I'm riding my bike to the moon and have some questions.

September 20, 2013 9:42 PM

In two weeks I will be riding this bike tour. I have never done an organized ride like this and I have a few questions...

Background: The tour segment I'm doing is 41 miles, farther than I have ever ridden. There's also a significant climb (~2000ft). I feel ready. I've done 30+ on training rides and I've been doing triathlons for several years. Most of my riding has been geared toward training for tri's - ie. 10-15 mile at fast(ish) pace.

Q1: What pace do people ride on these things? It's not a race, and my pace is my pace, but I'm curious.

Q2: What would you bring on the ride? Factors -- a) Colorado, b) October 5th, c) possible sun/rain/snow/wind, d) smallish road bike seat bag.

Q3: How much stopping, photos, etc.?

Q4: Any sage advice for this 50+ y/o touring newbie?

Thanks riders!

posted by ecorrocio to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (6 answers total)

1) On popular, well-supported rides like this, you're going to get a wide variety of paces. Someone in better shape than I can probably give you an answer more relevant to you, but I can tell you that on a similar ride, I averaged 14mph and was by no means the slowest person there, and one of my friends averaged 18mph and was by no means the fastest. The important thing is to pace yourself (er, in the other sense of the phrase) and take it easy at the beginning so you don't use up all your juice too soon.

Also, if it's a mass-start ride, they may ask you to stage yourself at the start--faster riders in the front, slower riders in the back. Stage yourself conservatively--you can always pull ahead if you're with a slower group.

2) Bring: whatever food/fuel you know works for you, and more than enough water and sport drink to get you from rest stop to rest stop. Even though there's food at the stops, you'll want to make sure you've got something with you that you know works well for you in terms of digestion and energy. Bring whatever layer(s) you're going to need for the changing weather throughout the day. Wear sunscreen. Your basic seat bag fix-it kit (multitool, patch, minipump) is a good idea, too. It looks like they'll have mechanical support, but it's always nice to be able to fix your own stuff instead of having to wait for the SAG wagon or walk to the next rest stop.

3) In my experience on rides like these, people stop to rest when they need to (both between and at rest stops), and those tend to be convenient photo ops. There will probably be a lot of people stopped at several points along and just after the climb. Just be sure to pull off to the side safely before stopping (which is probably obvious to you but is not always obvious to some of my fellow riders).

4) Don't use up all your energy at the beginning. Be aware of the cyclists around you and use basic group ride etiquette. Enjoy the view. Enjoy the camaraderie. Take advantage of the rest stops, but don't dawdle too long or you'll lose your momentum, especially toward the end. You have my permission to stop and/or walk any amount of that big climb you need to.

It looks like a gorgeous ride and you are going to have an awesome time!
posted by rhiannonstone at 1:51 AM on September 21, 2013 [1 favorite]

1. It varies wildly. Even though the promoters say this isn't a race, you know there will be a bunch of racer sorts at the front in a tight bunch, doing 25 mph plus. And there will be those toodling along at 10 mph. Take it easy for the first few miles, especially given that most of the climbing is in the second half (according to the ride profile).

2. If I were doing the ride, I would have the following in my jersey pockets: two tubes, wind vest or rain cape, arm warmers, extra sport drink mix (assuming that they won't be offering my particular brand at the rest stops), race wallet, phone. In my seat bag I have my tire levers and multitool. If there is a chance of rain, I'd also attach my clip-on fender.

3. I recommend not stopping too much early on. Save your stops for when you are tired and need to eat. Try to get at least 5-10 miles under your belt before your first stop (unless you HAVE to use the portajohns).

4. The ride is in 2 weeks, so this weekend, you should get yourself out for at least 25-30 miles so that you can get your body an idea of what it's like to be in the saddle for that long. If your bike is doing anything odd (not shifting properly, rims rubbing the brakes, making funny sounds), get it to the shop this coming week, well before the event. If you don't know how to fix a flat, have somebody show you how.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 4:47 AM on September 21, 2013

1. The right pace (for you) is gonna be important if you're gonna make that big climb... I'd just take it easy for the first few hours and maybe ride in a lower gear than you'd normally would since you're used to shorter faster rides. Keep the legs fresh for the climb.

2. I wouldn't take very much stuff if there are gonna be aid stations and SAG wagons that can fix flats. I have a pump and tube with me on any ride over 10k. Multi-tool in the saddle bag as well as my favourite road snacks: dried fruit, nuts, etc. Sometimes I take zip-ties and a spare chain link too, but I've never used them. I would bring my camera on this ride, looks like gorgeous scenery. I always have my phone and wallet with me on rides too.

3. I stop at least every hour on long rides just for 5-10 minutes or whenever I feel like. I don't race at all and I find standing/walking a little seems to make me feel better.

4. Relax and have fun. Cycling should be fun first (imho) and I've had a few run-ins at rides like this with some really serious "real cyclists" so I would keep an eye out for those types and steer well clear of them.
posted by glip at 5:47 AM on September 21, 2013

That looks like fun! I don't think there are any hard and fast rules. I did the D2R2 100K ride a few weeks ago, and there were people riding it like a race and those like me who were poking along on the uphill stretches.

Seconding the advice to pace yourself so you don't burn all your matches before the long climb. I'd say that you should never ride so fast that you can't carry on a conversation, until you get to the climb; then you should still have plenty left in the tank. None of the climbs looks terribly steep (4% is the biggest average grade), but even a moderate grade can take a lot out of you when it goes on a long time.

As for what to carry: a flat kit with patches, spare tube, and pump or inflater (I prefer a mini-pump to CO2, since it works regardless of how many times you or another cyclist needs it), a mini tool, and some emergency snacks are essential. I do a lot of unsupported rides, so I carry a lot more (spare cables, tire boot, fiber fix spoke, emergency derailleur hanger, small first aid kit), but since you'll have sag support, that kind of stuff isn't necessary.

Clothing depends on weather. You'll want to layer, since it's likely to be a lot colder when you start than when you finish, and the long climb will warm you up, but the long descent will cool you. A sheet of newspaper or a plastic bag to put against your chest, under your jersey, before starting the descent would be a good idea. If it's relatively warm that day, arm (and, if your calves get cold easily, leg) warmers might suffice; for cooler weather or risk of rain, take a light water-resistant jacket and a cycling cap that fits under your helmet. Since you'll sweat, you don't need to worry about staying dry; rather, you want clothes that will keep you warm. I like wool jerseys for that reason; they're warm even when wet.

I like computech_apolloniajames's advice to get a good stretch of the ride done before stopping, just to get your legs used to chugging along. When you do stop, check behind you and pull off to the side of the road. In general, be aware of other riders around you; don't ride too close to anyone else unless you're experienced in drafting (which is prohibited in tris, right?) and you have the other rider's OK. These sorts of rides tend to attract lots of people whose bike handling skills are poor to indifferent.

Otherwise, just have fun! If you can ride 15 miles at a stiff pace, you should have no problem doing this ride at a more leisurely pace. Chat with other riders. Take in the views.
posted by brianogilvie at 7:30 AM on September 21, 2013 [1 favorite]

Oh, and I forgot to add, have fun! That looks like a seriously fantastic ride. Take lots of pictures. So jealous!

Also, I keep meaning to do D2R2. Next year!
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 10:46 AM on September 21, 2013 [1 favorite]

Stop at every aid station is the number one rule I'd say that will help, even if you don't feel hungry or thirsty. I've never been on an organized ride that had too few rest stops, there are either too many or the right amount, and you won't know until later that you probably shouldn't have skipped one. I make a point at each stop to eat a little and drink a bit and generally take a load off for a few minutes before getting back on the road. It's not a race, so enjoy it.

The only other bit of advice I'd give is that I myself freaked out about doing event rides as the longest rides I'd ever done (one was 65 miles, another was a century that was 102 miles) and you'd be surprised how fast the miles tick by when you devote an entire day to riding that much with a bunch of other people. I found myself struggling on ~35mi rides by myself, but I was always trying to fit those into 2hr breaks I had for riding. I found myself amazed on event rides when I'd look down at my bike computer, see I was already at 45 miles ridden and still feeling pretty great.
posted by mathowie at 6:25 PM on October 1, 2013