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SDW - Am I mad?

48 posts & 30 voices | Started 2 years ago by Mulletus Maximus | Latest reply from nick1c

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Mulletus Maximus - Member

Thanks for all the advice, this is making me more determine to do it. Can't wait to get started tomorrow.
C_G, Mrs MM is going to the post office tomorrow so expect your Horseshoe next week.

Meet you half way between mine and yours if you want, then ride home, i need to rack some major miles up too.

Rusty, will be pestering you for rides very soon. Quite keen on doing the Sportive you've entered too. What sort of training are you doing? Must be hard with baby RT!! Will give you a call soon.

singletrackmind - Member

I too am signed up for the SDW in a day in July. If you would like to hook up to do some all day rides around Hants /Sussex then mail me direct, email in profile.

Would love to take you up on your offer. I'll be in touch soon, just need a few weeks of hard riding to build up a better level of base fitness.

Just make sure that you stay hydrated and eat plenty

Thanks Glen, some good advice. I sweat alot so electrolytes are always with me when I'm out riding.

Posted 2 years ago #
Chardo - Member

Mulletus, go for it - I did the 100 miler last year and I can quite honestly say that is gruelling, but brilliant to finish. I started training in February and got to 60 miles off road on training rides. The rest is in your head. I actually found the middle 30 miles passing Brighton the hardest. 1st 30 easy, just started - last 30 is a countdown. if you can dig deep and grind out those 30 miles you'll be fine. I'm no XC whippet either - 16st and I did it on a Pitch. 20 packs of Clifs shot blocks helped and the weather was bloody hot! Another consideration is water - 3L weighs a lot and some of the taps along the route were broken, so bear that in mind. The last piece of advice I can offer is try to cycle as much of the route beforehand as you can so you know where you're going. Nothing worse that being on energy reserves and taking a 1/2 mile wrong turn! Best of luck - really enjoyed it, but I won't be doing it again.

Posted 2 years ago #
spacemonkey - Member

IMO we have to be realistic here and recognise that people have "different make-ups" and not everyone has the physical/mental "set up" to meet the challenges that others can.

Sure, the SDW is do-able in 1 day for some, and certainly 2 days for others. But some people struggle to step up from riding say 2-3 hours to even double that. And then you've got to go maybe twice as much on top of that again. And then get up the next morning and start again.

Not everyone can sustain that level, nor can they recover effectively enough overnight.

However, I do believe the mental aspect can make the difference here. If the OP is seriously determined about doing this, then a combination of the right motivation, the right training, and the right preparation on the day(s) can make all the difference.

It is do-able ... but for some it requires considerably more effort than for others.

Posted 2 years ago #
spacemonkey - Member

I'd second what Chardo says and check out the route, e.g. do 50 miles or so from Winchester, and then the rest from somewhere like Truleigh. Familiarise yourself with some of the "turns" and be prepared. It's not a nice place to be when it's close on 30deg, you've made a wrong turn, you're miles from your car, and you're running low on fuel.

Posted 2 years ago #
corroded - Member

3-4 months is enough time, taking into account I don't know your starting point! If it were me, I'd be fitting in a mid-week road ride. I'd also be quite focused about it: rather than slog out 70-80-90 mile road rides, I'd be doing 40-50-60 miles at almost flat-out. Then recovering for two or three days. If I was really serious I'd try losing a bit of weight by cutting down on alcohol and watching what I ate.

You're right, the road is best for actually getting fitter, though I'm sure some will disagree. I would also say you don't need to even do a century before you do the ride, though again am sure others will disagree. You just have to 'know' that you can do it - much of the hardest work is mental. But it's definitely do-able (yes, I've done it in a day - harder than any of the Etapes I've done...)

Posted 2 years ago #
bikewhisperer - Member

Like Glencampbell said.. electrolytes! Meant that I only ached afterwards... but oh I ached then..
I was using 1 and a half nuun tabs in a 2l camelbak, and a 1l bottle on the bike with non electrolyte energy drink. I filled a load of zip-lok bags with bottle sized, strong doses psp22. Was easy peasy when we got to water stations then.
Take plenty of bars, sausage rolls, cheese sarnies etc. Gels with caffeine are awesome when it's getting on a bit! basically a bag full of food won't do you wrong.
3l seemed enough between each water stop and we did it in the summer. If you're a thirsty chap it might be worth taking a spare bottle though.

I went to meet some mates in the pub when I got to Winchester.. 2 pints and I was fast asleep in the corner.

Posted 2 years ago #
AndyRT - Member

Lightweight

have you finished your scientific novel yet?

Posted 2 years ago #
rusty trowel - Member

At least you're not carrying too much timber! Well unless you've been on the pies all winter.

Might be up home next weekend, so i'll give you a call then, although i dont reckon i can squeeze a bike in with 2 kids.

Posted 2 years ago #
njee20 - Member

I'd also be quite focused about it: rather than slog out 70-80-90 mile road rides, I'd be doing 40-50-60 miles at almost flat-out

I wouldn't, long and steady IMO. You're not training to ride a short distance at high speed, so don't train over short distances at high speed!

Posted 2 years ago #
rusty trowel - Member

You've got no chance! This assessment i based purely on the fact that i've just read that you shave your nuts and chest. Freak!

Posted 2 years ago #
Mulletus Maximus - Member

Every gram saved and all that!!

Didn't go to well this morning. Tyre blowout after only five miles. Balls
Will try again tomorrow.

Posted 2 years ago #
Ewan - Member

Honestly? Forget it. You've left it too late. The SDW is too hard to be starting training for now if all you do is 2 - 3 hour rides. I'm not being nasty, but really you're not going to be in a happy place for most of the ride, and if you can't enjoy it what's the point? Either aim to do this next year and work out a proper traing schedule, or if you're detirmined get your head around the fact that you'll suffer.

Ha ha. You're not serious. Don't get me wrong, it's double hard, but my longest training ride before doing it was only 50 miles and I didn't die.

Did it in 14 hours - to be honest i'd put in more training if I were doing it again, if only because the hills at the end are quite tiring. Just to add to that, I probably will do it again this year, but due to a snowboarding injury I've not ridden for the last month so i'll be starting from a pretty rubbish fitness level. That being said I intend to knock a fair amount off 14 hours, largely by just MTFU. I wasn't even considering starting to train for it until may. That'll be loads of time.

Posted 2 years ago #
nick1c - Member

If you can be flexible dry conditions & a tail wind will make a BIG difference.

Posted 2 years ago #