Author Topic: LEL preparation  (Read 32066 times)

Texan Tourer

Re: LEL preparation
« Reply #50 on: 02 February, 2009, 09:28:30 pm »
I do have a bivy bag from last trip to Europe during my college years
My liking for The Devils Buttermilk was second to none while at Queen's
Hence I took up biking during the fall of my final year to reduce my bmi

Re: LEL preparation
« Reply #51 on: 02 February, 2009, 11:14:14 pm »
You don't need to ride a 1500 to be able to ride a 1400.

If you did you'd need to ride a 1600 to prepare for the 1500...
"Yes please" said Squirrel "biscuits are our favourite things."

simonp

Re: LEL preparation
« Reply #52 on: 04 February, 2009, 06:27:10 pm »
You don't need to ride a 1500 to be able to ride a 1400.

If you did you'd need to ride a 1600 to prepare for the 1500...

That's what the 1001 miglia italia is for.  But what 1700 event did people do to prepare for that?

mattc

  • n.b. have grown beard since photo taken
    • Didcot Audaxes
Re: LEL preparation
« Reply #53 on: 04 February, 2009, 06:32:04 pm »
This could go on for a while ...
Has never ridden RAAM
---------
No.11  Because of the great host of those who dislike the least appearance of "swank " when they travel the roads and lanes. - From Kuklos' 39 Articles

Chris N

Re: LEL preparation
« Reply #54 on: 23 February, 2009, 08:56:26 am »
Hmm, think I need to give this 'training plan' more thought.  170km in the Peak District yesterday taught me a few things:

  • go to bed earlier
  • drink less booze
  • buy some nuun
  • get more miles in
  • do some hill repeats

Planned rides:

March: 2 x DIY 200 (one flat, one hilly)
April: Hell of the North Cotswolds (100km), Elenith
May: Brevet Cymru, Bryan Chapman
June: Irish Mail, DIY 300
July: DIY 200 km, LEL

Plus at least 120km of commuting per week.

Re: LEL preparation
« Reply #55 on: 23 February, 2009, 09:43:25 am »
One of the French riders started his preparation this weekend, although cut short a bit by the temperatures: Le blog de Cricri le cyclo - Liste des derniers articles parus sur cricri-le-cyclo.over-blog.com

Re: LEL preparation
« Reply #56 on: 24 February, 2009, 08:29:08 pm »
Any idea what software package he has used for this ? (Tried zooming in but not enough detail)


Re: LEL preparation
« Reply #57 on: 25 February, 2009, 12:05:07 am »
Polar Precision Performance: Polar Heart Rate Monitor Software
"Yes please" said Squirrel "biscuits are our favourite things."

Re: LEL preparation
« Reply #58 on: 04 March, 2009, 05:39:06 pm »
Planned rides:-

Mar: 3 x 100km, 1 x 150km
Apr: 3 x 100km, 1 x 200km, 1 x 300km
May: 1 x 200km, 2 x 300km, 2 x 400km + 10 Under the Ben (MTB ENDURO)
Jun: 1 x 400km, 2 x 600km
Jul: 1 x 200km, 1 x 400km, 1 x 600km, LEL (Subject to entry - on waiting list)
Aug: MGM 1200
Sep: Bugger All!!

Its a bit ambitious and some of these won't happen but I have something to aim at.

red marley

Re: LEL preparation
« Reply #59 on: 04 March, 2009, 05:54:23 pm »
I agree that looks rather ambitious. Do you really want to be doing the LEL having done a 400 and 600 in the two weeks previous? One of the problems with ramping it up so close to LEL will be the sleep debt you are likely to be in.

If you are doing these rides for 'training', I would be tempted to do enough long ones (400+) just to let your body know how it copes with 24 hours of cycling, and then stick to 200s and 300s, perhaps training yourself to do them reasonably fast with short stops at controls.

My plan, or as close to plan as I ever make, is to stick to 200s and 300s,  do one or two 600s in May and June and keep July nice and easy, with some pootling around France at the beginning and then just my normal commute.

Re: LEL preparation
« Reply #60 on: 04 March, 2009, 06:00:45 pm »
I'm just planning to do 200 and 300s, the BCM 600 (can't find a 400 that fits my calender at the moment), Dun Run and some FNRttCs.

I'm going to try and mix it up a bit bikewise, I don't want to spend all my time on my audax bike, as I don't want to risk nerve damage, by putting pressure on the same areas all the time.

Going back to the PBP threads, the number of numb toes, fingers and 'other bits' does worry me a bit.

Re: LEL preparation
« Reply #61 on: 05 March, 2009, 11:16:59 pm »
I agree that looks rather ambitious. Do you really want to be doing the LEL having done a 400 and 600 in the two weeks previous? One of the problems with ramping it up so close to LEL will be the sleep debt you are likely to be in.

If you are doing these rides for 'training', I would be tempted to do enough long ones (400+) just to let your body know how it copes with 24 hours of cycling, and then stick to 200s and 300s, perhaps training yourself to do them reasonably fast with short stops at controls.

My plan, or as close to plan as I ever make, is to stick to 200s and 300s,  do one or two 600s in May and June and keep July nice and easy, with some pootling around France at the beginning and then just my normal commute.

I did a 53hr 1000km 20 years ago. In the run up to that i did 2 x 400 + 2 x 600 in consecutive weeks. I found that by not touching the bike from one weekend to the next I recovered sufficiently to do the following weekends ride in style (i.e progressively faster).
I'm hoping that a similar approach will yeild similar results this time.

Re: LEL preparation
« Reply #62 on: 05 March, 2009, 11:18:42 pm »
I'm just planning to do 200 and 300s, the BCM 600 (can't find a 400 that fits my calender at the moment), Dun Run and some FNRttCs.

I'm going to try and mix it up a bit bikewise, I don't want to spend all my time on my audax bike, as I don't want to risk nerve damage, by putting pressure on the same areas all the time.

Going back to the PBP threads, the number of numb toes, fingers and 'other bits' does worry me a bit.

I "lost" my fingers for 6 months after PBP - got as far down the line as seeing a specialist nerve doctor.

dehomag

Re: LEL preparation
« Reply #63 on: 06 March, 2009, 09:44:21 am »


I'm going to try and mix it up a bit bikewise, I don't want to spend all my time on my audax bike, as I don't want to risk nerve damage, by putting pressure on the same areas all the time.

Going back to the PBP threads, the number of numb toes, fingers and 'other bits' does worry me a bit.

You would be better off getting your Audax bike and associated equipment to fit you right, that is, so you don't get numb toes, fingers etc, then spending time getting used to it so that it feels right and proper for LEL. Switching bikes is just avoiding the problems rather than addressing them which is what you should be doing between now and the event.

Re: LEL preparation
« Reply #64 on: 06 March, 2009, 09:56:42 am »
On 600s, I've had buzzing/loss of feeling on my little fingers. I think that can only be stopped by regularly changing position.  So I might as well ride a different bike for the July FNRttC and the dun run etc.  I'll be riding a much heavier bike, sit up and beg bike as 'training'  ;D




dehomag

Re: LEL preparation
« Reply #65 on: 06 March, 2009, 10:18:44 am »
Not sure I could be persuaded to agree that you finger problem 'can only be stopped by regularly changing position' but I will not argue the point.  Being on a bike for 90 hours, having you body in that position can't really be simulated, you just have to get used to it by doing it. I have got used it by riding the same bike in the lead up to the big events. Of course it's up to you. My view of those who had problems during PBP was that they didn't prepare well enough.

Re: LEL preparation
« Reply #66 on: 06 March, 2009, 01:38:54 pm »
Having seen on DVD the pitiful sight of PBPers struggling to reach the arrivee, holding their heads up by hand or using rudimentary hand-crafted neck braces (including spare tube wrapped round the forehead and tied astern somewhere), what does the panel suggest can be done to prevent this eventuality happening to me on LEL?  I have never suffered any neck pain before, but distances beyond 630km are an unknown quantity and will remain so until I reach Eskdalemuir.

Chris S

Re: LEL preparation
« Reply #67 on: 06 March, 2009, 01:50:55 pm »
Leave your TT bike at home, and ride with a more upright stance?

dehomag

Re: LEL preparation
« Reply #68 on: 06 March, 2009, 01:53:09 pm »
That's a tricky one Nuncio, that Mrs Miles woman might be able to help but I doubt it.  If you can do 630km I would say you will be OK, just keep doing what you are doing. Not everyone suffered on PBP, I finished in fine fettle as I did on LEL in 2005. There were a lot of people doing PBP in 2007 who were not well prepared in my opinion.

Salvatore

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    • Pics
Re: LEL preparation
« Reply #69 on: 06 March, 2009, 02:07:19 pm »
The only time I've had neck problems was on the PBP, between Carhaix and Loudeac (about 750 km). After an hour's kip (ie a change of position for a while), I was right as rain, as it were.

LEL has more opportunity for longer stops, so I don't anticipate any probs. The only person I recall having neck problems on LEL was a bloke from Devon riding a recumbent (in 1997 I think).
Quote
et avec John, excellent lecteur de road-book, on s'en est sortis sans erreur

Re: LEL preparation
« Reply #70 on: 06 March, 2009, 02:15:04 pm »
On the BCM I found wearing my helmet with head torch during the day tired my neck, so during daylight hours I put my headtorch in my pack.  I was amazed that something that weighed so little could make so much difference.

dehomag

Re: LEL preparation
« Reply #71 on: 06 March, 2009, 02:18:47 pm »
Maybe you should try riding without a helmet too.

Re: LEL preparation
« Reply #72 on: 06 March, 2009, 02:43:00 pm »
I'm a bit of a chicken, and when it comes to rides where I might get an attack of the dozies, I will opt to wear a helmet.

Re: LEL preparation
« Reply #73 on: 06 March, 2009, 04:13:07 pm »
On 600s, I've had buzzing/loss of feeling on my little fingers. I think that can only be stopped by regularly changing position.

I effected a considerable improvement by fitting MarSAS bar foam.

Re: LEL preparation
« Reply #74 on: 06 March, 2009, 04:18:46 pm »
On 600s, I've had buzzing/loss of feeling on my little fingers. I think that can only be stopped by regularly changing position.

I effected a considerable improvement by fitting MarSAS bar foam.

I'm trialling MarSAS at the moment (Audax model). 300km next Sunday (followed by two days of 200km) will be the first real test although I've also got tri-bars so I'll spend a considerable amount of time plodding through Lincolnshire with the weight on my forearms rather than palms.
"Yes please" said Squirrel "biscuits are our favourite things."