Big brag for me, last Saturday I rode from Launceston to Hobart (200km) a goal that I had thought about on and off for years.
I took it easy as I wanted to be sure to make it, 7hrs 20min ride time avg 27kmph. But the total time was 9hrs 30min. I took a couple of short breaks at shops to have a piss and grab a poweraide and stopped for about half an hour for lunch at Mood Food about the 150km mark. Not a very impressive time, but hey I made it
It drizzled on me and was freezing cold for the first 5hrs, I was hanging for a bit of sun. But on the upside there was only a slight breeze and it seemed to be behind me most of the way.
Bike = Stock (except for thudbuster) XtC 2 2005 with knobbies, no barends.
I started to bonk about the 130km mark due to poor food intake management.
I had a plan to eat every hour, but time got away from me and I went 2hrs before I realised I had left it too long. A quick carb shot got me to my lunch stop where I recovered enough to enjoy riding again.
I was feeling good by the time I finished, and felt like I could go another 50km
The next day I could feel it, but was fine and would have gone on a short XC ride if I had the time. Monday night at the Gym on the exercise bike I found my left knee was a bit sore so I didn't do any leg work. Tuesday I did zero resistance exercise bike and it felt good. Wednesday I went for a 50km ride on gravel roads and my knee started to hurt a bit again. Hmmmm, that's a worry, I will rest it for a couple of days again. I have a social ride that I would like to go on Saturday arvo, I hope it's OK by then. Seems that 200km is overdoing it for me.
What I would do different next time.............
I only checked my tire pressure by hand before the ride, it felt hard, I guessed about 60psi. After changing a flat at 170kms I pumped it up and checked the pressure at a servo, inflating to 65psi. When I took off I found I had much less rolling resistance than what I had put up with the whole trip, obviously my hand is not a very accurate pressure tester
I would be stricter with my food management and not cruise on thinking I felt good. I knew better than that, foolish move.
I would take two spare tubes, I got one flat and had a tube for that, but if I got another it might have been a disaster.
I would wear my glasses for more of the trip, I took them off for about half the ride due to difficulty seeing with drizzle on them. My eyes were very red and sore when I finished and the next day.
Overall I really enjoyed it, and would love to do more epic rides. I would like to see how few days I could do the Tasmanian Trail in. But the knee worries me, I don't want to injure myself. Hopefully it will be OK in a couple of days, it doesn't hurt bad I just don't want to make it worse.
"On the road no-one can hear you sing"
Rat
I took it easy as I wanted to be sure to make it, 7hrs 20min ride time avg 27kmph. But the total time was 9hrs 30min. I took a couple of short breaks at shops to have a piss and grab a poweraide and stopped for about half an hour for lunch at Mood Food about the 150km mark. Not a very impressive time, but hey I made it
It drizzled on me and was freezing cold for the first 5hrs, I was hanging for a bit of sun. But on the upside there was only a slight breeze and it seemed to be behind me most of the way.
Bike = Stock (except for thudbuster) XtC 2 2005 with knobbies, no barends.
I started to bonk about the 130km mark due to poor food intake management.
I had a plan to eat every hour, but time got away from me and I went 2hrs before I realised I had left it too long. A quick carb shot got me to my lunch stop where I recovered enough to enjoy riding again.
I was feeling good by the time I finished, and felt like I could go another 50km
The next day I could feel it, but was fine and would have gone on a short XC ride if I had the time. Monday night at the Gym on the exercise bike I found my left knee was a bit sore so I didn't do any leg work. Tuesday I did zero resistance exercise bike and it felt good. Wednesday I went for a 50km ride on gravel roads and my knee started to hurt a bit again. Hmmmm, that's a worry, I will rest it for a couple of days again. I have a social ride that I would like to go on Saturday arvo, I hope it's OK by then. Seems that 200km is overdoing it for me.
What I would do different next time.............
I only checked my tire pressure by hand before the ride, it felt hard, I guessed about 60psi. After changing a flat at 170kms I pumped it up and checked the pressure at a servo, inflating to 65psi. When I took off I found I had much less rolling resistance than what I had put up with the whole trip, obviously my hand is not a very accurate pressure tester
I would be stricter with my food management and not cruise on thinking I felt good. I knew better than that, foolish move.
I would take two spare tubes, I got one flat and had a tube for that, but if I got another it might have been a disaster.
I would wear my glasses for more of the trip, I took them off for about half the ride due to difficulty seeing with drizzle on them. My eyes were very red and sore when I finished and the next day.
Overall I really enjoyed it, and would love to do more epic rides. I would like to see how few days I could do the Tasmanian Trail in. But the knee worries me, I don't want to injure myself. Hopefully it will be OK in a couple of days, it doesn't hurt bad I just don't want to make it worse.
"On the road no-one can hear you sing"
Rat