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12 hour...

Rob GRob G
edited May 2013 in General
Hi all - I'm new to the club although my 6-year old's been a member for a couple of years now. I'm nervous about asking this question as it might mean having to do it at some point...

I'm interested in doing a 12-hour. Has anyone done one recently? Are there any local ones coming up? How did you go about preparing? Lot's of other questions like that...

Cheers,

Rob

Comments

  • GilgameshGilgamesh
    edited May 2013
    Are you talking about the 12 and 24hr mtn bike events such as Bontrager 12/24, Mountian Mayhem, Sleepless in the saddle, Dusk to dawn etc?
  • Rob GRob G
    No - this would be road.

    Cheers,

    Rob
  • PearcePearce
    Nigel Hale is also doing his first this year, and is asking the same questions himself! He might have some advice.

    You must do some 50's then 100's beforehand just to prepare yourself for long distance at a race pace.

    There is some advice HERE, which relates to 100 mile, but the same principals apply.
    The general consensus is comfort on the bike is key, discomfort and boredom will get to you before anything else.

    And here are all the 12hr events this year
    You can filter the distance to show 50 and 100 events too.
  • Forum Admin [Martin]Forum Admin [Martin]
    Our very own Jim Rees did a 12 hour 2-3 years ago? And holds the CCA record.
  • Nathaniel RosaNathaniel Rosa
    The club is doing a 100 miler pretty much every month now , sometimes more than once a month. If you feel like you can manage that already come along, it'll be good long-distance experience without having to be on your own
  • GilgameshGilgamesh
    edited May 2013
    The 100 miler is a pleasant trundle out and not at all like a 12hr race / event in my experience, but I've only done mtn bike events, not road 12hr.

    I have competed in maybe 10x 12hr and 24hr mtn bike events and it's as much about feeding and pacing yourself as it ever about actually being able to ride non-stop (or not) for 12 or 24hrs.
    There is a limit to how many gels your stomach and guts can take. Too many and you'll need to find a hedge in double quick time!
    In that link there is mention of a pit bit@h to help out, very useful.

    There is also mention of experiencing low moments, if you know they will happen, so don't be phased by them. I had one at about the 18hr mark at 7am, my whole system simply did not want to know and many experience the same in the night (24hr events) when the body can't understand why it's not tucked up in bed with a mug of drinking chocolate and tries to shut down with some almost comic effects (drunk, surely not?!).

    12hrs is harder than 24hrs, you have to make more of an effort from the off!

    I had the occasional break to eat off the bike and had a 2hr kip at 2am (soft or what?!) when soloing 24hr, but there are those who didn't even get off their bikes to go to the loo, Matt Page guestimatied a maximum of 20min off the bike in 24hrs after his inaugural UK 24hr solo mtn bike championships win in 2010.

    Looked good as he rode past me for the umpteenth time, smelt..... not so good and his fianc
  • geoffggeoffg
    all those who rode to Belgium did 12 hrs in saddle to get to dover....ask them :-) I don't want to remember
  • Rob GRob G
    Many thanks for this guys - very interesting. The idea of doing a 50 or a 100 (pleasant trundle out?!) makes me more nervous than the 12 as I can't imagine having enough speed to get round before the marshall's go home! I would like to get as close as I can to going over 200. I suspect I can sit on a bike for that time (or most of it) but am concerned about the eating side of things - I can't stand gels as I've never found one that doesn't give me stomach cramps (practice I guess). I can just tolerate energy tabs in drinks bottles.

    Just looked at Jim's stuff - that's a serious number of miles. If Nigel is reading this - I'd love to have a chat.

    Oh - I'm 48 and do around 5-6k miles a year (if that makes any difference to anyone telling me to stop being so stupid!)
  • GilgameshGilgamesh
    edited May 2013
    All I can tell you is in the last 21 days: my first Sportive, my first chain gang, my first 109 miler, my first Audax (200km), this w/end coming will be my first Velodrome session, followed by my go at the club 10 mile TT (sub 29?) and although I clearly have endurance (12 and 24hr) mtn biking way-back in my mid 40's.

    Consider a 300 or 400km Audax at £6.50 to spend quality time in the saddle first?

    Another consideration that can ruin any long ride: cramp. Elete and Zimm are two products that I have come to trust.

    Don't even think about it, Just sign up and ride!
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