[RBW] Re: 400k plus

[Deacon Patrick]

I'm working toward a 200k+ (180 miles) distance, and previously ran Ultra 
distances. The one thing I know is that there are different challenges as 
you extend distances, but there really is no way to prepare for them other 
than to go and experience them. You can run 20 marathons and still not be 
ready for what happens at mile 45. Past a point of roughly 12 hours, 
everything is choice of attitude. If you can go 12 hours, you can go 5 
days, but you have to manage your attitude and approach and expectations 
and everything that so poorly gets summed up as "mental."

Enjoy the rides! I look forward to hearing about your experiences!

With abandon,
Patrick

On Friday, May 23, 2014 6:05:14 AM UTC-6, Tim wrote:
>
> I know several of you in the group ride brevets so it's time to pick your 
> brains. I've taken them up again this year. In 2011 i completed a 200k, had 
> a DNF 300k followed by finishing a planned 175 mile ride. I've had no rides 
> over 50-60 miles since until this year, got fat, etc. I decided I needed a 
> goal to help motivate me so I put PBP 2015 on the calendar. I've lost over 
> 45 lbs and am loving riding again. I did a 200k a couple of weeks ago and 
> have a 300k next week which I'm nervous about but fairly confident. My 
> question is about beyond that. I'm wondering if I need to progress to the 
> other distances. In other words, should I try 350k before 400 then 500 
> before 600? Or do you think that by the time I've gone 300k that the base 
> is built up enough to sustain the larger jumps in time and distance? Riv 
> content: I'm riding this on my Homer and loving it! I'd like to complete 
> the whole series (200,300,400, 600) this summer so I'll have a good taste 
> for what's in store next year in Paris.

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[RBW] Re: 400k plus

[Jon Doyle]

A randonneur series is structured progressively to prepare you for the next 
ride. Some of the jumps seem considerable, but hey, you're talking about 
eventually riding 1200k! Examine your fitness, mental state, comfort, etc 
after each ride and see what you think. Let this and your intuition guide 
you.

My unimportant suggestions: just ride the brevet series, and ride shorter 
hilly routes in between to strengthen climbing skills. Making good time on 
the hills and having the strength to do it over and over is worth a lot. 
Riding long distances too often can be a bummer. Ride with friends whenever 
possible.

I'm a fairly young randonneur, and this approach has been successful for 
me. I completed a couple brevet series, multiple 600ks, and my first 1200k 
was slice o' cake. And I didn't get burned out from riding too much or 
alienate my loved ones.

Jon, 
Watertown, MA


On Friday, May 23, 2014 8:05:14 AM UTC-4, Tim wrote:
>
> I know several of you in the group ride brevets so it's time to pick your 
> brains. I've taken them up again this year. In 2011 i completed a 200k, had 
> a DNF 300k followed by finishing a planned 175 mile ride. I've had no rides 
> over 50-60 miles since until this year, got fat, etc. I decided I needed a 
> goal to help motivate me so I put PBP 2015 on the calendar. I've lost over 
> 45 lbs and am loving riding again. I did a 200k a couple of weeks ago and 
> have a 300k next week which I'm nervous about but fairly confident. My 
> question is about beyond that. I'm wondering if I need to progress to the 
> other distances. In other words, should I try 350k before 400 then 500 
> before 600? Or do you think that by the time I've gone 300k that the base 
> is built up enough to sustain the larger jumps in time and distance? Riv 
> content: I'm riding this on my Homer and loving it! I'd like to complete 
> the whole series (200,300,400, 600) this summer so I'll have a good taste 
> for what's in store next year in Paris.

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[RBW] Re: 400k plus

[dailyrandonneur]

Tim --

The conventional approach is to ride the brevets in order without trying to 
do too much in between, as long as the gaps are not more than 2-3 weeks. 
It's good to give your legs some time to recover and adapt. Most everybody 
is intimidated by the 400K, I am still after a number of years 
randonneuring. Showing up with rested legs and good sleep the week leading 
into the ride makes a big difference. 

If you were able to ride the 175 miler without major difficulty in similar 
terrain, you can complete a 400K. It may not be comfortable, but you'll get 
there. 

Keep up with your food and drink, don't ride too hard early in the event 
and see if you can group up with other riders for the nighttime hours. 
You'll likely have a low energy point somewhere during the ride, don't 
worry, a good rest stop helps; eat and drink whatever you think will raise 
your energy level and spirits. I've taken a mini-nap of 10 minutes in the 
past which is surprisingly refreshing. 

Nightfall also has a natural energizing effect as your senses perk up to 
deal with the dark, as does the prospect of finishing. 

Hope this helps. 


On Friday, May 23, 2014 8:05:14 AM UTC-4, Tim wrote:
>
> I know several of you in the group ride brevets so it's time to pick your 
> brains. I've taken them up again this year. In 2011 i completed a 200k, had 
> a DNF 300k followed by finishing a planned 175 mile ride. I've had no rides 
> over 50-60 miles since until this year, got fat, etc. I decided I needed a 
> goal to help motivate me so I put PBP 2015 on the calendar. I've lost over 
> 45 lbs and am loving riding again. I did a 200k a couple of weeks ago and 
> have a 300k next week which I'm nervous about but fairly confident. My 
> question is about beyond that. I'm wondering if I need to progress to the 
> other distances. In other words, should I try 350k before 400 then 500 
> before 600? Or do you think that by the time I've gone 300k that the base 
> is built up enough to sustain the larger jumps in time and distance? Riv 
> content: I'm riding this on my Homer and loving it! I'd like to complete 
> the whole series (200,300,400, 600) this summer so I'll have a good taste 
> for what's in store next year in Paris.

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[RBW] Re: 400k plus

[IanA]

Hi Tim,

Good luck on completing the upcoming brevet series and on accomplishing the 
PBP - I'm sure you'll do really well.

My longest distance was 400km and the longest before that was a large 
number of solo 200km rides (I skipped the 300km!) so my advice would be 
anecdotal, but I did find the struggle for me on the 400km was nutrition 
management (I was vegan at that time).  The weather was good, so I didn't 
have to worry about clothing on that 400km.  On some of the 200km rides I 
got very cold and wet and I'm still learning about clothing and equipment, 
but sadly I work too much now and my riding is limited to commuting and 
grocery shop (for shame). I liked the 200km training rides as I could sneak 
one in every time I had a free day.

I don't know if you are familiar with the Randon list? 
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/randon - worth posting your same 
questions there.  You'll find a wealth of enthusiastic experience to draw 
from.

Of course, ride reports are encouraged on this list as are photos.

Ian A. 



On Friday, May 23, 2014 6:05:14 AM UTC-6, Tim wrote:
>
> I know several of you in the group ride brevets so it's time to pick your 
> brains. I've taken them up again this year. In 2011 i completed a 200k, had 
> a DNF 300k followed by finishing a planned 175 mile ride. I've had no rides 
> over 50-60 miles since until this year, got fat, etc. I decided I needed a 
> goal to help motivate me so I put PBP 2015 on the calendar. I've lost over 
> 45 lbs and am loving riding again. I did a 200k a couple of weeks ago and 
> have a 300k next week which I'm nervous about but fairly confident. My 
> question is about beyond that. I'm wondering if I need to progress to the 
> other distances. In other words, should I try 350k before 400 then 500 
> before 600? Or do you think that by the time I've gone 300k that the base 
> is built up enough to sustain the larger jumps in time and distance? Riv 
> content: I'm riding this on my Homer and loving it! I'd like to complete 
> the whole series (200,300,400, 600) this summer so I'll have a good taste 
> for what's in store next year in Paris.

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[RBW] Re: 400k plus

[Jenny Oh Hatfield]

I started randonneuring last year and my longest ride to date then was 110 
miles. I just worked my way up through the longer distances (although I did 
do a 360k Fleche which gave me a great idea of what it was like to ride 
through the night and was easier to jump up to a 400k.) But going from a 
400k to a 600k was mostly mentally challenging, although I did have some 
knee problems due to fit (but was still able to finish.) For me, as others 
have noted, riding with friends definitely helps while away the quiet, 
sleep hours between 2AM-5AM. 

I keep my ride reports 
hereand I've written a 
lot about how I figured out what to which each 
subsequent brevet. This year's been a lot easier and so I'm logging more 
miles and plan to do my first 1200k in August in preparation for PBP next 
year. Good luck and hope to see you there!

Cheers,

Jenny


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[RBW] Re: 400k plus

[Michael]

>
> If anyone lives near Howard County and wants to do some brevet training 
> rides, please pm me.


It would be fun to ride together.

But be warned, I only go like about 15mph!
Maybe you are interested in a restorative ride?

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[RBW] Re: 400k plus

[lukeheller]

There's no perfect formula to know when you've trained enough to meet your 
next goal. However, the 200-300-400-600 progression is a really good guide 
in my experience. Do you need to fill the 400-600 gap with a 500k? No, I 
really don't think so. 

I'd like to believe:
if you can ride a 100k, you can ride a 200k
if you can ride a 200k, you can ride a 300k
if you can ride a 300k, you can ride a 400k
if you can ride a 400k, you can ride a 600k
if you can ride a 600k, you can ride a 1200k

after all, isn't one of the greatest barriers to our own accomplishments 
what *we believe we can do?*

when I started doing brevets, the closest brevets were a minimum of 3-4 
hours away. I did my first 400k before ever doing a 300k but I had been 
training and doing many 100mile+ rides in the mountains which added a 
considerable amount of difficulty. So you see, i was convinced that my 
mountainous 200k's had adequately prepared me for a flat/rolling 400k. and 
it did. i think largely, because i believed it would.

once you get on the other side of your first complete brevet series, your 
conception of what you can accomplish on a bicycle will be drastically 
different. mine was.

200s and 300s are a fair bit easier because you don't have to worry about 
the sleep monster.
400s - the sleep monster begin to rear it's ugly head at times.
600s - the sleep monster cometh

however, i'd rather ride a 600 any day than a 400 for some reason. 400's 
are just my tough spot. something about getting to the bed for a brief nap 
before riding the last 200k on a 600k is far more enticing than just 
finishing a 400k. 

i did my first few years of brevets + my first 1000k on my Romulus.

see you in Paris!




On Friday, May 23, 2014 8:05:14 AM UTC-4, Tim wrote:
>
> I know several of you in the group ride brevets so it's time to pick your 
> brains. I've taken them up again this year. In 2011 i completed a 200k, had 
> a DNF 300k followed by finishing a planned 175 mile ride. I've had no rides 
> over 50-60 miles since until this year, got fat, etc. I decided I needed a 
> goal to help motivate me so I put PBP 2015 on the calendar. I've lost over 
> 45 lbs and am loving riding again. I did a 200k a couple of weeks ago and 
> have a 300k next week which I'm nervous about but fairly confident. My 
> question is about beyond that. I'm wondering if I need to progress to the 
> other distances. In other words, should I try 350k before 400 then 500 
> before 600? Or do you think that by the time I've gone 300k that the base 
> is built up enough to sustain the larger jumps in time and distance? Riv 
> content: I'm riding this on my Homer and loving it! I'd like to complete 
> the whole series (200,300,400, 600) this summer so I'll have a good taste 
> for what's in store next year in Paris.

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