There are many cyclists out there that would consider the Round the bay in a Day ride to be just another day in the saddle. I am not one of them, for the following reasons. I have never riden more than 180kms in a day. I am 44 a few weeks after the ride. I am overweight (98kgs as of this morning, 24/08/11). I have legs like pipe cleaners!
Confidence, I head towards the ride full of it. Well, not exactly. With 52 days to go, my training is a little behind schedule, but I reckon with the help of my two mates that are doing it with me, I will be able to make it.
Training has been slow, but I hope to slowly ramp it up over the next 7 weeks or so. The idea is to try and spend an extra 30 mins on my long ride each week. This weekend I am shooting at 3.5 hours, which leaves me with this as a goal.
27/8 Aug : 3.5h
3/4 Sept : 4h
10/11 Sep : 4.5h
17/18 Sep : 5h
24/25 Sep :5.5h
1/2 Oct : 6h
8/9 Oct : 6.5h
A 6.5 hour ride should give me about 150kms. If I can manage that on my own, I reckon I can manage 210kms with a couple of mates.
The Route
Anyone who has done it, I would love to hear your story. Or any advice you might have.
Hours in the saddle will help you heaps mate, the first time I did it I didn’t have the hours under my belt and I suffered from it. In my opinion if you can do 170k without any drama’s you’ll be grand. Its all about passing yourself, though that can be hard when there’s so many others on the road and you wanna just gun it. I tend to go at a steady pace down, and depending on how that went, go harder coming back.
Sounds like you have it all under control any way mate and there’s no real hills on the route, BUT do make sure you eat and hydrate every 45 mins or so according to how your body works. Thats very important.
Good luck, might see ya there
LTR
Good on you for taking up the challenge! This page may help with your training & nutrition https://www.bv.com.au/general/great-rides/92795/
All the best with the remainder of your training, we look forward to hearing more from you and seeing you at Bupa Around the Bay!
Back when I did it, 1992, I was only 20. But back then I was riding 500 or kms a week. I completed it in 6.5 hours.
Now days I think I would be a lot slower but still able to complete it.
Let me know if you want a training partner for your 3.5hour ride this weekend, if its Saturday.
I am doing a 3 hr MTB ride on Sunday.
I did the 2ook Sorrento return ride last year and just broke it into 50k chunks. The last 20k into Sorrento was into a headwind and I was feeling like the return trip would be a real struggle but a sandwich, gatorade and a coffee seemed to make all the difference. A mate and I rode together the 100k back to melbourne. Hard but very do-able. You will be sick of eating and drinking by time you get to the 150k mark but you need to keep topping up the motor.
All the best
Thanks for all the comments so far. It is a great help.
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