I had this vague idea of trying to crack 20,000 miles in a year. That's 54 miles a day average. I thought about sponsorship and charities and the local press.
It struck me that if I could push out a few 100s when the weather was good, I could get ahead of myself. I believe it's possible for a chap like me. After all, I can go on a tour for three weeks and do 1800 miles (ave 85 mpd).
But I did only 46 yesterday, and I'm worn out! So 50 mpd is a hard task. I might think again!
Whats the furthest you've ever cycled in a day?
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eileithyia
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Yep, that's what I'm gonna have to do!
Perhaps not!
80 odd mpd is easily do-able during a tour, but EVERYDAY throughout the year, no matter the weather or how you feel healthwise, is a completely different matter. 50 mpd is hard enough.
Actually riding every single day is hard enough!
Perhaps not!
80 odd mpd is easily do-able during a tour, but EVERYDAY throughout the year, no matter the weather or how you feel healthwise, is a completely different matter. 50 mpd is hard enough.
Actually riding every single day is hard enough!
Mick F. Cornwall
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thirdcrank
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unknown
I've not looked at the map but the problem nowadays is often that the main roads between A and B are simply unpleasant for cycling. Many of the modern big mileage riders are on carefully planned quite routes of which there are plenty but which don't necessarily get you to a specific destination. (Note JohnW's comment about getting lost in the middle of the night.)
When Britain's road network was still unmodernised - up to the late 1960s say, the A roads took the easiest route through the hills and as most freight went by train and there were many fewer cars, the journey from Manchester to Cambridge would have been a doddle (if hilly before crossing the A1.) You would simply have followed the signs for Nottingham, Peterboro, then Cambridge. 160 miles too far? Break journey at a suitable YHA.
Younger people can look forward to the return of those days, when the oil and money run out, I imagine.
I've not looked at the map but the problem nowadays is often that the main roads between A and B are simply unpleasant for cycling. Many of the modern big mileage riders are on carefully planned quite routes of which there are plenty but which don't necessarily get you to a specific destination. (Note JohnW's comment about getting lost in the middle of the night.)
When Britain's road network was still unmodernised - up to the late 1960s say, the A roads took the easiest route through the hills and as most freight went by train and there were many fewer cars, the journey from Manchester to Cambridge would have been a doddle (if hilly before crossing the A1.) You would simply have followed the signs for Nottingham, Peterboro, then Cambridge. 160 miles too far? Break journey at a suitable YHA.
Younger people can look forward to the return of those days, when the oil and money run out, I imagine.
Mick F wrote:I had this vague idea of trying to crack 20,000 miles in a year. That's 54 miles a day average.
Nice idea until you get a cold, fall off and need a few days recuperation or the roads are unridable (flood, ice, biblical plagues). Before you know it you're looking at 100mpd which is No Fun.
I'm not going to tell you mine, because you'll all laugh at me. However, I am out to beat the record tomorrow. Its the London Freewheel, and the original idea was to use the train to get into London. Southeastern, bless them, have lost the plot as they were about to go on strike so haven't put on extra trains/carriages. The car, clearly, is out. So we decided to join an escorted ride into the centre - none of us are experienced with the roads into London, as our rides out all tend to be into Kent so a group seemed a good idea.
So that's 15 miles - 5 to the meeting place then another 10 to the centre. Nice couple of circuits round the route at 8 miles a time.
We've now discovered you can have an escorted ride home. So that's 38 or 46 miles (depending on whether we go round once or twice), and either will be a record for me.
Oddly enough, I'm really looking forward to it and am determined to do it! Wish me luck....
Jan
So that's 15 miles - 5 to the meeting place then another 10 to the centre. Nice couple of circuits round the route at 8 miles a time.
We've now discovered you can have an escorted ride home. So that's 38 or 46 miles (depending on whether we go round once or twice), and either will be a record for me.
Oddly enough, I'm really looking forward to it and am determined to do it! Wish me luck....
Jan
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thirdcrank
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- Joined: 9 Jan 2007, 2:44pm
jan19 wrote:I'm not going to tell you mine, because you'll all laugh at me. However, I am out to beat the record tomorrow. Its the London Freewheel, and the original idea was to use the train to get into London. Southeastern, bless them, have lost the plot as they were about to go on strike so haven't put on extra trains/carriages. The car, clearly, is out. So we decided to join an escorted ride into the centre - none of us are experienced with the roads into London, as our rides out all tend to be into Kent so a group seemed a good idea.
So that's 15 miles - 5 to the meeting place then another 10 to the centre. Nice couple of circuits round the route at 8 miles a time.
We've now discovered you can have an escorted ride home. So that's 38 or 46 miles (depending on whether we go round once or twice), and either will be a record for me.
Oddly enough, I'm really looking forward to it and am determined to do it! Wish me luck....
Jan
Fantastic! You'll do brilliantly!
Feeling a bit jealous, actually ... I have to do the Mum's Taxi Service thing tomorrow!!
(Much as I love 'em!)
Have a good time!
Dee
I used to do a lot of long ones, but this is around the top end...
Norbury London SW16 to Finsbury Park, then the London to Cambridge Bike Ride, a snooze and food on Midsummer Common followed by a run to Haughton and Wyton which was the nearest unoccupied B&B. Off the top of my head I think 105 miles. The next day we set off home to Chesterfield over 2 days.
That was back in 1990 when the wife & I were young & fit!
Norbury London SW16 to Finsbury Park, then the London to Cambridge Bike Ride, a snooze and food on Midsummer Common followed by a run to Haughton and Wyton which was the nearest unoccupied B&B. Off the top of my head I think 105 miles. The next day we set off home to Chesterfield over 2 days.
That was back in 1990 when the wife & I were young & fit!
If at first you don't succeed - cheat!!
Not a lot!
so far my best day ride is currently 74 miles.
Still working on my fitness and hope to crack 100 miles at some point.
Still working on my fitness and hope to crack 100 miles at some point.
Sorry mikeitup. The sig just had to go. The forum staff are revolting ! Graham
Re: Not a lot!
mikeitup wrote:so far my best day ride is currently 74 miles.
Still working on my fitness and hope to crack 100 miles at some point.
The milestones matter, don' t they?
Think of it this way - you've already ridden 100 kilometres (miles divided by 1.609).
Unfortunately, that means the milestone after 100 miles is 200 km. Gah!
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thirdcrank
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Dean
You've completely lost me there. I can cope with miles to kilometres being a multiplication rather than a division but the 100 miles 200 kms thing has lost me.
I think somebody else has pointed out how disheartening it can be if you see a mileage to your destination and and the next sign says it's even further. 'A' roads generally used to have pretty good mile markers, triangular plan so that the elevation ofrom either side was a list of the next three or four places in that direction , with mileage. They are never replaced when roads are 'improved'.
You've completely lost me there. I can cope with miles to kilometres being a multiplication rather than a division but the 100 miles 200 kms thing has lost me.
I think somebody else has pointed out how disheartening it can be if you see a mileage to your destination and and the next sign says it's even further. 'A' roads generally used to have pretty good mile markers, triangular plan so that the elevation ofrom either side was a list of the next three or four places in that direction , with mileage. They are never replaced when roads are 'improved'.
TC - I'm of a generation which is relatively comfortable with mixing imperial and metric, so I tend to swap between them - apologies if I was unclear.
62 miles = 100 kilometres
100 miles = 161 kilometres
124 miles = 200 kilometres
What I was trying to say is that we think of milestones as round figures, when the counter ticks over to the next hundred. 200 km is around 124 miles - so it would seem to be the next milestone in the progression above.
If you see what I mean
I've ridden xxx miles today and added beer to the mix, so clarity may have to wait!
62 miles = 100 kilometres
100 miles = 161 kilometres
124 miles = 200 kilometres
What I was trying to say is that we think of milestones as round figures, when the counter ticks over to the next hundred. 200 km is around 124 miles - so it would seem to be the next milestone in the progression above.
If you see what I mean
I've ridden xxx miles today and added beer to the mix, so clarity may have to wait!