ACG and all, everything that Bike Goddess says about the ride is absolutely true! Especially:

"Riding for 7 days is hard work no matter how you look at it. Although the rest stops are fun and keep the daily ride interesting, you have to have the mental stamina to do this ride successfully."

I find it's not so much the miles, well it IS the miles, but it's the back to back to back'ness of it all. My cousin and his DP do double centuries often and he scoffs at the idea of this ride. Not scoffs really, just "too easy" for us, we do doubles".

Alrighty then what do you do the day after?

"Sleep"

OK ;-)

On ALC or any multi day tour you'll get up and do it again and again.... So work on recovery, stay fed, hydrated and comfy.

I don't know if this is correct but last year Spazzdog had me do hill repeats or jumps once a week *the last 3 months before the ride* (not yet, I'd stay with the subliminal hint unless you're already doing this).

I credit her tip with better ability to recover.

What BG says, the rest stops are fun but you'll get in and outa them, maybe 15 minutes at rest and water stops and 1/2 hour at lunch, tops. If you spend more time you'll get cold, stiff.