[Closed] Talk to me about 24 hour solo racing

You won't win, but mental toughness is a huge element of finishing, just keep plodding on! And keep eating.

I wasn't planning on winning the event, just hope to win my own personal race to the finish line. Is that not what 24hr events are all about - winning your own race?

Just do it. As you go, console yourself that there is only such and such a time left to do.

eg, "Thank god, there's only 23 hours and 55 minutes left of this" - repeat several times each lap 🙂

See you there.

mental tactics; break it into smaller chunks.

ride for a few hours few hours and eat something that resembles dinner, few more hours breakfast etc.

I entered the Clic24 solo two weeks before the event without any training, I didn't do all that well (still in the top 5) but I didn't die.

If you have reasonable fitness and a positive mental attitude then you'll be fine, your only enemy is the weather.

Off at a tangent: it might be prudent to check all your close families birthdays and anniversaries if you'd managed to forget this event’s date!

You only need forget your wedding anniversary just the once to better understand what I’m talking about.

I've done a few solo 24's and whilst every single one has hurt like hell, I normally get through it by remembering that no matter what, its just one day. Think what it must be like for Trans At solo sailors, or artic explorers, etc, who are out for weeks.

I'd put off doing a solo for years saying that I never felt I was fit enough and hadnt trained for it but eventually I realised that someone like me is never actually EVER going to be 'fit enough' so just go with what you've got and enjoy it.

Richie

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006th1n

How much water should we drink?

For a man of his age (late 40's) it's considered average that his fat % to be 22-25%.
Men's bodies contain 50% water, women's 30%.
Endurance athletes can lose up to 2-4ltrs of water per hour with exercise. If you lose more than 2% of your body weight from sweating (ie - not replaced fully) then performance is impaired.
This loss of 2% can occur within the first hour of exercise.
At the elite level, replace water loss to include water with sodium & sugars.
Look at urine colour - pale straw colour is best, orange is not hydrated enough.
Weight loss and weigh-ins can provide the person with a good idea of how much they sweat per hour during exercise.
1kg of weight loss = approx 1ltr of sweat.
Too much water before or during exercise can result in a stitch (runners more perhaps?).
Small amounts and often is the best way to hydrate.
Alcohol = net fluid loss (unless it's very weak beer).
Glass of wine = loss of 100ml of fluid.
A shot = 150ml loss.
Don't hydrate with sugary drinks.
Tea & coffee contain caffeine and so after 2-4 cups of tea, only then will the diuretic effect kick in. Coffee has 2x the amount of caffeine as tea. Espresso and such like are not good as you take in very little water at the same time.

You'll be reet!

Best thing to remember: It's only riding a bike!

Eat when you can, drink when you can, push on when you think you can't (I get the sneaking suspicion there'll be a good atmosphere out on the course, so give encouragement when you can and appreciate it when others encourage you)...just ride your bike 🙂

Good luck, see you there

Ewee see, with a word like "reet" you instantly know Dave is a Yorkshire Man and therefore tough from his 'ead t' his toes, so don't try and keep up with him as he's off t' podium (via & a spot of ploughing on his tractor, clutchin' a Yorkshire puddin' & perhaps some black puddin'). By'Ek Lad, he's a bit nifty o'tut bike, ain't ee?

I forgot to say that i'm doing it singlespeed too. Have gears ranging from 32:14 to 32:20.

Are you really from Dundee? I know someone running pretty much the set up you are. Just keep plodding and remember it's easier for your lungs to recover than your legs. If you are building lactic acid you are pushing too hard (unless you're a hardened racer)
I'm snacking every two laps through teh day then bigger "meal" come dinner time then snacking until the halucinations take me. All this is assuming i get the bikes built up in time otherwise i'll be wheelying the event.
See you there (blue Kona Kula, team: disco calves(mtb-borders.com))

At the end of the day you are probably "very slow, or even very very slow!!"

Two other things:
sun tan lotion & midgie spray.

PS - I'm going to try 1x energy bar & 1x gel per hour plus propper food based on rice every 3-4hrs in small amounts.

I forgot to say that i'm doing it singlespeed too. Have gears ranging from 32:14 to 32:20.

Oh in that case, you're ****ed. 😉

Fig rolls one every 20mins or so while riding to keep the energy ticking over.

Skin so soft a real must (i'll have three bottles with me)

Kevonakona. I'll swap one of your bottles of skinsosoft for some steroids.

😀

Done 😈

Oh don't forget the chamois cream.

Why use chamois cream when I have a peroneum like leather and a brooks saddle?

On that note: does anyone ride with 2x pairs of padding on long rides, ie an extra insert?

With the weather set to be warm / humid, many changes of tops.

Whats with the 548m of ascent per lap. Thats just not cricket.

http://www.bikemagic.com/event-news/24-hours-of-exposure-course-preview/8044.html

The first solo you do is always the best it was for me anyway. By my tenth solo I didn't want to get out of my tent and start. Then I had a years break and attempted SITS solo again and I was enjoying it until I crashed and broke a finger.
No plans to do one again now and I now prefer to race short stuff weekly.
Good luck everyone.

On that note: does anyone ride with 2x pairs of padding on long rides, ie an extra insert?

Never heard of that.

In her GDR write-up, Jenn mentioned switching between shorts made by two different manufacturers, so the chamois were different shapes. That was on a daily basis on a very long event though, so probably not worth bothering about for a 24.

I'll just wear my jeans I guess! 😉

Leaving shortly, so pop by for a cuppa everyone. Blue family sized tunnel tent, Blue Passat, reg ending in TFP, riding a Ti On-one 29er and a silver Turner Flux.

I'll be one of the guys bivvying, riding a rocklobster, but not at the same time.

Can't you tie one hand behind your back to make it a little harder on yourself? 😉

On that note: does anyone ride with 2x pairs of padding on long rides, ie an extra insert?

I have done on both solo-12s I've done, very comfy indeed. Came as a tip from Gee from these parts, who's done a number of 24 solos.

A more enthusiastic moment for me at MM.
[img] [/img]

On the other hand, I gave two pairs of shorts a test before I did D2D last year and I hated it. In the race I went for my favourite shorts and lots or arse lard and was fine. I would worry far more about the state of my hands. I lost feeling and control of some of my fingers for about a week after only a 12 hour race.

12 hour solos are the way to go for mortals, at least with those you really can ride non stop, or at least get a helper to feed you even if it means standing astride your bike on the course.