60k or 100k cycle

evilc

Hi all
Just looking for advise going doing my first cycle an post tour of sligo next month. Got a bike for Xmas and love cycling now. Cycling 30 k 3 times a week and done 60 on Saturday. Hoping to do 70 this Saturday. Not to good at the hills and i see there is 2 big ones on the 100k. Am i better off doing the 60k or should i just go for it and do the 100k. Any advise welcome. Thanks

LCD

The 100km, race day atmosphere will give you a free 10km. It will be tough, but pace yourself, eat & drink sensibly & enjoy it. It will be a greater sense of achievement doing the 100km version

joxerjohn

The guideline is to be comfortable at 80% of the intended distance. So in your case for 100 km this equates to 80 km.

If you are comfortable doing 75/80 Km then 100 on the day won't be a problem

rollingscone

If you're already managing 60km on your own then it doesn't seem worth the entry fee to do a 60k sportive, unless the route is substantially harder than your training grounds.

ednwireland

2 big hills ? theres the ladies brae dont remember the second one last year

(see you there on the 100k - hopefully)

oh yes the slog out of dromahair that caught me last year as had gone round the lake previous years (serves me right for not checking the route properly beforehand )

the second climb is a slog but not that steep as far as i remember

do the 100 you'll be disappointed doing the 60 it will be over in a flash(did it when i just started up again and there was only a choice of 60 or 160km)

Do this as a warmup the 100km http://www.donegalbaycyclingclub.com/donegal-bay-spring-sportive/

or maybe not ! a wee bit hilly

Ryath

You'll be grand do the 100k just pace yourself if you're in a group going to hard for you drop back there will be plenty on the road going at a pace you will find comfortable. Take the climbs at an easy pace don't try and keep up with any one. The big groups on the day make it much easier just try and find shelter in one going at a pace you're comfortable with and you can nearly be sucked along.

Don't worry next year you can ignore all the above and start enjoying the perverse pleasure of suffering like a dog on climbs and hanging on by the skin of your teeth in a fast group.

Rough guide what you normally do in a week you should be able to manage in a day as a once off.

pikefisher

the second climb is not steep just a long drag . i am not familiar with the hungry rock climb. do the 100 i only did the 60 last year and was dissapointed in the end

good luck

eeeee

Ryath wrote: »

You'll be grand do the 100k just pace yourself if you're in a group going to hard for you drop back there will be plenty on the road going at a pace you will find comfortable. Take the climbs at an easy pace don't try and keep up with any one. The big groups on the day make it much easier just try and find shelter in one going at a pace you're comfortable with and you can nearly be sucked along.

Don't worry next year you can ignore all the above and start enjoying the perverse pleasure of suffering like a dog on climbs and hanging on by the skin of your teeth in a fast group.

Rough guide what you normally do in a week you should be able to manage in a day as a once off.

Really? I was going to do the Headstrong sportive 60k, if that's true then the 100k should be well doable…ah there's a good 90% chance I'll just do the 60. I might be dead from training on Saturday :eek:

Esroh

gadetra wrote: »

Really? I was going to do the Headstrong sportive 60k, if that's true then the 100k should be well doable…ah there's a good 90% chance I'll just do the 60. I might be dead from training on Saturday :eek:

Do the 100km. As the others say the group will drag you along on the flat at the start. Once the road goes up ride at your own pace. The great thing about the events that draw big numbers is you will find others at your level on the way down and then you have company ;-)

eeeee

Esroh wrote: »

Do the 100km. As the others say the group will drag you along on the flat at the start. Once the road goes up ride at your own pace. The great thing about the events that draw big numbers is you will find others at your level on the way down and then you have company ;-)

It'll have to be a good long way down! I do about 200k a week, 250km last week and 200 this week so far but I am slow and have a rattly old bike and I am shíte at hills. Hmmm We'll see what one I do, I mightn't have a leg under me after saturday!!

If there are any other slow mo's out there hi *waves in advance

Ryath

gadetra wrote: »

Really? I was going to do the Headstrong sportive 60k, if that's true then the 100k should be well doable…ah there's a good 90% chance I'll just do the 60. I might be dead from training on Saturday :eek:

gadetra wrote: »

It'll have to be a good long way down! I do about 200k a week, 250km last week and 200 this week so far but I am slow and have a rattly old bike and I am shíte at hills. Hmmm We'll see what one I do, I mightn't have a leg under me after saturday!!

If there are any other slow mo's out there hi *waves in advance

Ah you'll be fine for this then!:)
http://www.audaxireland.org/calendar/gazetteer/Vanished-Battalion-200/

If you're out consistently like that you are well able for it. Even at a steady 20kph it's only 5 hours in the saddle. You might not be able for the distance if you tried to hammer it, just keep the heart rate down and stay spinning away.

eeeee

Ryath wrote: »

Ah you'll be fine for this then!:)
http://www.audaxireland.org/calendar/gazetteer/Vanished-Battalion-200/

If you're out consistently like that you are well able for it. Even at a steady 20kph it's only 5 hours in the saddle. You might not be able for the distance if you tried to hammer it, just keep the heart rate down and stay spinning away.

Pfft I would in my eye be able for 200k in one day! In my dreams maybe :pac:

Hmmm i am being tempted by the 100 but in my heart of hearts i know i wouldn't be able for it. Yet Sure I'll see how i get on, the 60 and 100 go the same route at the becoming i think. If i feel up to it I'll keep going instead of peeling off

FirstinLastout

Even a maggot on a unicycle could do the 60k.
It's designed for little old ladies on step-throughs...... Now ask yourself, are you a little old lady??

Quit talking yourself out of it and do the 100k, there's nowt to it!
The first hill up the Ladie's Bhre is tough but you can walk it; in fact if large groups are doing it at the same time there's a likihood that you'll have no choice.
The second out of Dromahaire is just a long drag and not difficult.
If you're toast by the village just stick to the route that winds along the lake shore and you'll make it back to the I.T. without any hills.
It'll be easy to spot as it'll be full of little old ladies drafting each other on their Triumph 20's knitting yarn trailing from the front wicker baskets!!:pac::pac::pac:

As said above a sense of accomplishment with the 100k.

eeeee

FirstinLastout wrote: »

Even a maggot on a unicycle could do the 60k.
It's designed for little old ladies on step-throughs...... Now ask yourself, are you a little old lady??

Quit talking yourself out of it and do the 100k, there's nowt to it!
The first hill up the Ladie's Bhre is tough but you can walk it; in fact if large groups are doing it at the same time there's a likihood that you'll have no choice.
The second out of Dromahaire is just a long drag and not difficult.
If you're toast by the village just stick to the route that winds along the lake shore and you'll make it back to the I.T. without any hills.
It'll be easy to spot as it'll be full of little old ladies drafting each other on their Triumph 20's knitting yarn trailing from the front wicker baskets!!:pac::pac::pac:

As said above a sense of accomplishment with the 100k.

Ha ha ha I am neither a grub on a single wheel nor a little old lady but i'm not a proper cyclist either. Those hills may kill me though.

*cough* I mean yes sir *clicks heels together and salutes in an army fashion*

If i do the 100 i will curse you as i walk my heavy old racer up those hills. Maybe I'll take the mudguards off. That'll surely save some weight and help right?

I'd say I'll see ya Sunday but I'll be about a million miles behind on my old blue machine :pac:

*sneaks off to 60k when firstinlastout isn't looking. I bet they have the best cake in those baskets

FirstinLastout

Nah, you'll be grand as it's not a difficult sportive and there'll be plenty of folks working away at their own pace so you'll find someone to latch onto and enjoy the chat & scenery.
On the few hills there are just slow down, get off if need be and walk.

I'd do what is effectively the 60k ‘round the lake & back for the odd weekend spin and it is very handy, plus there’ll be a foodstop for tae in I think Ballygawley.
A nice spin granted but only worthwhile if you’ve not cycled much at all.

The first sportive I did was Sligo a number of years ago and I did the 100k after not having cycled for years.
The only training I did was 10k over to Dromore West for an ice-cream one sunny day a week beforehand and althought the legs felt the 100k I was grand.

eeeee

So I registered for the 100 :eek: I am blaming Ryath and Firstinlastout for the inability to move on Monday :P

Ryath

gadetra wrote: »

So I registered for the 100 :eek: I am blaming Ryath and Firstinlastout for the inability to move on Monday :P

Fair play definitely more of a sense of achievement passing the 100k barrier 100 miles next.

If your bike is a few years old you may have quite high gearing on it. What gears do you have? May be worth changing the rear cassette so you have some easier gearing for the hills. You have plenty of stamina for the distance if you are doing 200k+ a week but if you have to stand on the pedals and grind up every hill you are going to find hilly routes tough.

dissed doc

evilc wrote: »

Hi all
Just looking for advise going doing my first cycle an post tour of sligo next month. Got a bike for Xmas and love cycling now. Cycling 30 k 3 times a week and done 60 on Saturday. Hoping to do 70 this Saturday. Not to good at the hills and i see there is 2 big ones on the 100k. Am i better off doing the 60k or should i just go for it and do the 100k. Any advise welcome. Thanks

If you can do 60k you can do 100km, it's more psychological then anything else. The big difference IMO is mentally preparing for the time it takes (as in, you are not going for 2-2.5 hr cycle but will be out for 4+ hrs) so just keep a nice pace and not overdo it at the beginning .

EDIT: I found that I only really knew if a saddle or shoes were good once you have to sit in it for 4-5 hrs. Same with shoes, that were fine at 40-50k but pains and bad fitting only became apparent once out for a good few hours.

eeeee

Ryath wrote: »

Fair play definitely more of a sense of achievement passing the 100k barrier 100 miles next.

If your bike is a few years old you may have quite high gears on it. What gearing do you have? May be worth changing the rear cassete so you have some easier gearing for the hills. You have plenty of stamina for the distance if you are doing 200k+ a week but if you have to stand on the pedals and grind up every hill you are going to find hilly routes tough.

My bike is 35 year old 10 speed (5 speed cassette) Peugeot. It's heavy, gears are high. I have never gone onto the small ring though, you have to manually put it back on the big one as it's old and stiff!!
Well you could get lucky and get it to change back eventually but it's quicker to hop off and move it over. Down tube shifters. All my bikes are the same, I have no modern geared ones (by accident rather than design. I'd love a modern bike but funds don't allow. The track bikes at Sundrive are less than a quarter the weight of mine. It's like cycling air!) and Henri (the above) is the only one who is in action at the minute.

I do love him though I might take mudguards and rack off to make him a bit lighter. I always stand for steep hills otherwise I wouldn't make it to the top :pac: I'm gonna die on Sunday.

evilc

Thanks for all the advise. The 100k it is. I'm going to spend the next 4 weeks cycling up hills and hopefully I'll make it all the way. Thanks again.

ford2600

@gadetra

Your some man to pedal with those gears.

Can you not get front derailleur sorted? Your making things harder than needed!

You wouldn't know yourself on a more modern bike; €400-500 would pick you up a nice 2nd hand near new bike. With a compact 10 speed you'd be flying

For example @krisovo has a Wilier escape 55cm for sale in external adverts thread in adverts subforum

Ryath

gadetra wrote: »

My bike is 35 year old 10 speed (5 speed cassette) Peugeot. It's heavy, gears are high. I have never gone onto the small ring though, you have to manually put it back on the big one as it's old and stiff!!
Well you could get lucky and get it to change back eventually but it's quicker to hop off and move it over. Down tube shifters. All my bikes are the same, I have no modern geared ones (by accident rather than design. I'd love a modern bike but funds don't allow. The track bikes at Sundrive are less than a quarter the weight of mine. It's like cycling air!) and Henri (the above) is the only one who is in action at the minute.

I do love him though I might take mudguards and rack off to make him a bit lighter. I always stand for steep hills otherwise I wouldn't make it to the top :pac: I'm gonna die on Sunday.

So it's a gearing problem not fitness. Bloody hell if you're climbing everything in the big ring you are strong and will fly up them with lower gears. Not au fait with older gearing so not sure what your options are for changing the cassete think you could run a 6 speed anything more will need a new wheel and cold setting the frame to widen the rear axle spacing.
Good source of info
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/freewheels.html

Get your front derailleur sorted though should be a easier cheaper fix. You are in Dublin? You could go to rothar good souce of advice and older parts.
Or Darragh in beecycles is one of the few who wouldn't be afraid of older stuff.

Edit Not many new 5 speed freewheels out there may be lower gearing than you have at the minute.
http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_792921_langId_-1_categoryId_212383

evilc

Ljte="FirstinLastout;89770830"]Nah, you'll be grand as it's not a difficult sportive and there'll be plenty of folks working away at their own pace so you'll find someone to latch onto and enjoy the chat & scenery.
On the few hills there are just slow down, get off if need be and walk.

I'd do what is effectively the 60k ‘round the lake & back for the odd weekend spin and it is very handy, plus there’ll be a foodstop for tae in I think Ballygawley.
A nice spin granted but only worthwhile if you’ve not cycled much at all.

The first sportive I did was Sligo a number of years ago and I did the 100k after not having cycled for years.
The only training I did was 10k over to Dromore West for an ice-cream one sunny day a week beforehand and althought the legs felt the 100k I was grand.[/quote]

Thanks I used to go to dromore for ice-cream with my grandfather on a donkey Maybe I should get a donkey for the hills

eeeee

Ford 2600 I'm some woman

I would only love to pick up a second hand modern bike, but funds just don't allow at all sadly But it's good training to cycle a heavy bike right? (please say yes!)

Ryath thanks for those links I shall investigate. It would be nice to update him. I'll check YouTube again and have a fiddle with the front derallieur, but all the YouTube stuff is for modern bikes i find. Sue they're not that mad different anyway.

So it's gearing that's making me Shiite at hills? If that's true i don't feel so bad about being so slow. I only cycle in Dublin and a tiny bit down home so no significant hill-age for me, i suspect i am just Shiite at climbing. I will now handily blame gears a bit now though :pac:

mcgratheoin

FirstinLastout wrote: »

Quit talking yourself out of it and do the 100k, there's nowt to it!
The first hill up the Ladie's Bhre ...

I'm confused - is gadetra talking about Sligo or Headstrong? There's nothing on the headstrong route that you'd have to walk up!

cdaly_

gadetra wrote: »

Ryath thanks for those links I shall investigate. It would be nice to update him. I'll check YouTube again and have a fiddle with the front derallieur, but all the YouTube stuff is for modern bikes i find. Sue they're not that mad different anyway.

It's likely that your existing wheel and frame could accommodate a 7-speed megarange 14-34t freewheel. That would make a difference for the hills but the correct thing to do is to sort out the front mech.

Are you handy with tools (or indeed, just a can of oil)? A ****load of 3-in-1 oil on cable and front mech pivot points should free it up so you can use the small ring. Mind you, now that I think about it, the small ring should be unavailable with a stiff mech as it's supposed to drop to that ring on a slack cable. Sounds more like a stiff lever or such.

If you're not handy yourself, I'd second Beecycles in Dolphin's Barn (he might even sort you out on time for Sunday)...

eeeee

cdaly_ wrote: »

It's likely that your existing wheel and frame could accommodate a 7-speed megarange 14-34t freewheel. That would make a difference for the hills but the correct thing to do is to sort out the front mech.

Are you handy with tools (or indeed, just a can of oil)? A ****load of 3-in-1 oil on cable and front mech pivot points should free it up so you can use the small ring. Mind you, now that I think about it, the small ring should be unavailable with a stiff mech as it's supposed to drop to that ring on a slack cable. Sounds more like a stiff lever or such.

If you're not handy yourself, I'd second Beecycles in Dolphin's Barn (he might even sort you out on time for Sunday)...

I do good oiling! I use sewing machine oil or Teflon oil to keep things moving. Yeah the lever is fine, to be honest it's been about 2 years since I tried to put it into the small ring so I'll experiment tomorrow evening. The noise of the chain trying and failing to move pits me off so I stay in my top two gears all the time, sometimes 3rd one down if I am feeling particularly pathetic. Anymore than that and it gets too stretchy on the whole thing.

It'll be like a new bike if i get it going again!

It's the Headstrong sportive to the poster above (i can't see on phone). Proper cyclists may manage it not a bother but i am not in the same league!

Daroxtar

The Ladies brea isn't on the 100 route this year, it's the Hungry rock. Short but sharp you descend into Coolaney close to the decent from the Ladies brea but then head back towards Colooney and on to Dromahair.

I'm very tempted to enter. I've been doing 50-60 on my own and not dying so I might give it a lash, plus I'd love to do my first 100 on my home patch.... Should be enough of a boost to get me through

eeeee

Well I did it, 112k in the end, so 132k for me for the day, with the cycle to and from Heuston. The first 50k were hard, really hard, as it was torrential rain, as in sore when it hits your face rain, and wind. So there were no breathers on the way down either. It was very drag-gy (for me anyway), and I nearly lost heart up until then.
But then the sun came out and the wind eased a bit and it became way more bearable.

Things I have learnt: I need a modern bike. 10 gears are not enough, I got my small ring for 20k but it didn't happen after that. My bike is extremely heavy, I left mudguards and rack on as I thought it would rain and I could carry stuff. My stuff fell off twice which was a pain in the arse, as did my chain once. I brought way too much with me. I was also the only one without clip less pedals, I love them on track but don't have any for the road. As soon as I get a bit of money together I would like to address the above. This will take some time!
Cycling in a group is deadly, I got in with some lovely people. Hi Mcgratheoin and Shane the First and Shane the Second, and thank you so much for putting up with me, I would have probably given up if there weren't people up ahead on the first 50k. And after that!
We were not the last group, (the second last but still!). I thought I would be last so that is a major improvement!

Thanks for all the encouragement and advice, my legs are still working (just), I'm dead happy I did the 112k.

ford2600

Well done. 132km is great going, especially on bike as described.

You'll be an Audax material if you get an anyway modern bike or get your own sorted.

Now for some beer.

It's what Spartacus drinks

http://cyclocosm.tumblr.com/post/81887723182/no-bottle-opener-no-problem

eeeee

ford2600 wrote: »

Well done. 132km is great going, especially on bike as described.

You'll be an Audax material if you get an anyway modern bike or get your own sorted.

Ha I'm a good bit away from that yet, although I am blaming my high gearing for my climbing ineptitude

Change that beer for a brandy and I am Spartacus

Here is a pic of Henri all clean and spotless, the seat is up higher than it is in these pics. My old man:

ford2600

Very nice bike. See if you can get gears sorted and maybe a wider range on back(@cdaly posted a page back on a 7 speed option) and keep bike.

My experience of bikes from that era is very high gears.

Getting smaller rings on front(not sure how feasible) or bigger on back would makes hills easier.

I'm no expert, maybe have a chat with An rothar or Bee cycles.

132km in early April, long spins ahead in summer for you. A walk this evening will make tomorrow easier, a little stretching maybe

eeeee

Yeah I am heading out for a swim in a bit so that'll ease things a bit.

I don't know if the derallieur can take an extra 2 gears, and how the shifters would cope. Sure I can try and see how I get on. I also like having a high gear on it, for speedy descents and I can hammer it on the flat

This 132k in April, is if hilly? I am absolutely against a lot of long drags and hills!

This is the derallieur:


Story of the bike is that it was effectively brand new when I got it. The guy who had the Peugeot dealership in Ireland never sold off his stock when the business caved. So he has 6 containers of bikes and bits :eek: I found out taking to the guy in McDonald's cycles and former Peugeot dealer man releases a few bikes to him every once in a while, and I got Henri from that.

cdaly_

Gorgeous old school bike. Well worth keeping and if you want a hand improving your gear range for peanuts, I'd be happy to help...

eeeee

cdaly_ wrote: »

Gorgeous old school bike. Well worth keeping and if you want a hand improving your gear range for peanuts, I'd be happy to help...

Wow that would be fabulous-I won't know myself! I will keep his old bits just to have him together. He is significantly dirtier now, he has had to become my commuter and he's a bit scratched too. The paint just chips right off, and he's made of crappy steel, as every scratch rusts pretty much instantly. I got my sister one of these, and her's is supposedly made from the same Peugeot 103 metal, but hers doesn't rust when chipped, and she has chrome forks. And she hates cycling :rolleyes: Also has the bars right up and saddle down. But Soph is still really beautiful

FirstinLastout

Well done, great effort and glad you enjoyed it.
Henri looks great btw!:cool:

FirstinLastout

Daroxtar wrote: »

The Ladies brea isn't on the 100 route this year, it's the Hungry rock. Short but sharp you descend into Coolaney close to the decent from the Ladies brea but then head back towards Colooney and on to Dromahair.

I'm very tempted to enter. I've been doing 50-60 on my own and not dying so I might give it a lash, plus I'd love to do my first 100 on my home patch.... Should be enough of a boost to get me through

I'd love to but I can't do it this year so I'd not looked at the actual route but the Hungry Rock is as you described it but doable and speaking as a MTB Single Speeder shure every hill is walkable!!;)

mcgratheoin

Nice to meet you at the weekend gadetra - the weather made the spin quite nasty until the turn off the main Kildare - Portlaoise road. Very impressed with the pace you managed to keep going turning those high gears, especially up the hills. When you say cycling in a group is great, I think you actually mean cycling with company as you got no extra shelter with just 4 people. If you're looking for a spin later this year, check out www.irishsportives.ie for a decent list of them. The tour of Meath 100k route in July would suit you down to the ground - it only has a cumulative 500m of climbing over the entire course, mostly in two climbs up Tara and out of the Boyne valley.

eeeee

mcgratheoin wrote: »

Nice to meet you at the weekend gadetra - the weather made the spin quite nasty until the turn off the main Kildare - Portlaoise road. Very impressed with the pace you managed to keep going turning those high gears, especially up the hills. When you say cycling in a group is great, I think you actually mean cycling with company as you got no extra shelter with just 4 people. If you're looking for a spin later this year, check out www.irishsportives.ie for a decent list of them. The tour of Meath 100k route in July would suit you down to the ground - it only has a cumulative 500m of climbing over the entire course, mostly in two climbs up Tara and out of the Boyne valley.

Thanks, if I didn't have company I don't think i'd've made it to be honest.
Tour of Meath is a definite, but i want to do some more in between. I think a mild sportive addiction may have happened :eek: