Would a 65mile Cycle be too much for me....

Fluffsticle

Hi,

I'm thinking of doing a charity Cycle from cork to Galway in June this year.

In fact, I would love to do this, but am not really sure if I would have enough time to train for it.

I do a small bit of Cycling every day (2 miles). I could make my cycle to work longer and increase it to 6/7 miles once a cay, and 2 in the morning.

I have a three week holiday booked for April. So the real training would not start until 1st week in May..

The recommendation is to be able to cycle 25-50 miles before the event. It's not a race, so speed isn't important. The most that is cycled without a pit stip is 25 miles.

My fitness is OK, but my legs are not strong to be honest, and this is my concern, could I build them up in this length of time?

I haven’t done anything like this before. I am active, and keep fit..
What about Cycling in the Gym, as it's dark when I leave for work and get home? What about leg weights? Would they help?

I really don't want to sign up for more than I can handle..

Any tips or opinions...?

Thanks.

funkyjebus

Train before you go on holiday as well. The more traning in general the better. Also, you'd be surprised what you can do on the day so you'll probably be alright. But whats stopping you training starting tonight?

Alanstrainor

Yeah start training tonight, or at the weekend. You could easily clock up 15 miles. I think 65, even with little training is certainly do-able.

granda

i'm gonna do the maracycle this year dublin-belfast and next day back and i've started training already as for youself youll be amazed how the miles will ramp up and your fitness if you do a little each week (i try to do 2or3 rides of 15 miles and then 1 long one at the moment i'm upto 35 miles)the important thing is always take fluids with you on ride this makes a big difference and dont push it to much keep at a nice steady pace for youself and find someone to ride with even if they arnt gonna do the charity cycle.
good luck and defo go for it

Fluffsticle

Hi,

There's nothing stopping me starting to train tonight. Only it will be dark. Is it enough to have a light and hi-viz jacket to cycle in the dark?

Also training in the Gym, will that do any good? Cycling, and Weights?

Can you suggest any sites, or tips with training plans on this, so I know what ball park I'm in?
What should I start at tonight/this week?

I will need to invest in a new lightweight bike too...
But for the moment, most important thing is get used to the peddling, and the saddle...?

I do jog a bit, so my fitness is not the worst. Just my quads are not overly strong, and I feel them tense after my 1mile cycle each way to work!!!

Lumen

Forget about miles, you need to think in terms of time on the bike.

100km is about 5 hours at easy pace.

Between now and June you need to work up towards cycling for 5 hours. In that context, doing 15 minutes at a time is not going to help much.

For now just try and ride at least 3 times a week for at least one hour and see how you go.

QueensGael

Don't forget to get yourself a pair of biking shorts - they make a huge difference to your comfort and your ability to get on a bike the day after a long haul. You can get baggier mountain shorts if you don't fancy lycra http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Categories.aspx?CategoryID=1084

For gym training, I recommend spinning over just using the exercise bike. You'll get a work out that is much closer the actual experience of being out on the road. I use spinning during the winter to keep training for spring/summer events.

Lastly, you can sneak in lots of miles in the course of the week, if you ditch the car/bus. You'd be surprised at how much they add up, and how they can contribute to your overall mileage (I recommend keeping a log of your progress also). I get an extra ~35km in each week doing this, on top of my long weekend spins.

Good luck!

Ardennes1944

is cork to galway only 65miles?:eek:

Fluffsticle

Cork to Galway is twice that distance... Sorry, 65 miles each day!

No longer stint than 25miles at a time!

Thanks for advice. Will try spinning, and get three good cycles in a week.

Any other tips would be great...

hf4z6sqo7vjngi

Out of the 3 cycles during the week focus on one of them being your "long ride" you should be building the distance/time by about 10% every week. You mentioned you have no power/weak in the legs so perhaps one gym session a week working on some strengthening exercises on your legs may help.

Twin-go

+1 on the spinning Classes. Get 2 in a week if you can while its dark in the evenings.

What type of bike are you using?

petethedrummer

-1 on spinning classes. Get some lights, go out on the road and learn how to cope with the facts of cycling life. i.e. wind, rain, cold, punctures, pot holes and feeling like a dork in tight lycra.:)

Repolho

Fluffsticle wrote: »

Hi,

Just my quads are not overly strong, and I feel them tense after my 1mile cycle each way to work!!!

I would think that this is more a flexibility issue than strength. Make sure you do a few strectches before setting out. I find this makes a world of difference.

airscotty

A turbo trainer may also be useful...you could pick up a 2nd hand one online im sure or a basic one in any bike shop. Then you can do an hour a few evenings a week on it while its still dark etc.

Also for your 'long cycles' 2,3,4...hours long...bring FOOD...you dont want to bonk

petethedrummer

A turbo? Steady on.

Twin-go

petethedrummer wrote: »

-1 on spinning classes. Get some lights, go out on the road and learn how to cope with the facts of cycling life. i.e. wind, rain, cold, punctures, pot holes and feeling like a dork in tight lycra.:)

OP cycles every day - I don't want to speak for them but I think they are used to the "Facts" of cycling.:)

They a looking at bridging from a couple of miles a day to doing 130 miles in 2 days. Spinning will help build cardio and stamina while the evenings are dark. No point in taking extra risks by cycling at night IMHO.

FesterBeatty

airscotty wrote: »

...you dont want to bonk

....I do..

petethedrummer

Twin-go wrote: »

OP cycles every day - I don't want to speak for them but I think they are used to the "Facts" of cycling.:)

The OP cycles 2 miles a day. It does not prepare you for puncturing miles from help, getting hungry, how to pack essentials, dressing correctly, getting stuck in a headwind, saddle sores etc...

Twin-go wrote: »

They a looking at bridging from a couple of miles a day to doing 130 miles in 2 days. Spinning will help build cardio and stamina while the evenings are dark. No point in taking extra risks by cycling at night IMHO.

You can cycle safely at any time.

The OP suggested increasing her(?) daily cycle to 6/7 miles which is by far the best plan for preparing for this cycle.

kennyb3

petethedrummer wrote: »

The OP cycles 2 miles a day. It does not prepare you for puncturing miles from help, getting hungry, how to pack essentials, dressing correctly, getting stuck in a headwind, saddle sores etc...


You can cycle safely at any time.

The OP suggested increasing her(?) daily cycle to 6/7 miles which is by far the best plan for preparing for this cycle.

+1 to that

And just to add spinning classes are generally an hour or less. Not really going to build endurance. And the idea that we should all stay indoors for winter 'just in case' is nuts.

Twin-go

kennyb3 wrote: »

+1 to that

And just to add spinning classes are generally an hour or less. Not really going to build endurance. And the idea that we should all stay indoors for winter 'just in case' is nuts.

Never said we should ALL stay indoors!!:rolleyes:

Read the OPs posts before you start giving out your advise.

1. OP wants to increase power in their legs - Spinning would be good for this.
2. OP says that their quads tighten up after a 1 mile cycle to work. IMHO they should build up to longer cycles. In a spinning class you can ease off/stop if you are uncomfortable. Out on the road in the dark 10 miles from home what can you do? It's not safe for somebody just starting to increase their milage


@ Fluffsticle (OP)

I started cycling last year on a hybrid below is how I built up to doing a 80 mile 12 weeks after starting.

Week 1 - 3x 1hour/20km (Evenings)
Week 2 - 3x 30min/10km (Monings) 3x 1hour/20km (Evenings) 1 Spinning
Week 3 - 3x 30min/10km (Monings) 2x 1.5hrs/30km 1 Spinning
Week 4 - 3x 30min/10km (Monings) 3x 1.5hrs/30km 1 Spinning

Kept Week 4 routine for the next 6 weeks.
Added extra spinning class in week 7 and 8.
Weekends - Started with a 40km in week 4 and increased by 10km per weekend until I was at 90km.

I mapped some routes near my home and when starting off I was never more than 5km from the house just in case.

Most of all enjoy it, push yourself but know your limits. Best of Luck

petethedrummer

Twin-go wrote: »

1. OP wants to increase power in their legs - Spinning would be good for this.

Cycling would be better.

Twin-go wrote: »

2. OP says that their quads tighten up after a 1 mile cycle to work. IMHO they should build up to longer cycles. In a spinning class you can ease off/stop if you are uncomfortable. Out on the road in the dark 10 miles from home what can you do? It's not safe for somebody just starting to increase their milage

The OP can get off and stretch on a normal bike and do laps of a circuit close to home if she(?) feels her(??) legs are likely to become incapacitated.

I'd be willing to bet that the OPs quad problem is due to the saddle being at the wrong height (too low), with hint of being in the wrong gear.

I fear though that Fluffsticle will opt for the comfort of the gym as so many do.

"There is a great advantage in training under unfavorable conditions. It is better to train under bad conditions, for the difference is then a tremendous relief in a race." - Emil Zatopek

michael196

Hi Fluffsticle


This sounds like the Pfizer Chernobyl Childrens Charity Cycle Cork to Galway. I undertsand King Kelly is starting it off again this year.

Gym Spinning is an excellent way to get those legs in motion prior to June, and the progams outlined above are all good advice.


about the ride itself :

I would absolutly got for it Fluffsticle . I went on it last year first time ever. ( Legacy Wye Grange Castle !!) You will stop every 20 / 25 miles max for the group to re group before taking off again. Massages are also available if u need it.

Also rememeber, cycling in a group, will be easier than what u experience out on the road on ur own , both from social point of view as well as practically being dragged along in such a large group.

there will be training work to be done in the mean time , and as said spinning wold be excellent, or even time on the ordinary gym bike would be great. aim for about an hour at leats on the gym bike.

it will be 2 great days, Cork to Galway.....

As the jersey says : ''Cork to Galway ? no problem''

PS real nice jerseys given out to participants

http://www.chernobylcycle.com/

carthoris

OP,

my opinion would be that you should cycle your own bike more often and get more miles in.

You want to know what it is like to cycle 65 miles in a day on your bike - is it comfortable, is the saddle too high, are the bars to far forward etc. You don't want to find out on the first day that your bike is not comfortable after 20 miles. The only way to do that is to cycle a good distance on your own bike.

One point you make is that you find that your legs are not strong and this is a concern for you. It could be that the gear you are using is too high, so your legs are working too slowly and too hard. Try using a lower gear so that your legs are moving far faster. Your legs should not be moving at a jogging pace but two or three times quicker. Try it and see.

Also consider visiting a reasonable bike shop and get their opinion of your bike. If it has not been serviced in a long time then this could make a huge difference, making 10 miles feel like two.

The most important thing is to enjoy the cycle.

Fluffsticle

Hi..

Thanks folks for all the tips. And yes I'm a her!!!! :-)
The Pfizer Cork to Galway cycle!

I guess I really just wanted to see if this sounded like it might be too late to start training for something like this, that I have never done before!

My bike at the moment is just a cheap mountain/road bike. Heavy to be honest. 18gears. It is doing the job, and yes I think the saddle may be too low now that you mentioned it!

I will have to invest in something lightweight to get me on the road properly. If I'm to seriously consider this!

I also mentioned that I will be out of the country for 3 weeks in April, and I won't be able to train then. So the real training would not start until 1st week in May... With the Cycle starting on 17th June.... Would 6 good weeks be enough? Although I would love to do this, I don't want to be annoyed doing the cycle, and be allergic to the saddle the following day!!

If it's safe to cycle in the dark, I have a good oppertunity to do a 10 mile each way cycle to the train station in the morning, and then again in the evening.

But I can't start doing that straight away... I will need to start off on smaller amounts of miles, and spinning.

Any tips on how to set the bike I have up properly, saddle height, haddlebar height etc?
And are there any regulations about cycling in the dark? Obviously I would need lights/hi-vis etc.

Thanks again.. still pondering!!!

cdaly_

Get out now and start the training. You have 3 weeks until April to start building up. By the time you get back, there'll be enough light to do the 10 mile commute to the train 2, 3 times per week (and build that up).

As for cycling in the dark, you need flashing lights to be seen with (the hi-vis helps but it's not enough by itself) and, if you're cycling unlit roads you need a decent light to see with.

As for saddle height, you should set is so that your leg is straight when you have the bridge of your foot on the pedal and the pedal as low as it will go. That will give you close to your best power when riding with your foot a bit further back on the pedal. You might want to lower it a bit from that if it's too much of a stretch but you're better off avoiding too much of a knee bend at the top of the pedal stroke.

Anyway, go for it. It'll be fun and there'll doubtless be support to be had on the way...