110mile charity cycle in 4 weeks time...can i manage it?

[smittykitty]

Mel, your training is going so great. Hills really get me down, 1st physically, then mentally. I really need to find some hills in our flat neighborhood and hit them hard.

And Ruby S, thanks for such a motivating post. Great perspective. I really needed that this week after a 30 mile, flat bike path toasted me the other day. (I guess I worked a little harder than normal, but still!). Life is really getting in the way for my July STP. I knew it would, but signed up anyway. I'm so stressed out that I think it is actually zapping me physically too. So glad you got through your ride without training as well as you should have.

I just decided I will honor a friend who lost a leg to cancer in her teens. I will picture her snow skiing, what a site. We lost her a few years ago, but not without living life to the fullest!

[rubysoho]

Glad you liked my post. I have to say many of the tips (fuel early and often, break but not for too long, think of the the ride in small pieces, etc...) all came from friends or people who have been doing so many of these long rides (I was listening in on conversations! ). Those are people that helped me get through the mental part of my ride. Which, I think, is a huge part of it. I hope passing it along helps you (and others) achieve your goal. Again, I think it is very attainable for you based on your posts.

Oh - I did come up with talking to cows I passed all on my own. I think they recognized me on day 2!

[azfiddle]

Mel, that sounds like a good plan with the mid-week training.

On the long rides, are you doing okay with nutrition and hydration?
Remember to eat at least 100 calories every half hour, with plenty of water. On my first century, there was one point where I just didn't want to eat, and knew that was probably when I most needed it, so I choked down a gel. I felt better after that.

You want to be really comfortable with what works with your system on a long ride before the big day- no surprises!

[rubysoho]

On my first century, there was one point where I just didn't want to eat, and knew that was probably when I most needed it, so I choked down a gel. I felt better after that.

That is the same way I felt on day two. I was force feeding myself from morning until I finished my ride. Wasn't sure I could keep down lunch but somehow managed. Calories coming is are so important!

For anyone doing longer rides... definitely make sure you are getting enough calories in from the very beginning of the ride. And if you can, I recommend using what you've been training with rather than relying on something at the ride stations - though you can use those fruits, etc... as supplemental.

A trick a friend taught me if you have a powder to mix in your drink. Make individual baggies for ever hour you plan to ride. Take a small pair of scissors as well (packed in the saddle bag or somewhere they won't be a danger to you!!). Then, cut a corner on the bag as you use them to make a new drink. It makes pouring sooooo much easier because it funnels the mix into your water bottle rather than you having to open the top of the baggie and tap and angle and try to get the mix in without spilling (and if there is any wind, good luck! It blows everywhere without the funnel).

[Mel.b]

Just back in from a 60km spin. I think i'm coming to the realisation that I don't actually enjoy long rides I actually felt the same last week on my 120km cycle. I enjoyed the first part but it just became a chore after that, but I had no choice about it and had to keep going. Today I was within 1km of the car and had another 40km planned in the other direction but I just didn't want to. Honestly I would have been happy turning around after an hour and heading back to the car. Even though today's scenery was beautiful, I enjoyed my shorter rides in town during the week more. Plus as I was cycling along the coast looking at the water, I was thinking 'gee, wish I was diving instead'

On the plus side, I made it up the hill that I had to push up 12months ago, so I was delighted with that. Today was the first time since that I have tried it. I was in the granny gear for a lot of it, but I made it I'm not sure where all of this leaves me for the 180km which is in three weeks time. I don't know if it's fitness and because I'm so slow and that I cycle alone (although I had my ipod today) which makes it seem tedious or what?

I got a garmin 500 during the week and I can see how this is going to be a big help with my training, especially with regards to improving my cadence which is low. Here is a link to my stats and course from today
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/189826102 (ignore some of that heart rate data as it was playing up)

And of course, I can't forget to add some photos (although I'm cheating as these were taken on a different day although same route)

[goldfinch]

So pretty!

[Catrin]

Beautiful! And it doesn't matter when you took them