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...

[eclectic]

What kind of bike are you riding? and I assume this isn't a race.

I completed a tour where we had 65 mile days back to back w/ headwinds. All told we did 430 miles in one week. I went into it having done a metric century but not back to back.

I didn't have any trouble and was able to a century on the 4th day and ride 45 miles again the next day.

The key was to pace myself and never pass up a rest stop w/ a chance to eat, drink and be merry.

Having a week in between will be a piece of cake for you - have the massage just because they feel good

BTW - I am 50 years old and was riding a specialized Sequoia road bike if that makes any difference

I say go for it! you will do great

[mtbdarby]

Look. where are you and what rides are you thinking of doing? I'm up in Merrill and have been eyeing up the Gainsville Pie Ride and Cream City Century. It'd be nice to meet up if it fits in the schedule.

[indysteel]

I think you should give it a try, taking the advice to have drink a post-ride recovery drink, e.g., chocolate milk, within a half hour of the first ride, followed by a meal that incorporates both carbs and protein, lots of rest, healthy food, and stretching. I would further suggest doing at least two short, easy rides in betweeen.

In between now and then, work on building up your mileage volume. Do you ride both weekend days? I would use those back-to-back rides to get your body adapted to shorter recoveries. As a new rider myself, I have found that my body is pretty adaptive. It always balks a bit at each new challenge, but it doesn't take too long for it to get used to new stresses. I think you can do it without much problem with a little bit of training. And if you go slower on the second ride, who cares? Enjoy yourself anyway!

Good luck,

K-

[Look]

What a great place this is!

To answer some questions:
eclectic, They aren't races, just organized Sunday rides to raise money for local charitable organizations. I'm riding a Look 555, carbon road bike, Shimano 105 components, I'm a "re-entry" and have only been riding this go-around a few months. I'm 46 yo with much older knees!

mtdarby, these rides are both around Hudson, across the river from St. Paul. Although Merrill is a lovely area too if memory serves. Maybe we will cross paths sometime. Especially as my endurance improves and I do more of these.

and indysteel, I think I can fit in the back to back longer rides this weekend. Thanks for the suggestion!

Again, thank you all for the encouragement. Especially the encouragement to EAT!

[ibcycling]

Ah, just the discussion I was looking for! I'm hoping to do a 2-day ride in late September, 60 miles each day. I've got lots of riding to do between now and then to build up my mileage though. Last Sunday I did 36 (my longest so far) and was pretty tired this week. Felt good yesterday and plan to do 32ish today. I've got 7 weeks till the ride. I'd love any thoughts or suggestions on being ready for it.

Look - sounds like a great set of rides! Good luck to you and great job on the one you just did!

Lora

[Look]

I finished both 65 milers. The first one felt great. Beautiful day; the people I rode with pushed me but didn't smoke me; the ride was well supported and the food and drink at the rest stops were great.

During the week, I took it easy, just spinning the legs out a couple of times, got the massage, and ate lots of good healthy food, including lots of protein.

Yesterday's ride was harder. Windy and hilly course. Not nearly as well supported. And of course my legs were just tired. I had quite a bit of tightness in one hamstring during the week and so that was with me. At 30 miles I felt as wiped as I had previously after about 50 and called my husband to tell him to stand by. I even walked up one hill. I saw two friends off their bikes, one for a dropped chain and the other because of fatigue, and my brain just shut off. I walked. But that walk rejuvenated me and I finished fairly well.

I took all the advice. Protein right after the rides. Drank lots and ate plenty during the rides. Stretched. Took breaks. Just tried to stay steady instead of pushing myself early and wearing myself out. And I finished.

I don't know what the next goal is. But I'm certain one will present itself.
I probably have the whole winter season to think about it!

Another milestone... near the end of the course, my baby went over the 1000 mile mark. I got her in May, couldn't ride the first 2 weeks because of rain...so I'm pleased with that start.

[Starfish]

Another milestone... near the end of the course, my baby went over the 1000 mile mark. I got her in May, couldn't ride the first 2 weeks because of rain...so I'm pleased with that start.

You should be pleased...that's awesome!

I suspect you are going to really surprise yourself with what you can do next year.