Training for E2E

[Ben]

Hi,

I'm planning a camping E2E in August this year. I cycle everywhere I go, but that's not generally all that far in a smallish town. Recently, I've been doing a 20 mile ride most days, but any advice on what training would be prudent would be very welcome.

Not sre how lng the cycle will take, but leaving 3 weeks just in case...

Cheers,

Ben

[Curley Stays]

Hi Ben,
I can only wonder if your admission of doing 20 mile rides and going on to do the end to end is biting off more than you can chew.
I state this because I have recently given up on an E to E after 260 miles due to sheer exhaustion.
I am used to doing 100 miles plus in a day and had set myself a 60 mile a day schedule for my E2E. I found after 4 days I was shot. I hasten to add I am 59 yrs old, but feel that whatever age you need to consistently build up your mileage capabilities. Have success.
CS

[Ben]

Well, the main reason for only doing 20 during the week is time constraints. I have been doing longer rides at the weekend - there's a nice route I found between Oxford and Cambridge, about 90 miles.

I'm not planning on starting for about 3 months - probably early september, and plan to keep the short weekday rides up, plus the longer weekend ones.

I'm hoping this will be enough.

[Andy Tallis]

Make sure that you think about the other aspects of the riode as well. Weight (travel light), efficiency of bike, where you stay and what you eat all play big roles. Try to vary your routes as much as possible too. It gives good navigation practice. Going out in all weathers is useful training for when you HAVE to and helps test kit.

Best of luck. It took me only 4 months (with A levels in the middle) to go from short town runs only to a 75 mile a day average end to end.

[lejog45]

Ben,

I did this last year and used basically 3 training routes of 10 very hilly, 20 mostly flat & 30m combination of both a day. Quite early on I slipped in a couple 50 mile runs and just before setting off did 80 miles.

I kept records of times etc to help plan the route and how many days to allow.

Basically, when loaded with paniers (I also camped) I thought you'd lose 15% of your average speed. It turned out to be more like 20%.

To work out how many days you multiply your average speed by 0.8 and then multiply this by how many riding hours you want to do per day.

This tells you how many miles you'll do and you can use to start looking for camp sites the correct number of miles away.

You then divide 900 by the above your average daily and it tells you how many days you'll need.

It took us, a 45 year old smoker and his older brother 11 days. Which was exactly the plan.

Day 1 was 100 miles if you include riding to the start and the campsite indicate on our map at Launceston is non existent.

Every other day was enjoyable.

Good luck

If you want to look at our record e-mail me.
m.crook@open.ac.uk

[Sarah]

Hi Ben
You mentioned the Oxford to Cambridge bike ride... I'm thinking of cycling that route over the next few weeks but don't think I can realistically manage to cycle there and back within the space of a few days. Do you normally cycle just one way? If so - what's the best way to get back to Oxford/Cambridge again? Trains seem a bit awkard - going via London...

[Ben]

The route from Ox <--> Cam I found was at:

http://www.squarewheels.org.uk/bike/routeCamOx.html

It was written by one of the drivers on the X5, the bus that does the route - I don't know if they take bikes, but they're big coaches, so they might...

Unfortunately, I think via London is the only train way. It should take about two and a half hours I reckon to get back by train - so clunky and expensive, but no slower than the coach.

Cheers,

Ben

[Ben]

Hi Lejog45,

Thanks for the advice. I'm doing most of my training in Cambridgeshire, not famed for its hills, which is a bit of a problem. Mind you, will get worse when college chuck me out and I move back into London. Not sure how I'll train then - have to get the maps out. I suppose london has hills...

[mike6]

Ben, it sounds as if you already have ample fitness, you will get hill climbing training in Cornwall and Devon, which is the most exhausting section of the whole route. Just do not allow the hills there to put you off.
Enjoy!

[Ben]

Thanks everyone! The reason I was a bit worried aout hills was:
a) They're horrible

and

b) I did London to Cambridge no problems last week, but when I tried to get from Cambridge to Oxford, I was shot after 45 miles. Oops!

But I've set aside 3 weeks, so even if we nly manage 50 miles day we'll finish, and hopefully even I can manage that!

Cheers,


Ben

[Ben]

...The London to Cambridge ride was 75 miles.
I think the problem with my ride to Oxford was probably that it was roasting hot and I went far too fast. Doing it again next week, with a fully loaded bike. No reason I shouldn't manage it - its not that hilly really...

[AJPITFC]

I did LEJOG last year and took 11 days.

Max I trained for was 50-60 and did that 3 times. My daily mileage was alot more as I simply had all day to ride and enjoy the countryside.

However, I did train every night for 6 months inc using a turbo trainer just to get used to things.

Suffolk is flat so the hills were a real problem. I struggled on day 2 & 3 but after that things did get easier. The Lakes and through Scotland were not as bad as I feared.

Also See http://www.ipswichtownfan.co.uk/Lejog.htm
You may find this interesting especially the advice aspect.

Good luck and I wish I was doing it again this year.