I'm entered for the London to Bath ride on 5th October.
Whilst I can't find a route, bottom line is this is 113 road miles that I'll be doing on my Rock Lobster.
The distance is going to be a challenge, I'm training to get up to a reasonable level but averaging 13 mph average over a 30 mile ride, which is not fast.
I've fitted Schwalbe City Jet tyres and changed the top gear chain ring to 48 teeth to get the biggest gear I can. Currently having good Hope hubs remade with new rims which should help rolling speed.
I'm hoping once the roadies are out of the way I can draught a few other mountain bikers (taking my turn of course), maintain a steady pace and do one hour sessions, five minutes rest, one hour session, five minutes rest.
Event starts at 7.00am and finishes at 5.30pm. 10.5 hours which on my current speed is going to be pretty tight !
Any tips, advice appreciated. I've got a month to the ride and feeling that whilst I can do this I've bitten off quite a lot!
Make sure your bike is as light as possible, don't carry too much extra kit and have the lowest rolling resistance as possible.
Training wise I would be doing a long ride at weekends slowly increasing up to distance with shorter faster rides in the week.
The more hours spent in the saddle riding the better really.
Are you riding with SPDs or flats? If the latter then consider investing in SPDs.
SPDs definitely.
The best way of reducing weight is reducing it off me and I'm hoping the next few weeks will see that happen.
I'll take a few essentials on a beam rack so there's nothing on my back. Tools, pump, malt loaf, gels, phone, waterproof.
This weekend's ride was 30 miles, looking at 45 this weekend, 55 then 65 miles. If I can get to that level I should be OK.
More than one rear light, one on bike and one on you.
Ditch the beam rack it's wasted weight
Get the tyre pressures up as high as possible.
What bars are you running? Big wide ones will turn you into a windsock and probably be really uncomfortable after 3-4 hours in the one position. Consider fitting some cheap narrow flat bars and some long bar ends to get you lower and give you a couple of hand positions. And check your seat is as high as it should be to get proper leg extension and not damage your knees.
Valid points, thank you.
Like the idea about smaller bars,I do feel I am the complete opposite of aerodynamic most of the time.
I've a flat bar with Ergon GP2s on, about 56cm wide so on the stubby ends I can bend elbows IN like on a roadie. Defo no rack either.