Thread started by roughdraftx01 at 10.30.08 - 1:04 pm

I am considering trying my first double century via the Urban Double ride on 12/6/08 thats been posted here.

I've honestly been only seriously cycling for almost about 3 months.
But within those 3 months I have been riding with wolfpack for 2 months now which i have no problem finishing with the main pack anymore after the first 2 rides.
I also ride with BicyKillers weekly as well.
The only long distance rides i have under my belt are the Dark Metric Century (62.5 mile-lish) and the Dark Century itself. I was able to finish both of those with a 18-19 mph pace without totally feeling i was dead or something. I was more sleepy than anything else actually :D

Still. due to my lack of cycling experience.. im worried about actually finishing 200 miles. Anyone have a tip in pushing that extra 100 miles out? can anyone contrast a double century with a standard century? Personal experiences would be awesome.

I dont know if im pushing myself to do so much progress in a short amount of time, but let me know that if i am :p its jsut addicting to ride more often, farther, and most of all FASTER!!!

btw i mainly ride a geared road bike. will be awhile till i feel that i can hang on a fixed.. cant wait till im able to, though.

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Three months? You're a monster.

I haven't done a double myself, but I know consistent food and water is key when you get into the big stuff. You'll be burning a hell of alot of calories: Every 10-15-30 minutes, take in water, and every 1-2 hours, have something to eat, a small smack or whatever you want. You can get away with bigger gaps in between on the shorter rides, but you definitely want to be consistent on the double. Also, find a speed that you can manage for 10-15 hours, and with a spinning cadence (70-90 rpm?), not mashing. Make use of your gears; you have them, so use and change them often.

Keep us posted, and good luck.




Alex
10.30.08 - 2:22 pm

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Look up the California Triple Crown, they got doubles on lock. I usually just sign up for the LA Wheelmen Double every June. It's only 60 Bucks and it comes with 8 or 9 checkpoints of all you can eat food like fruit trail mix, PB&J, mini sandwiches, cookies, pretzels, nuts, juice, myriad energy concoctions, and a giant BBQ lunch and Dinner at the finish. Last time I did it I finished in 13.5 hours. On my road bike of course.



tallcans4tallbikes
10.30.08 - 3:16 pm

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thanks for the input guys. im pretty bad with keeping up the calories.. but im decent with the fluid intake. hopefully doing the wolfpack all city century thats coming up will add some more much needed experience with long distance rides.



roughdraftx01
10.30.08 - 5:06 pm

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This dude Shaun just went out and did the Death Valley double as his first double and he rode fixed. Probably could give you some good insight. Budge rode it as his first as well, but I don't think he posts on here.

My advice would be to get in some misery beforehand. Doubles, for me anyway, almost always have a really low point mentally. I am of the school that the more times you visit this low point the better prepared you are for it when it comes. And I mean really low. Shit most people never experience in their life low.

How can you do this? Go on a few long, epic rides. Alone. With lots of climbing. How long and how hard? If at some point you are not convinced that you cannot finish, then it isn't long or hard enough.

I wrote some advice for first time double riders going to death valley last spring on my blog, nowhip.blogspot.com. It is specific to death valley, but almost all of the information translates to any long rides. I also have a 'double' tag on there if you are really hard up for info and have lots of time to waste.




bike punk
10.31.08 - 2:12 pm

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"Eat before you're hungry, drink before you're thirsty, and shift before you need to."

I am the Shaun hosting the urban double and who did death valley double on my fixie. I'm glad to have you on board. If you are doing Wolfpack and finishing in the lead pack, you should be fine. Our pace will be a lot slower, most likely. I agree with all of the above comments about hitting low points and high points. Make sure you are eating steadily. I will fill the sag truck with some Perpetuem and bananas, and we will take stops every 20-30 miles.



shauners
11.24.08 - 1:36 pm

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Before I did my first double, the longest I rode was maybe 130 or 140. I just trained hills and that did the trick. The distance is all a mind game. Just break it down into little 20-30 mile chunks and you'll be done before you know it.

Exhaustion is kinda tricky and you will probably feel sleepy during the last 80 or so miles. We will cruise up the San Gabriel River trail towards the end and that will feel endless. Coffee aint such a bad thing. It may also be helpful to slow down and just ride with someone for a while so that you don't accidentally ride the ramps into the river.



shauners
11.24.08 - 1:41 pm

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I really wish I could be there for this ride. But I would like to offer my opinion that finishing in the front group with wolfpack does not mean you should be fine for riding 200 miles. Just saying. I disagree, because these two accomplishments are definitely not mutually exclusive. I'm sure that some (if not all) who ride in the front with wolfpack will be able to make this ride. But, to say that you will be fine if you finish with the front group on wolfpack consistently is not a truism. Anyways, enough with that.

I really wish I could be there to ride with you guys. But, unfortunately, I am many states away.



tern
11.24.08 - 1:43 pm

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