekend. If your 65 mile ride took 7-10 days to recover from, maybe going easily can cut your recovery time (and your body had done this before, so it might recover faster anyway.)

[Pedal Wench]

I think you'll be fine with a week in between. Even if the rides were back-to-back days, if you properly drink, eat and rest the night in between, you should be fine!

[Tiffany]

Also make sure you ingest (drinks or bars) enough protein immediately (or as soon as possible) after your ride. It will help repair your muscles and shortens recovery times. Hoever, the longer you wait after the ride, the less effective it is.

[Thorn]

What Knotted said. Another way to look at it...since 65 is still a good distance for you, you might want to follow the suggestions I once read for a century. The author stressed the importance of starting out easy. For the century they suggested that for the first 75 miles (40 to you), you should strive to not put pressure on your legs. That is, make sure you're in a comfortable gear with a good cadence.

You're in the western part of the state? It can be a little hilly out there along the river. So, taking the first 65 easy means no hill stomping. Use your triple for the ride. Sit back and smell the roses. See the cows. Eat well. Make sure you have some good protein after the ride.

But, you should be able to do it. Cut out harder rides during the week before the first ride (hmm..good, you'll be camping) and take only shorter, easy rides between them. What's the worse that happens? You have to cut the second ride short. But, you also could surprise yourself and wouldn't that be neat?

[maryellen]

get plenty of rest, drink plenty of water, and stretch a lot in the week between the two rides and i think you will be fine.

[Look]

Thanks for all the encouragement!
I have one problem though...you're cutting out all the fun! I like stomping the hills when I'm fresh. And I like gunning it on the flats with the wind on my back! I'll try to be a grown up and delay the gratification though, if it will get me through. I'd be very pleased with myself if I can do this.

My trainer (who I haven't seen all summer because I can't come in from the road) also suggested massage in between. I LIKE that idea.

And I'll try to expand beyond shot blox and the provided cookies. It's possible I didn't eat enough last time.

Thorn, you're right, we have our share of hills. I'm learning to love them, when I'm not hating them. I'm planning my ride tomorrow just to get an especially big one in!

I'll let you know!

[Pedal Wench]

I'll stress again the need for recovery drinks. I love Endurox R4 - chocolate milk flavored, but regular chocolate milk is probably just as good (lactose intolerant, so I can't tell ya!) I use them on weeklong tours, and I'm convinced that's what enables me to ride 70-90 mile days back2back2back...