[Gary81]

Hi

I’m currently training for the Prudential Ride 100, I cycle to work (only 4miles each way) trying to do a hilly 25 miler in the week and a longer ride on the weekend. I’ve never done 100 miles before (current max 45) and wondered how far I should get up before August 2nd.

I set myself a goal of adding 10 miles a week to my long ride leading up to it to a max of 90 the week before. So working backwards 1 week to go 90 miles, 2 weeks to go 80 miles, 3 weeks to go 70 miles, 4 weeks to go 60 miles etc etc but surely doing a 90 miles the week before isn’t advisable?

I know when training for marathons they only suggest to train up to 20 miles and do the last 6 on adrenalin. So what’s the cycling equivalent 80?

Cheers

Gary

Topic

[edvelo]

Hi Gary,
Well done on
Hi Gary,

Well done on getting around. I also got around, thankfully without any mechanicals although I did have to pick a couple of guys out of the hedge after they took each other out. I made it around in 6hr 17m (I got through before they closed Leith Hill), moving time was 5hr33m.

If you ever want to join our rides we have a little club in Cranbrook, have a look for us on Facebook, Cranbrook Cycle Club.

Cheers,

Ed

[Gary81]

Hope everyone had a good
Hope everyone had a good ride. Despite 2 punctures I managed to get round in 7hrs which was my target. My Strava moving time was 6hrs 20mins so pretty pleased overall.

[LondonDynaslow]

If you can do 70 miles solo,
If you can do 70 miles solo, you’ll be fine. Just make sure you eat and drink enough on the day, because you can’t eat enough pasta the night before to fuel you for 100 miles. Other than that, it totally depends on your aims really, but don’t forget to enjoy the spectacle.

[Gary81]

Hi Chrissie
Original poster
Hi Chrissie
Original poster here, sounds like your more than prepared, one long ride at the weekends is fine. I’ve been struggling to do that of late and coming down with a sickness bug last weekend feels like its put me back to square one. As a result my longest ride has been 53 miles so i’m pretty apprehensive but sure i’ll grit my teeth and get through, it wouldn’t be the first time. I hoping to get in 70 miles on Saturday and one last hill session probably over mamhead on Monday then i’ll rest up until Sunday. Good luck!

Gary

[Chrissie]

Hi,
This is also my maiden
Hi,
This is also my maiden 100 miler and although I’m apprehensive, after reading these messages I think I’m doing ok. I’m also from East Devon and have been training over the local hills (Mamhead/Peak Hill). My longest ride was 71miles which took me from Exmouth through Lyme Regis and back via Axminster and Sidmouth. Total climb was around 5000ft but I’m not breaking any world records where speed is concerned but I’m averaging 13mph so I should make it round ok…..I hope. My only concern is that I’m only able to do one long ride at the weekends, I’m running and swimming twice a week though as I’m taking part in a local Triathlon this weekend. This is a great site and I shall be dropping in again to keep up with all the great advice. Thanks

[Mike59]

Some good advice here. My
Some good advice here. My own experiences: I did the London100 last year, trained a lot (I live in Guildford so did Leith, Box etc) but only did an 80-miler before the big one. Although it was shortened, I had no major problems with the ride, but went out and did 100 miles the following week to see if I could!

Hardly any training this year in terms of distance – maximum was a 50-miler last week (all this due to family/work issues), but the main thing for me is not miles, but the time actually spent sitting on a bike saddle. An energy bar every hour and gel when I needed it saw me through last year.

As said above, Newlands is OK, Box is really not difficult (even for a 56-year old like me!) but I I find Leith the hardest. A series of short, steep ramps and false crests! The condition of the surface doesn’t help either. Never got off yet though!

Good luck and massive hope for better weather!

Cheers
Mike.

[edvelo]

Did 80 miles yesterday
Did 80 miles yesterday (following on from 45 VERY hilly miles on Saturday), my longest so far, and felt pretty good by the end. Stopped at predetermined times, kept well fed, drank a lot and averaged 17mph, which for me is faster than my previous ride.

New bike syndrome might of played a part, as well as wanting to get out of the rain, but either way, with 3 weeks to go I now feel ready for my first 100 miler.

[Beatnik69]

Last year I did my first 100
Last year I did my first 100 miler. I prepared by cycling to work most days (17 miles round trip) riding 30-40 miles on a Saturday or Sunday. I did a 60 mile sportive in July (my furthest distance to date) then an 80 miler at the end of August, a few weeks before the 100. A few weeks ago I cycled from Belfast to Dublin (108 miles) then back again the next day (which was easier, thanks in part to a tail wind). My advice would be to have a good breakfast ( I favour a big bowl of Ready Brek and an espresso) and eat when you get the chance, even if it’s something like a small chocolate bar. Good luck with it.

[MartinGS]

I was on Leith Hill last week
I was on Leith Hill last week and parked at the side of the road was a huge tarmac laying machine – so maybe the Leith Hill surface may be better come the August ride?!

[edvelo]

Gary81 – The goto hill is
Gary81 – The goto hill is Mamhead, a lovely climb with some pretty steep sections, but very enjoyable and a lot nicer than the very steep Sidmouth hills (Peak and Salcombe hill, which hit 30% ish I think).

My distances and elevation have increased, yesterdays ride was 65miles with over 5000ft of climbing, (a big jump from my previous best of 3100ft) but to be honest the pleasure of riding on Dartmoor really helped and the hills just flew by.

Good luck with your training.

[Judge dreadful]

Yes the hill at Wimbledon is
Yes the hill at Wimbledon is a bit of a mare, but only mentally, I’ve ridden up it after doing 70 odd miles, in the past. When you see it after that sort of distance, the first thing that you think is ‘FFS, really?’, but actually, it’s not as physically demanding as the earlier hills, because the adrenaline, and endorphins have been flowing for a while.

[bikebot]

The hill in Wimbledon, is
The hill in Wimbledon, is “Wimbledon Hill” 😀

It’s small compared to the Surrey hills but the gradient is steep, steeper than Box. The side roads between Ridgway and Worple Rd in Wimbledon are great for training. Try this! –
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.421032,-0.215222,3a,75y,292.12h,97.71t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sLxkhScU433naRTtIHzNV3w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[Daveyraveygravey]

Don’t forget there is another
Don’t forget there is another hill somewhere in Wimbledon, about 90 miles in. No-one mentions it, and it isn’t that hard on its own, but at the end of RL when you think you just have a flat bimble along the Embankment left it is a nasty shock!

Newlands isn’t bad, 45 miles in, big feed stop at the top. It took me an age to get through there in the first year, I would avoid it if possible.

Leith Hill is quite tough; it has narrow parts and the surface is awful in places. It can be a struggle to ride up with more than half the road blocked by walkers/pushers. I think it is around the 50 mile mark.

Boxhill is a lovely smooth surface, 60-odd miles in, very steady gradient (I think the Canadian Army put the road in for their tanks in preparation for DDay). The views are stunning, but it isn’t that steep due to the hairpins; I would say you would have to be a real novice to find it hard.

Lots of good advice previously, really focus on your pacing and staying at what you think is comfortable. I tried to hang on to a bunch that were doing 23 mph last year, it is a brilliant feeling while it lasts but really saps your energy for later.

I think doing a long ride is very important, it helps you prepare for things you may not have thought about, cramp in your shoulders, aching wrists, sore feet from being in cleats all day, never mind your butt. Work out how long you can go without stopping so you can figure out when to stop. If you have to stop every 2 hours, then don’t try and get a third of the way round without a break.

[Gary81]

Hi edvelo
I live in East
Hi edvelo

I live in East Devon too, where is your go to hill? I went up Mamhead for the first time last week which is about the same size as Box hill, and plan on train on that as much as possible. Sounds like your training is coming a long nicely if your comfortable up Haytor. I need to get more hills in as at this point it’s my weakness. Was planning on riding the Dartmoor classic (65mile) this weekend but not sure i’m ready for that much climbing yet.

[edvelo]

I’m riding this in August,
I’m riding this in August, and it will be my maiden 100 miler.

I live in East Devon, and looking at the profile of the three main hills on the route, they don’t overly bother me, what’s more concerning is that they are quite a long way into the route.

My local go to hill for training is the same length as Box Hill, but carries a 2% higher ave gradient.

Did Haytor yesterday, which is 3.6m at 6% and felt pretty comfortable (despite what my HRM was saying)

Either way, I plan to up my training time to around 5 hours in the saddle, and probably do one or two 80ish mile rides before the even to make sure I can last the time.

I’m really looking forward to the event, and the advise on this post is most helpful, so thanks very much.

[Author]

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