110 miles on December 23rd - any chances?

Also, using a Garmin or other GPS is a good idea if you don't want to waste time getting lost.

lots of good advice above. even if you know the route quite well, do take a map (or gps) in case you go wrong/have to make a detour. Oh yes, and don't forget clive's advice - good overshoes!

Strewth what a load of tosh, just get on yer bike , dont mess about and knock the distance off....have fun...

And make sure that you have a nice hot hearty meal waiting for you at the other end.

Good luck!

Also, using a Garmin or other GPS is a good idea if you don't want to waste time getting lost.

Both of these are solid tips. Since buying my Garmin I can enjoy the ride much more as I don't have to keep stopping to check I'm still on route (terrible at reading maps when cycling) Also helps that you can pre load the route and just ride.

Make sure you've got plenty to eat at the end, I guarantee you'll eat a normal portion and wonder where the hell it went. When cycling around Norfolk,Essex, 330 miles in 2.5 days in summer I was eating so much at the end of the day I wouldn't normally be able to stomach it all.

I would plan either two shorter stops (say 30 mins) a good stop in the middle.

When riding in the cold the number one thing is wearing the right clothing: serious gloves, a wind/waterproof jacket, long sleeve jerseys and base layer, scarf (silk is good), wollen hat under helmet (merino), bibs under long winter tights, 2 pairs of socks, or special winter think socks, and definitely waterproof overshoes. If you are tucked in and comfy, you'll be fine no matter what the weather throws at you.

Keep drinking as much as you can - very easy to forget in low temps.

Soreen and bananas.

Maybe take a thermal bottle and fill it with tea - refill when you stop.

Take 2 tubes, leavers, multi tool and cable ties. That'll be fine.

Good lights, not little knogs.

Do some long rides to prepare for it, then ride tempo, around 22/23 is reasonable on your own and will get you there in time.

Strewth what a load of tosh, just get on yer bike , dont mess about and knock the distance off....have fun...

Nice idea but it doesn't work like that. 120 undulating miles fixed in winter into a probable headwind requires planning.

About three years ago, I went out for a Saturday morning ride. I was feeling good and moving swiftly. I got to Richmond Park and decided against laps but to continue instead towards Ascot and Windsor. I was flying. Close to Virginia Water, the rain started but i was riding well and so carried on. As I hit Runneymead, I realised that my good form was more down to a strong easterly tailwind than my fitness.

The cold wet wind blew through me. I was inadequately dressed. I was soaked. My gloves were not waterproof and I had no shoe covers on. My hands and feet froze. I shivered. I stopped shivering. I felt lightheaded. As i got closer to central London, I became concerned about my judgement at junctions. I was struggling. Eight miles from home I punctured. With frozen hands and a freezing body, it took almost half an hour to change the inner tube. I got home and looked into the mirror to see my lips had literally turned blue. I was suffering from hypothermia. I managed to strip off my wet clothes and jump into a hot bath where I lay for ages until my core heat was restored.

A bit of planning and I would have noticed the wind direction and the likely hood of rain. I would have dressed properly with waterproof gloves, overshoes and more layers and probably ridden east rather than west.

A ride of 120 miles with little opportunity to bail, will be far more enjoyable if risk elements are reduced in advance.

Can you get overshoes for MTB style cleats? When riding my audax bike I mainly use MTB shoes and cleats. Would be great if I could keep my feet nice and toasty.

Can you get overshoes for MTB style cleats? When riding my audax bike I mainly use MTB shoes and cleats. Would be great if I could keep my feet nice and toasty.
of course! endura neoprene ones are good... mt500s i think

Can you get overshoes for MTB style cleats? When riding my audax bike I mainly use MTB shoes and cleats. Would be great if I could keep my feet nice and toasty.

I don't think they're road/mtb specific. I use some PRO neoprene overshoes with bit road and mtb shoes if the temperature is below about 10°.

Strewth what a load of tosh, just get on yer bike , dont mess about and knock the distance off....have fun...

That way lies at best a bailout.

reading Cliveos post reminded of a commute to work, which was 25 miles. I did this both ways at least twice a week, but one January I day set off without checking the weather forecast. It rained and my nice warm fleecey gloves got soaked in the first five miles. It wasn't all that cold, I mean 2 or 3 degrees, and my hands nearly froze, and by the time I got there my hands had lost all feeling. I couldn't even turn the key in the lock of the office door. If I had punctured I would not have been able to fix it full stop.

I just basically jumped on a bike and pedalled off without proper planning.

My hands were so painful for 20 minutes I just stood in the kitchen at work crying. If that had been a 110 mile ride I would have had to go to a station and bailout, and without the luxury of a staff kitchen to warm up in I would have had even less fun.

I like to think that anyone who asks for advice benefits from the experience of others.

Nah, sod that. Just jump on the bike. Fuck spares and tools and *"layers". *They're for pussies.

A proper man can do that distance in jeans and a T-shirt whatever the weather.

On a more serious note:

There will be ice somewhere on route. Keep an eye out and if you don't already know, read up on how to ride in icy conditions.

If there's snow you'll be averaging at or less than 10mph and working hard for it.

of course! endura neoprene ones are good... mt500s i think

I don't think they're road/mtb specific. I use some PRO neoprene overshoes with bit road and mtb shoes if the temperature is below about 10°.

I'm sitting here all smug knowing that I can buy them now. To be honest the only thing which put me off before is the fact they might not fit my MTB shoes.

I'm sitting here all smug knowing that I can buy them now. To be honest the only thing which put me off before is the fact they might not fit my MTB shoes.

Yes they're fine. Planet x ones are worth checking out, fairly cheap and very durable too.

A journey with a point is much more fun than training, circular rides etc but that is going to be really vile if you're on any rat run (doesn't have to be an A road) from midday onwards.

I'd consider starting out earlier under lights or putting the bike in gf's car and riding back after Xmas.

Any time around the holiday season is going to be deadful - just keep on the big roads and you'll be fine. Even more of a reason to have GPS as you can plan your trip on smaller roads.

good luck hundred mile fun

Any time around the holiday season is going to be deadful - just keep on the big roads and you'll be fine. Even more of a reason to have GPS as you can plan your trip on smaller roads.

Lets hope not!
Actually riding back after christmas is a great idea. As well as riding there!

This sounds like a great project.

For the past few years I've done a pre Christmas ride to my sister in Oxford - nothing compared with this proposal. However even my little trip has proved hard work at times, especially when I failed to leave early enough and got caught in the dark.

Apart from last year (when I went by car because of the snow) the temperature has never been much of a problem, and I've never encountered any ice on the main roads. It's the possibility of a headwind that's the real enemy, and as we know the prevailing wind is South West, so a Westerly is quite a likely possibility. I don't think even in my best years I would have wanted to try this ride into a strong wind.

Therefore I suggest you should have a plan B just in case. Somewhere to stop on the route, an arrangement for a lift, or check up on how to finish the journey by train. Nobody will be very impressed with the thought that you would have been very fit...if you had survived.

A final thought: On Christmas morning 1967 my clubmate Martyn Roach rode from South West London to Newport Pagnall. In 1968 he won the British Best All Rounder Championship.

Good Luck.

70 miles on Christmas Day morning?

...I should be winning some best all rounder things.

:)

if you are putting the miles in, you should register here, for a chance for some prizes..
http://www.rapha.cc/festive-500

if you are putting the miles in, you should register here, for a chance for some prizes..
http://www.rapha.cc/festive-500

Well, I might have done if it had been 300 *miles. *I never ride in kilometres.

I've just undertaken to ride to Oxford on the 23rd and back on the 24th, so that wouldn't have been a bad start.

Plan a proper lunch stop somewhere. Constantly eating sweets and sugary stuff can backfire and while it's important to keep your energy levels up, oversugaring can leave you feeling pretty ropey when it gets cold. Something hearty with high GI and carbs is a good idea (hence why audaxers often favour beans on toast, particularly in winter). For the lunch stop, somewhere indoors and warm where you've going to be for about half an hour is best. Don't forget to drop layers as soon as you can in the lunch stop to get any built up sweat evaporated. When you get going again, you won't want that getting cold as soon as you go outdoors. Riding exposed to the cold for a long time takes it's toll a lot more than you might expect but the creep is gradual and you can easily get into a poor headstate before you realise what is going on. Psychology can be a complete ride killer so recognising when you might be about to hit a downward spiral is pretty helpful. If you find the ride is taking longer than expected, go with it rather than push yourself to get back on schedule.
If you aren't planning it already, probably best to look at options to bail out into Swindon, at least there you can get the train up to Stroud if needs be.
Finally, don't delay a break if you think you might need one. Thinking that it'll be worth going through one place in favour of getting a bit further on can scupper a ride. THat one is from very bitter experience.

I'll be taking off my first 130miles ride in an hour or so - I have read the thread with great value and will be sharing my experiences when (if) I return :-)

Good luck, looks cold to start, possibly frost in countryside, getting windy and then some rain and still windy. Forecast has been very unreliable the last week or so however.