[Closed] 24hr solo. 1st timer. Some pointers?

keen not to end up with egg on my face.

Don't pack any eggs?

Are you competing or just taking part?

DOH! Sound advice.
I was thinking of using the on-site catering where possible anyhow. The chicken sweet 'n' sour at Bonty last year had me coming back for more as this is a real weakness - getting enough food down my throat as I just lose my appetite.
I'm trying to eat 1x Gel and 1x energy bars per 70 mins on my rides at present but still struggle.

Nic: I'm going to try and do as many laps as I physically can without running into the proverbial brick wall.

I also struggle to eat during exercise, maybe you need to just pile loads of carbs in for a couple of days prior to the event. Please note that I've never done any endurance riding, but I'm positive you'd perform better with at least some sleep.

still strugle? find something you can stomach.... gells and bars aren't for everyone

steady as she goes, then. get the hours in the saddle, get used to doing 5-6 hours at a time, nice steady, even paced stuff. get used to putting food in as well.

The gels I'm fine with but need more than that I suspect.
I have tended to alternate between 1 lap water & 1 lap water and powdered carbo / electrolyte in my bottles as the past as I find I actually get thirsty if the powder mix is even a little too concentrated.

Start slow, get slower and whatever happens make sure you go out for a lap an hour before the closing time?
If you feel like you can speed up you can, if you feel like you can't go on, you probably can, but it will be harder.
Ridden through the night but not done an event. I would have to go out for a final lap to have "finished" no matter how long a break I had had, need a target to aim for next time...

I think the longest that's ever been recorded on my computer during a 24hr race was just over 22hrs. Obviously the more the better!

I've always tried (and often failed, but that's a wholly different story) to not "stop" properly - if you sit/lie around for long you'll start to seize up and it'll be twice as hard to get going again.

Your body will probably try to shut down in the wee small hours - eating will be difficult, concentrating will be hard and you'll probably have some shocking laps with awful riding. It's OK, it's part of the challenge - during the part you have to start really telling yourself to MTFU 🙂

Remember: you *can* keep going, even though your body has convinced you that you can't...it IS meant to be that unpleasant 😉

If you can find someone to help out it can be a great help but, when it comes down to it, it's you that has to be hard. I'm sure you'll have no serious problems. I also reckon there'll be a great atmosphere in the pits with everyone being in the same situation.

Tow bike would be good, not essential unless you're really in it to win it during a muddy race, but helpful. If you can keep as many of the parts interchangeable, but it's no biggie.

Eat anything you can, anything is better than nothing and don't force down gels and sickly bars making yourself feel ill. Come those early morning laps when your body is revolting against still being up and riding the energy in a babybel you managed to eat will be better than the mega-nutrients in a powerbar that still in your jersey pocket 😉

As said above - competing or taking part? I have done two solo 24 hrs definitely at the "taking part" My tips based on attempting to scrape into the top half:-

I ended up riding for around half the 24 hrs. My schedule being ride a lap, short stop, ride a lap 1/2 hr stop.

Getting enough food into you is crucial - you will need max calories possible - around 7000 is the most you can absorb IIRC. For me its a mix of foods - soups, pasta, chocolate and flapjack / porridge - you want a mix of high and low gi foods.

Fluids - I used the apple juice / water /salt mix which is as good as any sports drink and is palatable. Be aware of over watering - a litre and hour is 5 gallons - far too much and you risk washing salts out of your system. I used half a bottle an hour and that was fine at the puffer in the cold.

You need to set yourself a sustainable pace and stick to it. Don't get racy with faster people - you will run out of laps in your legs before you run out of time unless super fit. Mental prep is really important as well. Make sure your bike is efficient and comfy. Alfine, mary bars and thudbuster for me on a hardtail.

Training - I just rode as many miles as possible and some at a higher pace than usual.

Have fun.

Ti29er - good luck with it! Couple of thoughts:

1. GET A PIT BITCH - I've done 10 24's without one and will never do it again. The drive home is not fun or safe as well . . . .
2. Riding time - 20hrs or so as I cleaned my own bikes etc.
3. Nutrition - I play safe and mix drinks around, eat 1 gel and 1 energy bar per laps and then have savoury snacks - marmite crisps, peanuts, rice crackers and anything to take away the taste of suger - especially picililli and ham finger rolls. Get a thermos for soup which is easy to digest and eat, and always stock up too much on food. Practice long rides and see what your stomach tells you - if it shuts down you are xxxxxd.
4. Hydration - it's hard to drink enough - maybe 600-750ml an hour if I'm lucky. I've tried elete electrolyte and it's great to help avoid cramps.
5. Bikes - I always get both bikes in tip top shape beforehand - it's a big psychological help, as is spare wheels and tyres.
6. Sleep - do it if you have to. If you are spaced out at 3am you will crash and will hurt yourself - so losing an hour or two and 7 or 8 places is a safety call really. Psychologically I think it is hard from 11pm to 5am - if you have demons \ doubts \ issues \ motivation problems they will come out to play so be ready for that. Or just sleep!
7. Training - just do loads! I really do a 24 on my anaerobic threshold (168bpm) and try not to go into the red - and walk the hills to save energy. I am not too proud to push!
8. Pace - go easy at the start or suffer after 12 hours. It's your race - and that's why the anearobic threshold works for me as it's my pace guide.
9. MP3 player - handy at night on low volme - it really helps.
10. Try and enjoy it! I enjoy finishing them more than riding them - there is a deep satisfaction to be gained from achieving a finish. So much so I will do mayhem again this year, having promised myself that I wouldn't do it again!

All the best!

If you want anyone to ride with nearer the time locally give us a shout.
I've done a load of 24 and 12 solos, but none were that special. I've always tried to ride the lot and not stop. Unfortunately I get big stomach problems at about 12 hours. Though with support I can manage a 12 solo without pitting.
My first was the best, years on I couldn't find the enthusiasm.
Anyway I think I'm up the road from you?
Interestingly I was talking to a MM winner in the tent after the race and he suggested going as fast as you can early on based on the fact you won't be any quicker later on.

Thanks.
Also, do you guys slide away for a shower?
I think I'd feel like a new man and ready to re-join the fray after a sh"t,shower,shave at 6am.
I 'll be trying out different feeding combos in the coming months though I am sold on fresh pinapple and grapes to cleanse the palate. Yumyum!

Old - I'll look you up once I'm ready for a spin out on the roads for 5hrs around Ashridge etc.

Wet ones are the way forward - or Boots cucumber wipes make a difference too! I always take five changes of gear plus 2 sets of foul weather gear just in case 😉 Oldgit also makes a very valid point about the faster start - but if you blow up 6 hours in as a result it can ruin your day. If you know your body then you'll be fine either way!

101st/150 solo men at MM last year with 14 hours of actual riding, my one and only 24hr solo so far.
I find it just about impossible to eat during endurance races. Bizzarely, salted cashew nuts were all I could force down in any quantity. Find what works for you and take plenty.
I also find gels and sports drinks a bit sickly after a while. Take two bottles or bottle and camelbak so you can wash the sugar down with plain water if you get the same problem.

Take all the spare bikes and clothes you have got. I wrecked a tyre at Cheddar 10 hour, wobbled back to the start, swapped the complete front wheel off my spare bike and carried on. Much easier than changing a tyre.

Last year at MM, I was having a break after every lap. The breaks got longer until eventually I fell asleep. Epic fail.
I've done a few 12s, but I think the step up to 24 was too much.
This year I'm going to treat it as an 18 hour race.
Rather than ride for 12 hours, then get demoralised because I can't face another 12, and give in, I'll try to keep going for 18.
After 18, it'll only be another 6 to go.
I don't know if that will work, but it's worth a try.

Cheers.
This is all based on having come 9th at Bonty 24 mens vet pairs last year and feeling good, even if I only did 11 laps (there would have been plenty more but my team mate fell asleep at 3am at a transition back at his tent).

Plus, having now ridden the trails at Newcastleton and Kielder, when the inaugrial UK 24hr championships were invented (!) I thought I'd have some of that!

All I need do now is get my head down and train like I mean it. March & April will fly by and then we'll be into May with 22 day to go. Hell Fire!

Four things I've realised in three solos with ok results:

1) Do everything you can to enjoy it. Make this your main aim and you'll not only have fun, but probably do quite well.

2) Make sure that when you stop, you're doing something useful (eating, fixing etc). If not, get up and get going.

3) Before you start, accept that you're going to feel awful from time to time. You'll feel like you're done, going really slowly and that everything hurts. Then you'll realise there are still 16 hours to go. Don't worry - you aren't done, your lap will be no slower than normal and the next one will be much better. The knowledge that you're going to feel this way helps you get through it!

4) I can't handle energy products AT ALL after the first 5 hours or so. But a combo of tea and jacobs cream crackers with honey and bananas works a treat!

EDIT - oh, and one more! The whole 'start slow and go slower' thing doesn't work for me. Start at a reasonable pace and try to keep it going. Make sure you never push it into the red (don't race team riders except on descents!) and it seems to work out fine! (I like to ride at least one section out of the saddle each lap as well, just to reassure myself that I can).

And at this time of the whole training thangg , with the race being 22/23 May, how often would you be out on the bikes and for how long?

I realise it differs from rider to rider, and we've had a dreadful February, but I'd appreciate some thoughts on this too.

Cheers

http://www.sip-events.co.uk/solo-home.html

Don't start too slowly, but make sure you find a pace that you are very comfortable with. You will only get slower, no matter what pace you start at.

Take plenty of different food/drink options as you might feel like something totally random in the middle of the night. Simple, easy to digest foods are best but not always possible. Personally I stick to energy drinks and gels throughout. Perhaps having some jelly babies, rice pudding or chunks of mars bar.

Don't over drink. Just listen to your body and drink when your thirsty. 400ml per hour is about right for me.

Midnight through to dawn is the hardest. Give yourself some sort of motivation at dawn like a reward of some kind. Splitting the race into segments (either 4, 6 or 8 hours) can be a big help.

Don't sit down. It's hard to get back up 🙂

good hefty meal the night before

good hefty breakfast - a good while before the race

keep eating little and often

listen to your body - unless your mtbmatt who in his case will just push harder 😉 as someone who wants to finish its important you recognise when your over exerting or no ammount of will power will keep you going

Will power if failing me today. Looking outside I've decided on deferring the ride 'til tomorrow!

well heres a kick up the arse - get out there it aint gonna do it by its self !

Ive taken to night riding rather than day riding - even at weekends , bit weird really but i prefer to ride at night !

I think its the lack of variation of trails so at night they feel different - and the bogey man chasing me !

Thanks but no thanks!
Working from home I can choose when I ride, so if I fancy a Tuesday 11am ride, then that's waht I go and do.
Yesterday was 2 spinning classes back-to-back which has left me knees a little sore.
One spinner managed to get a towel caught in her front wheel and the bike stopped dead in its spin; no idea what she tore or snapped but it looked very painful.

[i]Fluids - I used the apple juice / water /salt mix which is as good as any sports drink and is palatable.[/i]

Apart from the ones that have carbs in them. TBH I found that I couldn't eat enough carb rich food and keep it down, so a drink that can help in that dept is worth considering

Matt overtook me so often last year I just assumed there was a wiggle sponsored team at first.

Expect to feel awful at times. Keep riding: it gets better.

Eat: anything you can! (as they already said)

consider walking some of the climbs from pretty early on (bear in mind my comment about being overtaken a lot by the fastest guys though!). The road climb at the start of the second half of the lap at MM was my chosen walking spot, usually chatting to the guys spinning up it at the same pace. Cost about 30secs each lap I reckon, saved lots of heartbeats and meant that I was faster for the next mile or so than I would have been otherwise. Uses the muscles/back differently too for a bit of variety

I have a fantastic shot from that very place, taken at 01:00 on a tripod and with a 200mm lens, I'm entering it into this year's www.px3.fr international competition.

mtbmatt - as in Mayhem Matt, Mr Wiggle?

nickc - Member

Fluids - I used the apple juice / water /salt mix which is as good as any sports drink and is palatable.

Apart from the ones that have carbs in them. TBH I found that I couldn't eat enough carb rich food and keep it down, so a drink that can help in that dept is worth considering

Apart from the apple juice has carbs in it and the same amount of carbs as sports drinks as its isotonic. Fructose mainly

i used fruit juice and water at last 24 i did - worked fine