Progressing furthur

Okay I wasn't doing a serious answer but "10% rule" is a good one.
Add no more than 10% to your weekly distance and make your weekly long ride no more than 10% longer than the previous.

You can go out and ride 100mi but you will hurt for quite a while after wards so it's best to step up distance incrementally otherwise you risk overuse injuries.

As a side line issue: ... the search function is amazing.

Added to rep

Welcome! Join in on the beers and the rides. You'd be amazed how fit you get just by commuting each day. I have a similar commute distance to your and managed the Brighton ride this year without any major problems. I wasn't the quickest but I made it. The long distance thing is more of a mental barrier until you do it.

I don't see my commute i do as a pootle through the city... id like to think of it as improving my chances to ride further. I terms of ratio and this time of year whats a good size to run?

Obviously city ratio is very different than longer rides... in the city i ride 47-18 its comfortable and not too spinny. Do you go higher or lower for longer distances?

ps thanks for all the advice so far... this is going to be my training bible (thread)

Welcome! Join in on the beers and the rides. You'd be amazed how fit you get just by commuting each day. I have a similar commute distance to your and managed the Brighton ride this year without any major problems. I wasn't the quickest but I made it. The long distance thing is more of a mental barrier until you do it.

and that's straight from Aroogah - a bloody nice guy and general all-round good egg.

Actually is there any decent books that cover riding training regime that you could recommend?

I read a few when running and runners world schedules are great!

Cycling Distances Made Easy

Cycling Distances Made Easy

Got... and nailed it too

and that's straight from Aroogah - a bloody nice guy and general all-round good egg.

Added to rep!

proper nutrition is important. i go through 1 energy bar every 1.5hrs. and about one bottle every 2hrs (<1hr if it's hot and sunny). if you feel hungry or thirsty, it is often too late.

However, if you're like me and think that energy bars look like poo and taste like melted plastic blended with chewing gum and have the joyous texture of styrofoam, eat real food.
Unless you're doing race training or angling for some of the tougher audaxes then proper food will be nice and filling, leaving your belly nice and happy for a while. On my longer rides I stop for coffee and cake, big pub lunch with beer, more coffee and cake and other occasional snack treats. I carry energy bars and stuff in case of a bonk or getting stranded but rarely touch them.
Feeling hungry isn't really too late, it's just your body telling you to sit down, take a break and eat something. Enjoy the world around you. The worst thing for riding distance is constant wondering if you're up to it, if you've eaten enough etc.

The water stuff is right though. Don't let yourself run out and make sure you drink enough.

Added to rep

Welcome! Join in on the beers and the rides. You'd be amazed how fit you get just by commuting each day. I have a similar commute distance to your and managed the Brighton ride this year without any major problems. I wasn't the quickest but I made it. The long distance thing is more of a mental barrier until you do it.

I've seen the drinks all ends in a kinda fun/piss up party which is great for who enjoy it, but the temptation of beer can mess with my head... don't get me wrong i love beer/other fun but thats the problem.

Maybe i'll just do the rides and keep the drinks with... are drinks compulsory?

CP

However, if you're like me and think that energy bars look like poo and taste like melted plastic blended with chewing gum and have the joyous texture of styrofoam, eat real food.
Unless you're doing race training or angling for some of the tougher audaxes then proper food will be nice and filling, leaving your belly nice and happy for a while. On my longer rides I stop for coffee and cake, big pub lunch with beer, more coffee and cake and other occasional snack treats. I carry energy bars and stuff in case of a bonk or getting stranded but rarely touch them.
Feeling hungry isn't really too late, it's just your body telling you to sit down, take a break and eat something. Enjoy the world around you. The worst thing for riding distance is constant wondering if you're up to it, if you've eaten enough etc.

The water stuff is right though. Don't let yourself run out and make sure you drink enough.

I've never tried the space food before i've eaten dried apricots on runs before they seem to work for me... ive heard bad things about those bars/gels.

ive heard bad things about those bars/gels.

Mostly true. I use them occasionally in adventure racing. However, I can't imagine why wnyone would want to ruin a good ride by voluntarily consuming them. I think one of the problems is that people oft associate distance with speed and therefore are unwilling to stop for food. Not true. Getting used to spending the day in the saddle is far more important. Stopping for an hour for lunch isn't a bad thing.

Mostly true. I use them occasionally in adventure racing. However, I can't imagine why wnyone would want to ruin a good ride by voluntarily consuming them. I think one of the problems is that people oft associate distance with speed and therefore are unwilling to stop for food. Not true. Getting used to spending the day in the saddle is far more important. Stopping for an hour for lunch isn't a bad thing.

I see your point i think you should try and make a ride fun... have that goal, ie lunch somewhere nice, country pub etc. and incorporated into a ride and a challenging finish perhaps?

Me and a friend planned to ride to the coast and back (from Cambridge area) and didn't do any long training rides (max about 20 miles) before hand. The day we went it absolutely chucked it down with hail and rain, in pretty strong gusty winds. The first 30 miles were hell, but we made sure we ate and drunk a lot. I took 3 500ml bottles of lucozade and had 1.5 litres of water in a camelback, along with luggage for the overnight stay. After a massive plate of chips the rest of the ride felt much easier. Sitting on the saddle the next day was agony (this is through two pairs of padded shorts) but I soon got used to it.

My one tip was make sure you get your bike set up perfectly, any aches in your back/shoulders/wrists get very irritating on a long ride.

Even if you feel you have nothing left, a good stop and refuel will keep you going.

I think you will be fine if you are already a strong and confident rider - hooray!

Welcome.

Well it seems like i should plan a ride a beginners roll. 30-40 miles sounds sensible?

I think you will be fine if you are already a strong and confident rider - hooray!

Welcome.

thanks.

Well it seems like i should plan a ride a beginners roll. 30-40 miles sounds sensible?

Push a little further, sounds like Brighton. Route is around on the forum someplace.

Push a little further, sounds like Brighton. Route is around on the forum someplace.

is it ok to do this kinda thing alone?

... are drinks compulsory?

Of course not - but you will have to expect some ribbing for getting something else. It's more about the sitting around and taking the mick out each other for hours.

but the temptation of beer can mess with my head...

oh it messes with our heads too.. in the end we usually decide the best option's just to give into it. Pint after pint after sweet sweet pint....

fck me that's fast. once did a 40min 10k run but the distance was a bit suspect (prob 0.5-1.0km short)...anyway, sounds like you're pretty fit.

stamina will come later. just keep on riding. increase your distance on weekends, you'll be alright. loads of forum folks that go on these long dist rides are nowhere near your fitness level. dont worry bout jumping in the deep end.

proper nutrition is important. i go through 1 energy bar every 1.5hrs. and about one bottle every 2hrs (<1hr if it's hot and sunny). if you feel hungry or thirsty, it is often too late.

thanks it wasn't easy the amount of sweat that poured out of my face was incredible... was running with a friend i didnt want to win.(i didnt want him to win)

It ios but it's far more enjoyable in a group, even if it's only 4 riders.

I see I've just missed a ride to Brighton.
I'll pop a few long rides in my week in prep. and maybe i'll give it a go in a week. Thanks all

It ios but it's far more enjoyable in a group, even if it's only 4 riders.

I found 50 mile+ distances solo out in the country messed with my head a bit because your brain goes into autopilot/standby mode without any stimuli and with you burning lots of calories it would otherwise have access to. Tranced out.