Eat well and eat regularly. Energy food will get boring at some point so have other options. Pasta, pork pies and crisps all work well as they offer both different flavour and also different texture to gels. Saying that, caffeinated energy gels are a wonderful thing.

Surround yourself with positive yet stubborn people. At some point you’ll want to stop, that’s a given, so make sure when you do feel that way the person next to you will say “go on, just do a couple more laps” rather than “you’ve done well, have a rest”.

Don’t stop. If you do, you’ll find it very hard to start again so keep going, even if you keep going very slowly.

Drink lots of water, I like electrolyte tablets in the water but either way, keep yourself hydrated.

Have a change of kit, maybe 2. It’s a real psychological boost to throw on some fresh kit when you’re feeling low, personally, I love a pair of box fresh socks but you may find a top or shorts work just as well.

Break the 12/24 hours into smaller goals, 1 hour or 2 lap chunks with a reward at the end. My rewards tended to be food based but you may have other motivations!

It’s all personal preference but I only stopped for food or a specific reason. Once I’d finished eating/getting changed/whatever, I got moving again, I allowed myself 15 minutes stationary at a time, if I was not finished eating by then I took it with me. I also only allowed myself a set number of stops. I saw too many people sit down for a rest and not get back on the bike and I didn’t want to do that. But then, I like a plan, and this gave me one.

This was my tactic for both of the 24 hour rides I’ve done and the 1 250 mile ride (15 hours ish).

In the middle of the night it gets much colder and damper than you’d think. Doing Mayhem in June people are in a summer mindset of shorts and tshirts, but it can be late autumnal at 3am. In other words, take warmer clothes than you’d think.

Hence the stopping – when it’s cold, you get cold fast and won’t want to get moving again. Obv you can grab a few minutes for a stretch and some food but don’t stop too long.

Think about your favourite comfort food, and take some of that even if it’s not nutritionally optimal. I find I often crave really savoury things like sausages and pies; the energy drinks and gels kill off desire for jaffa cakes, jelly babies and whatnot, and I normally have a sweet tooth.

Also made loads of fajita chicken, peppers and onions, and rolled small portions up in half mini tortillas.