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200+ mile road ride...
 

[Closed] 200+ mile road ride, possible in a day or stupid idea?

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While I agree that it's well within the compass of a reasonably fit, determined cyclist, it couldn't be described as easy.

Depends on a lot of factors too. Travelling one way with a tailwind in a group is going to be relatively easy for the very fit. Having some kind of support makes it easier again. Pick a hilly route on a blowy day, stopping at service stations for the odd Ginsters, and it could be brutal.

Choose your route well. Take note of the climbing profile. Plan your stops along the way, a couple of good Cafes will give you a lift, and something to aim for.

Lots of climbing 170 miles into a ride will make you want to cry.

Completely do-able though. As mentioned, sign up for some Audaxes if you want some home made flap jacks served out of the back of a car along the way. And feel you ego deflate when you realise that a 70 year old bloke has finished half an hour before you.


 
Posted : 20/11/2015 7:01 pm
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[quoteAlways wanted to do 1 day C2C nut the logistics put me off.

Just ride back the next day?]


 
Posted : 20/11/2015 7:58 pm
 DrP
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Where abouts near Brighton are you? Email me if you want to discuss the ncn idea betwixt Devon and Brighton...

As mentioned,I rode BACK this way (over 2 days) and covered 250 miles riding ncn route 2.
On day 2 (bridport to home) I covered 150 miles but that was really flat tbh. The purbecks isn't hilly..the hills don't start until just after Dorchester, then it gets hilly.
So you'll have 60-70 miles of hillier terrain. Doable.
You'll also be into the wind...mostly.

I fancy another big ride soon...I still toy with doing the whole shebang again but in one go...

DrP


 
Posted : 20/11/2015 9:36 pm
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Done the Whitehaven to Tynemouth twice. Logistics are fairly easy if you accept a night in Whitehaven. Train over night before, find a cheap B and B (I paid about £30). Then ride back to Newcastle. Train out ride back is fairly easy for long rides - first one is the hardest but once you've bagged one you realise it works.

I'd stay away from frame bags etc. I managed my 300miler on the road with nothing more than a slightly larger saddle bag. Realistically the only extras you need over a century are a tiny amount of extra spares, arm, knee warmers and gloves for the chilly start. More food and water can be picked up. Checking the weather can eliminate the need for warmer clothes.


 
Posted : 20/11/2015 10:16 pm
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It's not too hard.

When I was younger that was my idea of a decent day on the bike.

If you're doing it in summer, then there's long days, so you don't even have to do any great speed.


 
Posted : 20/11/2015 10:59 pm
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On long rides I tend to ride for about 3-4 hours, then have a 5-10 minute stop every hour after that....I normally look for sheltered bus stops if it's raining, and nice benches if it isn't. Use those little breaks to have a look around you, eat something nice and think about all those rich people who aren't out on their bikes, but cooped up in an office somewhere! Makes the world seem a nicer palce :0)


 
Posted : 20/11/2015 11:36 pm
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Where are you? I organise www.ridetothesun.co.uk and the guys from www.shandcycles.com rode down from Edinburgh to Carlisle for the start and then rode back again overnight. They were training for the Transcontinental at the time.


 
Posted : 20/11/2015 11:49 pm
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did it in March this year, did the Yellowbelly Audax 200km but cycled there and back

5:54am start, 12h:54m elapsed, 11h54m moving, was flat though, 1200m climbing in total (Lincolnshire) horrific headwind out on the fens though, but a nice tailwind for about 80km from Skegness ish to Lincoln

I've done a 300km using home as base before as well, did 100km, went home for breakfast, another 100km and home for lunch then did the last 100km +30kph average for that one, although it was flat again 1400m

easier in summer, you need less layers and you get more daylight


 
Posted : 21/11/2015 9:30 am
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Where are you? I organise http://www.ridetothesun.co.uk and the guys from http://www.shandcycles.com rode down from Edinburgh to Carlisle for the start and then rode back again overnight. They were training for the Transcontinental at the time.

A friend and I were going to do it as part of a loop from Newcastle. However, the 300miler the weekend before took us too long to recover from. There was no way I was in a fit state to do another one 6 days later. Maybe 2016, I saw your email about the date.


 
Posted : 21/11/2015 9:37 am
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Where are you? I organise http://www.ridetothesun.co.uk and the guys from http://www.shandcycles.com rode down from Edinburgh to Carlisle for the start and then rode back again overnight. They were training for the Transcontinental at the time.

A friend and I were going to do it as part of a loop from Newcastle. However, the 300miler the weekend before took us too long to recover from. There was no way I was in a fit state to do another one 6 days later. Maybe 2016, I saw your email about the date.


 
Posted : 21/11/2015 9:38 am
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Having done the c2c in a day one year we wondered how far we could go. The next year we did a tour of the edge of Northumberland which ended up being about 210 miles. Tbh we got bored at the end rather than tired.
We stopped at the cafe at Elsdon and when the owner heard what we were doing he mentioned it to an old fella who was tucking into some beans on toast. He asked us how far we would go then said, "Aye, I'll probably have done about that when I get home". Just a normal day for some folk.


 
Posted : 21/11/2015 10:10 am
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