Rat,

Are you getting enough calories? Mental fatigue is one of the first signs of an on-coming bonk. Especially in the mileage range you are at right now, you need to make sure you are getting enough in. Throughout the ride.

I had trouble increasing my distance right at that point, too, between 40 and 60, but after that the miles came easily. How I did it was on Saturday ride, say, 40 miles. On Sunday, ride half that, 20. Ride in the evenings when possible. Next Saturday, 50 miles. The following Sunday, 25 miles. And so on.

Get a nice "meal" such a recovery drink and a bar, or a _real_ meal, at the halfway point. Get off your bike a couple times and walk around- that really perked me up in the second half of longer rides when I was in that 40-60 mile range.

Sooner than you can imagine, 40 miles will feel like what you want to do before dinner, and 60 -70 will be a nice easy Saturday ride.

Nanci