Training for 50 mile bike ride

I've never really had any set training goal to add mileage in a certain time frame, but have done a number of 50+ mile rides, usually more just timed based on my free time and weather.

But either way, the only way to add distance is to add distance. Depending on your fitness level you may well be able to go much farther currently then you think you would. If not, gradually build your cardio base and leg strength to support the distance and pace you want to reach.

Also consider the extra support needed for long distances if riding by yourself. Tire repair gear, more fluids and solid fuel at some point, as well as possible pick up if you suffer damage to your bike that you can't repair or limp home. For most people, fuel will become more important at a set distance/pace. Generally you want to fuel as you go rather than wait until you are too much at an energy loss. Eat and drink before you need to to replenish calories you are burning. Bike fit and adjustments you might not notice at shorter distances can go from minor notices or annoyances to painful experiences or pace killers if not addressed.

More info on your specific ride might help others with specific training methods or goals and timeframes. And hopefully bring up some items other than what I have mentioned. Have fun, stay safe, and go ride your ride!

newway2b wrote: »

Hi all I decided at the beginning of year to do the London to Brighton bike ride . I currently only ride my bike to work and back about 5 miles round trip.. not 55miles. I was wondering for anyone who is currently training or has trained in the past for long bike ride could give me some pointers please? And if you were training now if you fancy a virtual buddy?

As others have said, the way to train to go more distance is to add more distance.

I am a weekend rider and regularly ride on weekends 20-60mi (30-100km.) But I'm also a fair weather rider, so if it's nasty outside, I'll go take a spin class.

I do second the concerns about fueling along the ride. If I'm riding at an 18-20mph clip, I'll burn 1000 calories in an hour. At some point, I need to start putting some fuel back into my body. Might just be a banana or apple, or a sports drink like a Gatorade or similar, especially if it's hot outside and I'm sweating as I ride.

Make sure your bike fits, as you'll be on it 3-4 hours I suspect. Make sure you have comfortable bike clothing to wear for that time period, and make sure you have a plan to refuel and hydrate over that time period.

Hills. Long slow hills. Practice them.

If you haven't already, get a fitting for you and your bike. There are two obstacles to riding that sort of distance: having enough energy to finish, and being comfortable enough on your bike to finish. Having the bike fit to you helps you about issues that may not be apparent on shorter rides, like if the dimensions of the bike force you into the wrong posture.

I'll basically second what everyone else has said. I would also say, figure out how to eat and drink on the bike well before your ride. Not just literally how to do it but what you're going to eat, how it makes you feel, when you think you might need it, etc. Also practice changing a flat. I'm assuming there will be support at the event, but it's a good think to know how to do in general - especially if you end up having a flat while you're training for the event.

Lastly, invest in bike shorts (or bib shorts) and remember to wear them without underwear (doing otherwise would defeat the purpose.

Ok as folks have said use the provided training plan organizers do know what they are doing. Start lengthening your rides.

On actual day-commando under padded women specific bike shorts is the way to go. No chafing.

newway2b wrote: »

Thank you everyone. I feel inspired to get going now. I did a 8 mile bike ride after work today.got super hungry so will need to eat often it seems. Need to get padded pant things. It all feel a bit heavy on my hybrid. .. I may have to explore using my mountain bike. How to I carry everything?

Well done.
Tyres make a huge difference on hybrids and mountain bikes, swapping knobbly off road tyres for road tyres reduces rolling resistance markedly. As does the right tyre pressure of course!

The trick is to carry as little as possible. I may even have resorted to weighing two one pound coins to see if they weight less than a single two pound coin....

"Sleeves" & "legs" make a great lightweight additions for long rides to cope with variations in temperature and pack down really small when not needed.
Example - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/arm-leg-warmers/

There's food and drink stops along the way so no need to carry all your food and drink for the entire day, just enough to get to the next stop.

A cycling jersey has big back pockets you can stuff things in.

A small saddlebag and your pockets should be enough - otherwise there's a good chance you are simply taking too much stuff.

I just came back into cycling after a couple of decades away. Family bought me a nice new bike as a retirement/Christmas gift, to pedal my way into a much healthier place.

In the old days, I put a lot of miles on a touring bike, and carried a lot of stuff around with me when doing anything other than a loop around town. I was a good Boy Scout ("be prepared") gone OCD, LOL.

Now, I myself *AM* the load I'm carrying around, and I'm changing my tune to a more minimalistic everyday carry.

Small underseat saddlebag with multitool, tube/levers and/or patch kit (varies), oddments kit (disc brake spacer, zip ties, $20, etc., in a hardshell eyeglasses sportcase that keeps things organized in the saddlebag). A small handlebar bag with my cell phone (doubles as a gps/ride recorder and of course, camera), "cafe security cable and padlock" (keeps the honest folk honest while you buy coffee or use a trailside porta potty), small first aid pack ("cuts kit" basically), tissues, tiny notepad and pen, sportsglasses for reading, etc. For on-road riding, I've got front and rear "be seen" blinky lights and wear a hi-vis bandolier. Helmet and gloves and sunglasses; water bottle and small pump on the frame [I'm on the fence about CO2]. I've had a Clif bar in the handlebag since January, haven't seen the need to use it, and, frankly, it's starting to look a little crumpled.

As my range gets longer, the weather more variable and I'm starting into more remote rail trails, I'm adding a small trunk bag for a robust U-lock, second water bottle, packable jacket, small sunscreen, bannanas/snacks, etc. Nothing like the load I used to hall around (of course, modern tech replaces a heavy dedicated camera and some other obsolete things). It may turn out that having a trunk bag eliminates the need for the handlebar bag. We'll see.

I made up a paracord necklace with a homemade "ride ID" (inkjet-printed photo ID with medical conditions/emergency contacts/etc., sealed into a "self-laminating" card envelope from Staples), spare car key [I lock the car at the trail head and carry a spare valet key with me], spare house key, padlocks keys [I'm at the age where my eyes struggle with the tiny numbers on combo locks if I don't have reading glasses], and a life jacket whistle (my other major activity is sailing).

I have found a source of plus-sized cycling apparel. Now that I have actual cycling jerseys with back pockets, I'm trying to re-imagine what to carry where to make good use of them, LOL. While I didn't wear padded cycling shorts back in the day and was OK, I do now. I've gotten tenderer in my old age, LOL. Wouldn't ride without them.

All been said before but don't underestimate how much energy you will need, and how much water you need.

You can do 50 miles. I started doing 5 miles in July last year, and was doing 50 by October. I took my kids (10 and 8) who at the start could only do a mile or two, and by November one of them did 30 miles with me.

Take breakfast bars, bananas, anything with a lot of energy but light (flapjacks etc).

Start of with canal towpaths and fairly flat rides, and add a hill in every so often.

Look at some group rides (HSBC etc) and sign up for a few. You will be surprised how the miles can just go when you are with others.

Plan your rides, and try and do circular routes that you can get home within a few miles if you need to, but go as far as you can when you are out. You can start increasing the distance as you get better. Always try and vary your routes.

Take the bike out in the car, and drive to some places you want to see and cycle around them. Theres nothing worse than a boring bike ride.

Give yourself plenty of time, start early if you can, and good luck!!

Oh my goodness, yes it took us all day! From 7am until 7pm. Lots of breaks, lots of sunscreen! I'm sure we were exhausted but looking back at it, now 3 years ago, I only have glowing memories! Haha!