depends what you mean by "long distance"
to some people that's tcr to others it's another 200 for rrty
quite different things
uh well that was kind of the point... list all the things that help and then think about how the relative importance changes as distance varies.
everything we do is long distance by normal standards.
it's more complicated than that
to a club rider, 50 miles / 100km isn't a long way it's an afternoons ride
but plenty of riders of this sort have never ridden > 300km
the most common cycling challenge that normal people do is the LE JoG which is 1400km over several days
so non-audax people (never mind the tcr lot) ride distances
the factors that affect success on long rides also vary by distance
200km (on an easy event, not a AAA monster) can be ridden by almost anyone with enough determination. Slow people might be out of time. The bottom might hurt. But you will make it
300km I've know more than one club rider do the first half easily but then really get into trouble in the last 50km because of bad pacing
400km sleep is a problem more than pacing
600km is easier than 400km because there is a sleep opportunity. Provided you are brisk. Being brisk means don't waste time at controls
1000km is usually a sleep / eat battle.
1200km I've only done PBP at this distance and it's been different every time. Difficult to say what the real problem is.
1400km Only done LEL and again, went differently each time
if I was to make a list of the 3 factors I'd say determination, pacing and not wasting time at controls (or stopped or faffing)
At low distances determination is most important
Then as the distance increases it's pacing
Then as it gets longer still it's not wasting time
At even longer distances avoiding sleep debt seems like a good idea