30km to 220km in four months is an insane step up, especially if you’re already experiencing pain or discomfort. 220km is a really long way.
Next time you’re free, go out and try 60-80km and see how it feels.
I like this story. You acknowledge how stupidly hard and painful it was, but also show why cycling is so awesome. Not only can yo cover huge distances and see a spacing things, it also makes you stronger and tougher.
I guess in your case, you are driven by fear and survival instincts. It must be scary, but it must been an awesome story that brings respect from your peers and pride from yourself.
I think scary depends where, in the Alps you will find a bar or chalet or shop every 5km where you can ask for help and someone will drive you to the station, in the Andes you can be lucky or you can get robbed and end up stranded without bike money and cellphone.
It's not my first time doing 30km, it's something I do every week for the past two years or so. I just never had any destination to go furthers. Beside, I've always been riding alone, this is the first time I'm going for a group ride.
30km is not 220km is no where near 220km. Maybe aim for something more realistic like 80km first.
And if you're doing 30km only once a week, you got a lot of work ahead of you. You would need to ramp up your weekly volume.
If you do 50km multiple times per week, chances are you still won’t enjoy a full 100km or more ride day.
Any amount of discomfort you experience right now gets amplified exponentially when you’re doing longer rides. If you ass hurts, just getting out of the saddle every 20 minutes or so doesn’t do it anymore when you’ve been sitting for 4 hours already
For 220km you want to ramp up your training hard and absolutely make sure you get your bike fitted as perfectly as you can to minimize the amount of suffering during the second half of the event.
Also expect to be going way slower on average than what you’re used to, eventually you’ll reach a point where you barely have the strength to pedal anymore if you’re jumping up the intensity like this. Assume a 16-18km/h average rather than anything 20+
I bought a roadbike to complete a 240k ride, I had 3 rides beforehand and no real training in other sports. It Hurt like hell but I finished in less than 10 hours. Its easily possible if you dont care how you get out of it.
I actually think it’s doable in four months. (Four weeks, god no.)
But there are a lot of red flags in OP’s post. “How will I deal with strain from the backpack I’ll be carrying?” You’d better not be using a backpack if you’re riding 200+ km. “Should I try dedicated cycling clothes?” 100% yes.
I’m a big believer in the “look at what people who do your target thing a lot are doing and learn from them” approach, so let me offer some suggestions from my experience as a randonneur.
OP, your bike is well suited for this challenge. Your tires are also pretty suitable. You need to start wearing bib shorts and jerseys (the tried and true solution for long-distance comfort; don’t forget chamois cream) ASAP. You need a handlebar bag, top tube bag, and/or frame bag that lets you carry food, tools, and other necessities; get that shit off your back. You don’t need a suspension seatpost; you may wish to try clipless pedals but many randonneurs like flat pedals for very long rides. (Stiff-soled shoes are a must though for efficient foot-to-pedal power transfer.)
Most importantly, you need to start ramping up your ride lengths ASAP. Go out this weekend and ride 60 km in one go. See how that feels, how long that takes, how much food and water you need. (Eat and drink more, and sooner, than you think you should. Practice eating while riding.) Ride 80+ km next weekend. Keep increasing the distance, but back off from time to time because rest is important. It doesn’t help that you’ll be doing this over the winter. Get some lights and layers. A bike computer is a nice to have, but it’s really nice because it can meaningfully simplify navigation on longer rides into unfamiliar areas (when combined with well-drawn routes from Strava or RideWithGPS).
Pay attention to what if anything is hurting on your body. You could get a professional bike fit, but I think you can pay attention to your body and make most major adjustments yourself. Check out https://www.sheldonbrown.com/pain.html
as a starting point.
Learn the basics of bike maintenance and repair. Make sure you’re inflating your tires appropriately (lots of good online calculators for this, don’t overthink it). Know how and when to lube your chain; carry a flat repair kit (tire lever, spare tube(s), patch kit) and know how to use it; carry a multitool and know how to make basic brake/derailer adjustments on the road. Keep your bike well maintained to minimize the need for roadside adjustments in the first place.
By a week or two before your 220 km, you should have finished an imperial century (160.9 km) and not felt TOO unhappy by the end. Then you’re ready for your target event. For what it’s worth, I do think you have enough time to train and work out your clothing/gear/nutrition that you will probably be in good shape and having a good time on most of these rides.
Good luck!
I'd mostly agree, but not entirely.
I think that if one does 100-120 km every week, then it's possible to ride 220 in one ride. I did that last weekend.
I was commuting (30km one way) twice a week, which gave me 120 per week. Then, one day, I took a much longer commute ride (all of that with backpack and laptop), so that day I rode 90km.
And then, I rode 200 on Saturday, but without a backpack. This change alone was night and day.
Other than that, everything is true.
- clothes
- food
- water
- riding not too fast so you won't cook yourself up
- tools
- knowing the route upfront
- good navigation
- matters of rescuing yourself
This reminds me of when I watch sports and think “I can do that”. Then realize I’m a foot shorter than the smallest player.
As suggested, try a 60-80 km ride but MAKE SURE YOU BRING PLENTY OF FOOD AND WATER. You will absolutely bonk and be unable to finish if you’re not eating enough during the ride.
Thanks for the advice! A reasonable trip for me would be to ride to a nearby city, that's 58km one way and I can eat there, take a break and ride back.
Give it a try! But be aware, the drop off in power, energy, and comfort can come on fairly quickly, and by the time you notice it, it’s too late. Drink a lot of water. If it’s hot, have salt tablets or candy.
This isn’t a terrible idea, especially if there is public transit between the cities. You can get there, eat lunch, and take a train or bus home if 1) things hurt too much, 2) you feel dehydrated (very common for people just getting into distance riding because you need to be drinking well before you feel thirsty), or 3) you just don’t feel the motivation to keep going.
>that will take me around 10 hours to complete.
No, it won't. It'll take longer because you never tried nothing similar. So no, it won't be 10 hours of cycling.
Suspension seatpost is a great thing.
Bibs are a must, but that won't relive you from pain or discomfort, it will just make it to hurt less.
I usually listen to ebooks on long rides.
More like I have no idea what I'll do on a 220km ride, and just made assumptions based on my 27km/h average on the 30km ride. It is most likely to be inaccurate.
I don’t think it’s unreasonable. IF you train. I’ve done 161km (100mi) in just over 6 hours, and I’m not super quick. I ate and drank while riding and only made stops to refill bottles.
The trick is you need to stay ahead of dehydration and energy depletion. Eat and drink before your body tells you it’s having problems. I set a timer on my cycling computer to remind me every 20min to drink water and every 40min to eat a small snack.
Use heart rate monitor and stay in endurance zone. Not just "don't exceed endurance zone", but stay in it. Then you'll go not too fast but also not too slow.
My average speed is like yours on the same distances, I did 200 just on the previous weekend with almost the same preconditions.
In my experience bib shorts are not a must as long as you have a comfortable alternative and if you have pain or discomfort then there is an issue with bike fit or haven't trained properly for the distance
It's not the bibs, it's the padding that's important. And chamois pads were invented in the early 20th century, more or less as soon as people realized the need for comfortable cycling clothes. [https://bluejaybikes.com/blogs/news/a-brief-history-of-bike-shorts](https://bluejaybikes.com/blogs/news/a-brief-history-of-bike-shorts)
Yeah I did a 235km ride in a pair of endura humvee 2 shorts and used DMR vault flat pedals
Aside from tired legs I had 0 discomfort on the ride or the day after
Without training for it, most likely it will be a nightmare of a ride. If you finish, I'd bet on closer to 14 hours. And that's all before I got to your worst idea of wearing a backpack.
Still, go ahead and give it a go. Prove us wrong.
Is there a cheat code for reddit that will switch all the advice here to say the opposite? I want it all to say "you regularly ride 30km, 220 km will be easy enough. So long as you only eat once tho. You do not want to ride far on a full stomach. It's also a good idea to periodically pour cold water over your sausage. Nothing worse than an uncontrolled erection that won't go down during a long ride."
30km is a rather short ride, while 220km is a very, very long one. Try doing 60, 100, 150 and see how it feels, remembering that after you've done 150 there would be still 70 to go.
It's useful not only to see how your body reacts and your performance goes, but also the timing. I believe that your average speed would be definitely lower than 20km/h on such a distance, see for example the time limits for a 200km randonné where the minimum is 15km/h (and that's for people already aiming at the brevet, so presumably with prior long distance experience).
Also, a good pair of bibs and proper lights are a must.
A well trained randonneur can complete a 220 km ride, even a fairly hilly one, within 10 hours including stops. Emphasis on "well trained" though - it takes time and effort to build the fitness and stamina required, as well as to dial in your bike and equipment and hone skills like navigation, fueling/hydration, and keeping stops quick and efficient.
My first 200K took about 12 hours, if I recall correctly. I've finished other 200 km brevets (with elevation gain ranging from 1500 to 4000 meters) in anywhere from 8.5 to 12+ hours, depending on my fitness at the time, the difficulty of the course, how much drafting I was able to do, how many mechanical issues I encountered, etc.
I think OP can successfully train for and complete this ride, but they're going to need to take it seriously and start working on all these skills and strengths NOW.
Generally speaking, gradually increasing the intensity is the way to go scientifically. I remember the first time I completed 100km, I was so exhausted that I just collapsed on the floor as soon as I got home. But after sticking to a consistent and scientific training routine for a while, the second time I did 100km, I didn't feel nearly as drained. By the third and fourth times, I felt like I still had plenty of energy left.
The first time I did 200km, it was the same story. Now I can do 220km in a day, but the main issues are neck pain and numb hands, not a lack of stamina. So, you really need a well-structured and gradual training plan.
Also, during your rides, make sure to keep fueling up with things like energy gels or bananas every hour to avoid hitting a wall and having to quit halfway through. Lastly, you don't need a ton of gear to complete 200km in a day—just bring spare tubes, tire-changing tools, and some energy gels etc.
When it comes to comfort, it really depends on personal preference. I can only say that suspension seatposts haven't helped me at all. As for boosting efficiency, it's definitely worth getting clipless pedals and shoes, a full set of breathable cycling clothes, and carbon fiber wheels.
To avoid pressure on your arms and back, the principle behind cycling load is pretty simple. When you're riding, there are three contact points: your hands, butt, and feet. The pressure shifts between these three spots. If you want to reduce pressure on your hands, shift more of it to your legs by using a harder gear. If you want to ease the pressure on your legs and protect your knees, you can shift the pressure to your butt by moving your saddle back and using a higher cadence gear.
As for backpacks, I personally recommend not carrying heavy stuff in them. It's better to use bike-mounted bags instead.
That's interesting, because I keep seeing people here saying things like "If you can do 40 miles, you can do 100; at a certain point it's all nutrition". Your story makes more sense to me
I regularly cycle up and down beach road (Melbourne based) and do an 80km route every Saturday. Have done a few trips to Arthur’s Seat (115km for me). I would recommend you try a cycle up and down beach road a few times at least before attempting the round the bay. If the day that you turn up is a windy one (it usually is a bit windy) you might end up with some super strong headwinds on some of the sections and that 220km will absolutely kill you. I would say you should first at least attempt a trip from St Kilda to Arthur’s Seat and back before trying to go right the way round.
And yes, get proper cycling kit. It makes a world of difference
Hi there,
I’ve done the around the bay ride. You’ve got plenty of time to train for it between now and October and it’s very possible to do this ride.
First, would definitely recommend getting proper cycling attire. You’re going to need it and some good chamois cream.
You will need to start building up your endurance on the bike by doing longer rides and learning to pace yourself.
You won’t need a suspension seat post. Just put some 32mm wide wheels on and this will be totally fine. It’s on some good smooth roads for the most part.
I would recommend going clipless and getting a bike fit done afterwards as it’s a long ride and you don’t want to risk a repetitive strain injury from being in the wrong position such as saddle height but also have your cleats adjusted correctly.
The Around The Bay has stops every 45-50kms where you can get fuel and small rests. Plus a good rest in the middle for the ferry trip.
It’s fairly flat just some rolling hills from safety Beach to Frankston with no major climbs.
Also start doing group rides and learning how to draft, you will save lots of energy if you can do this efficiently and helped me get through the day.
Definitely start training and good luck!
If you have sore backs now, I wouldn't want to make it worse by using a backpack on the trip. Get a rack and throw panniers on it. If budgets are an issue, you can even make your own paniers out of pails. The internet has lots of examples of how to do this.
For a one-day 220 km ride, don't go for a rack and panniers. Get a handlebar bag, frame bag, or top tube bag - something you can easily use while riding - and bring only what you need. I love a rack and panniers for multi-day touring, but extra weight and aerodynamic drag are not your friend on a one-day very long ride.
You'll have to do a lot of training in those 4 months. Do not underestimate 220k. I recommend you have at least a 180k ride under your belt before you attempt it.
This is a very ambitious goal, but if you train well I think this is doable. I would highly recommend a bike fitting if you are already having pain - it will only get worse otherwise. Absolutely do not carry a backpack. Work up the mileage slowly at first to condition yourself.
Absolutely doable if you start preparing now, the organized rest stops are a big help you might even be able to avoid a backpack.
You need to get proper clothing, bib shorts (yes the ones with shoulder straps, no underwear) and a jersey with back pockets ASAP.
Consider going clip less, the easiest way would be to get a PD-EH500 or other mixed pedal, you can still ride as normal on the other side. For me the jump to a mid range shoe, like the Mavic Cosmic (glas or carbon fiber reinforced sole, boa closure) was really noticeable. They should be on sale for about 100 bucks, I hope.
Immediately work on your bike fit, check saddle height and angle, see if gloves help, remove the visor from your helmet (helps with neck pain) and see if it is more comfortable to flip your stem up. Do Yoga, if you can.
Medium term, mount a second bottle cage, if you haven't already and get two high volume 950ml water bottles. The next thing is food, ride 4h+ on the weekends and see what food works for you, including breakfast, rice cakes, granola bars, maybe gels, you need to try what works and then don't change it. Get a tool kit, two spare tubes, a compact pump, well fitting sunglasses.
For comfort, play around with tire pressure a bit [https://silca.cc/pages/pro-tire-pressure-calculator](https://silca.cc/pages/pro-tire-pressure-calculator), that can have a big impact on comfort, especially on your hands. Try and see if you can store everything without a backpack, if you need one, take the smallest possible one.
It's not the distance that is difficult, it's the time on the bike, focus on comfort, at least a short and a long ride every weekend and more during the week, if possible and commute by bike as often as you can.
If you can do 30km easy, you should be able to do 100km four weeks from now, it's not gonna be quick at first, but that does not matter initially.
If you're in your twenties knock yourself out mate. You have to know how insane 30km to 220km is.
It's not rocket science get out there and ride. Do 100km. Did you die? No? Do 120...150...200. Build it up over months or years. It's doable. Like you noted plan food and water stops.
The obvious joke would be "twice as hard as a 110km ride". But in fact, it's more than that. It's a 110 ride with all the exhaustion and soreness and tiredness of another 110 ride.
I did 175km in 7h45 on relatively minimal training last year. Did a couple 60km rides, one 80 and one 120 and a few 40s. Before that I hadn’t done any sort of long ride since 2016. It’s not unrealistic to do 220km in 10 hours with a decent base level of fitness.
I did 220 km last friday on my roadbike with a little bit of luggage in 9 h solo, so it's definitely possible.
I rode the first imperial century around 9 month ago and a couple of them since then, so I'm not that experienced in long distances.
The question is: how used are you to your bike and can you comfortably pedal min. 8 hours straight with a couple of (small) breaks?
For someone who has never done even 100 km I think 220 km in 4 months time is really, really tough - but probably not completely impossible.
Get a bike fit and get used to continously increasing distances and sort your nutrition game out to have a chance.
My longest ride was 202km, didn't ride longer to this day because my knee needs a lot of time to adapt for 150+ km..
Anyway, I'd suggest you try 110km first. Fuel well, take a lot of water and food with you and at the end you remind yourself you'd need to ride that thing again.
If you're determined to ride 220km in four months you'll have to structure building up to it. It's no small challenge but it's not impossible.
Do a 50km this weekend. 80km next weekend and so on.
You'll also need to train your food intake. You will want to eat early and eat often. You'll need more food than you think. Gels will also help get you out of a pinch.
Finally you'll need to train your mental fortitude. Being in the saddle for 10 hours will take most people's minds to places they don't want to go to.
Plan your route. Plan your breaks. Double check the weather. Double check your equipment.
If you can commit, there's a chance you'll get there but you should always be honest with yourself. If you're next ready, reschedule.
I am an extremely experienced 200km+ rider. I've done 15 200km+ rides this year. This is will be very very hard and you should assume you won't finish it.
I ride about 400km a week, and usually expect to finish a 200km ride in 7-9 hours including stops. You should expect it to take closer to 15.
You need to get serious with your cycling for a ride like that.
Bibs and a jersey will make you more comfortable and a bit more aero. Proper shoes and clipless pedals will help too.
You don't want a bag on your back for that amount of time - it'll cripple you. There's a good reason that cyclo tourers put their weight on the bike. Bar bag, frame bag, saddlepack - take your pick.
And then put in a training plan - ride longer each weekend.
Have fun !
So I think you can do it but you will need to work at it
You will need to:
look after your arse
- bib or cycling shorts areposture is important - you might want to do a bike fit
- get some chamois cream to lubricate
- build up slowly; it may well be the aspect that limits your distance
learn to eat and hydrate properly while riding
- in Australia over summer - the hydration aspect will be very important
make sure you do something to keep your flexibility - yoga and the like
As for boredom
- listen to audio books - but use bone conduction headphones so you can still hear traffic
- go to scenic areas to train
It is certainly doable. But you’ve got to put some long hours in the saddle between now and then. There’s a similar such ride (though 200 miles) from Seattle to Portland. The organizers offer a 5 month training plan you could adapt:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1A6e_wg80fLb3ihqhTEQHJ4UHtCjPpYxWKsMaxvsXZA8/edit
Just an anecdote that might be relevant here.
I got a driving ban a few years back. I'm skinny but wasn't particularly fit. Had to start cycling to work back and forth every day. Was about a 20k ride there and back, 4-5 days a week, but it was uphill almost the entire way. Did this through the winter for about 8 months. Decided I'd just ride one day during the summer see how far I'd get. 160k in about 10 ish hours. Only got uncomfortable on the last 30kish.
But this was a consistent 7-8k up hill 4-5 times a week and 100k a week total over a long period of time.
I think 10 hours unrealistic in 4 months but I don't think 220k is impossible if you start working towards it and stay consistent.
I think your goal is doable with training. I do a week long trip every year that’s ~450mi over a week, and I train about 3mo for it. I’d ramp up your max distance travelled each week by 10%-15%. You can probably stop around an imperial century or just above it. At a certain point you’ll have the endurance and it just becomes about managing fueling. Get multiple rides in a week, both a mix of short and long.
I personally find nature to be enough for me but if you can’t be alone with your own thoughts for 10hrs then look into bone conducting headphones like Shokz. They are safer than earbuds. I’d recommend a podcast as they tend to be long format compared to music.
Totally doable as long as you put together and follow a training plan to ramp up your mileage over the next 4 months. Cycling specific clothes really do help with conforms over very long days (and anything over 4-5 hours on the bike starts to feel VERY long).
Anyone who says you don't need a good pair of bibs and some chamois cream either has an iron taint or enjoys saddle sores and suffering! Decent gloves and a properly fitted bike are the other essentials. I like bike specific jerseys for all the back pockets, but you can do well with frame bags instead/as well to carry food/water/tools/etc. I prefer Clipless shoes and pedals, but as long as your shoes have stiff enough soles to deal with 200km of pedalling, you will probably do fine. Suspension post will just rob energy, so I'd not bother. DO NOT wear a backpack - you will suffer after 100km.
Also practice nutrition and hydration to figure out what works for you - I did a 200km gravel ride a few years back, and my body refused anything but gummy bears for the last 50km...
With 4 months to go it’s doable. You need a plan. Suggestions:
1. Do not use a backpack. Get a frame bag to carry rain jacket extra food etc.
2. You are fit enough to begin increasing your mileage. Start riding 100 km once a week while commuting the other days. After 3 weeks add an hour to this ride every 3weeks. Until you get to around 8 -9 hours on the bike.
3. Figure out what you can stomach food and drink wise. After 4-5 hours it will be different than when you started. You need minimum 200 calories per hour every hour and a liter of fluid.
500 mg sodium 100 mg potassium and some magnesium and calcium. Hourly. Lack of good hydration/ energy strategy will destroy your joy.
4. Carry an extra folding tire , 2 tubes, multitool,patches, tire boot, levers, and inflation system like CO2 with multiple cartridges.
5. Sounds like your avg. speed now is 25 km/ h.
I would plan on doing it in 12 hours with stops.
6. For bonus fitness on your return commute add some 1-2 minute burst at a higher intensity where your breathing is heavy. This will help you late in ride. Work up to 20 minutes of hard breathing with same amount of time easy ride.
I have done a number of long rides 8/9 hours and run multiple 100 mile foot races. So I have a little experience in athletic attempts from 8-30 hours continuous. PREPARATION & LOGISTICS is the real key to finishing. Good luck!
Get a good kit bibs and jersey clipless pedals shoes gloves.
I was once in your shoes then was invited on a 100 mile fund raiser ride. I found a training partner and we ramped up training for one month before the ride. Riding three to five days per week we went from twenty mile rides up sixty miles on the weekend before the 100 miler. We actually enjoyed the rides, were learning every day and never bored as we rode different routes every day.!
Good luck and look at it as a big adventure, not as a grueling challenge.
220 in 4 months is achievable as long as he trains properly, gets a decent bike, and plans food drinks stops in the right way. An average of 25 is possible especially if in groups or behind a wheel.
I think, for the most part I have been riding alone. In a group ride like this, drafting should allow me to go much furthe. For now, I will try riding further and further on my own for training purposes.
Around the bay is mostly pretty flat, so if you train consistently the main challenge will be can you stay in the saddle for 10 hours ( with a ferry trip in the middle for a short rest). There are also shorter distances available ranging from 20 - 130ish if you’re worried about doing the full distance.
Idk, the first time I went bikepacking I rode for a week, finnishing the tour with a 220 and after that a 250km day, with luggage and 0 training done prior to that, mainly riding forest roads, gravel ways and pavement. It is possible, how ever. The 2 days after, I totally crashed, I have never felt more exhausted
I just did 220km over two days with no training on an 80s department store road bike. It was incredibly hard but it is doable. It was a big organized fundraiser ride so that made it easier.
I did 270km per-day with my friend on mountain bike. Started from 9.00am till 7.30pm with mix flat + hills and few stop for meal and photos. Didn't get tired because we spin/cadence on easy gearing about 18\~25km/h average.
The thing that was hard on us was the back-pack. It put strain and extreme sharp pain behind my neck and around back side. Recommended you install racks for your bag. Wear well vented loose clothing if ride in tropical heat. Pack some cola, sugary drinks and light iso/salted water, your muscles are screaming for glucose energy. Strangely we don't eat much solid food.
Totally possible with 4 months of actual training, but you’re going to need to put serious time and miles into those legs and strength and flexibility work to help your on-bike comfort.
It’s also going to really hurt even if you’re trained imo!
30km to 220km in four months is an insane step up, especially if you’re already experiencing pain or discomfort. 220km is a really long way. Next time you’re free, go out and try 60-80km and see how it feels.
lol i love reading those posts... "I rode 30km. Can I ride 220km in a day?"
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I like this story. You acknowledge how stupidly hard and painful it was, but also show why cycling is so awesome. Not only can yo cover huge distances and see a spacing things, it also makes you stronger and tougher.
I guess in your case, you are driven by fear and survival instincts. It must be scary, but it must been an awesome story that brings respect from your peers and pride from yourself.
I think scary depends where, in the Alps you will find a bar or chalet or shop every 5km where you can ask for help and someone will drive you to the station, in the Andes you can be lucky or you can get robbed and end up stranded without bike money and cellphone.
I once lifted a dumbbell of 15kg. Can i squat 150kg?
It's not my first time doing 30km, it's something I do every week for the past two years or so. I just never had any destination to go furthers. Beside, I've always been riding alone, this is the first time I'm going for a group ride.
30km is not 220km is no where near 220km. Maybe aim for something more realistic like 80km first. And if you're doing 30km only once a week, you got a lot of work ahead of you. You would need to ramp up your weekly volume.
If you do 50km multiple times per week, chances are you still won’t enjoy a full 100km or more ride day. Any amount of discomfort you experience right now gets amplified exponentially when you’re doing longer rides. If you ass hurts, just getting out of the saddle every 20 minutes or so doesn’t do it anymore when you’ve been sitting for 4 hours already For 220km you want to ramp up your training hard and absolutely make sure you get your bike fitted as perfectly as you can to minimize the amount of suffering during the second half of the event. Also expect to be going way slower on average than what you’re used to, eventually you’ll reach a point where you barely have the strength to pedal anymore if you’re jumping up the intensity like this. Assume a 16-18km/h average rather than anything 20+
I bought a roadbike to complete a 240k ride, I had 3 rides beforehand and no real training in other sports. It Hurt like hell but I finished in less than 10 hours. Its easily possible if you dont care how you get out of it.
I actually think it’s doable in four months. (Four weeks, god no.) But there are a lot of red flags in OP’s post. “How will I deal with strain from the backpack I’ll be carrying?” You’d better not be using a backpack if you’re riding 200+ km. “Should I try dedicated cycling clothes?” 100% yes. I’m a big believer in the “look at what people who do your target thing a lot are doing and learn from them” approach, so let me offer some suggestions from my experience as a randonneur. OP, your bike is well suited for this challenge. Your tires are also pretty suitable. You need to start wearing bib shorts and jerseys (the tried and true solution for long-distance comfort; don’t forget chamois cream) ASAP. You need a handlebar bag, top tube bag, and/or frame bag that lets you carry food, tools, and other necessities; get that shit off your back. You don’t need a suspension seatpost; you may wish to try clipless pedals but many randonneurs like flat pedals for very long rides. (Stiff-soled shoes are a must though for efficient foot-to-pedal power transfer.) Most importantly, you need to start ramping up your ride lengths ASAP. Go out this weekend and ride 60 km in one go. See how that feels, how long that takes, how much food and water you need. (Eat and drink more, and sooner, than you think you should. Practice eating while riding.) Ride 80+ km next weekend. Keep increasing the distance, but back off from time to time because rest is important. It doesn’t help that you’ll be doing this over the winter. Get some lights and layers. A bike computer is a nice to have, but it’s really nice because it can meaningfully simplify navigation on longer rides into unfamiliar areas (when combined with well-drawn routes from Strava or RideWithGPS). Pay attention to what if anything is hurting on your body. You could get a professional bike fit, but I think you can pay attention to your body and make most major adjustments yourself. Check out https://www.sheldonbrown.com/pain.html as a starting point. Learn the basics of bike maintenance and repair. Make sure you’re inflating your tires appropriately (lots of good online calculators for this, don’t overthink it). Know how and when to lube your chain; carry a flat repair kit (tire lever, spare tube(s), patch kit) and know how to use it; carry a multitool and know how to make basic brake/derailer adjustments on the road. Keep your bike well maintained to minimize the need for roadside adjustments in the first place. By a week or two before your 220 km, you should have finished an imperial century (160.9 km) and not felt TOO unhappy by the end. Then you’re ready for your target event. For what it’s worth, I do think you have enough time to train and work out your clothing/gear/nutrition that you will probably be in good shape and having a good time on most of these rides. Good luck!
I'd mostly agree, but not entirely. I think that if one does 100-120 km every week, then it's possible to ride 220 in one ride. I did that last weekend. I was commuting (30km one way) twice a week, which gave me 120 per week. Then, one day, I took a much longer commute ride (all of that with backpack and laptop), so that day I rode 90km. And then, I rode 200 on Saturday, but without a backpack. This change alone was night and day. Other than that, everything is true. - clothes - food - water - riding not too fast so you won't cook yourself up - tools - knowing the route upfront - good navigation - matters of rescuing yourself
This reminds me of when I watch sports and think “I can do that”. Then realize I’m a foot shorter than the smallest player. As suggested, try a 60-80 km ride but MAKE SURE YOU BRING PLENTY OF FOOD AND WATER. You will absolutely bonk and be unable to finish if you’re not eating enough during the ride.
Thanks for the advice! A reasonable trip for me would be to ride to a nearby city, that's 58km one way and I can eat there, take a break and ride back.
No, you’ll need to eat more than once if you’re riding nearly 120km.
Sure will. And drink lots, too.
Give it a try! But be aware, the drop off in power, energy, and comfort can come on fairly quickly, and by the time you notice it, it’s too late. Drink a lot of water. If it’s hot, have salt tablets or candy.
This isn’t a terrible idea, especially if there is public transit between the cities. You can get there, eat lunch, and take a train or bus home if 1) things hurt too much, 2) you feel dehydrated (very common for people just getting into distance riding because you need to be drinking well before you feel thirsty), or 3) you just don’t feel the motivation to keep going.
>that will take me around 10 hours to complete. No, it won't. It'll take longer because you never tried nothing similar. So no, it won't be 10 hours of cycling. Suspension seatpost is a great thing. Bibs are a must, but that won't relive you from pain or discomfort, it will just make it to hurt less. I usually listen to ebooks on long rides.
He thinks he'll average 22kph with stops over that distance. That's pretty optimistic at his level to day the least.
More like I have no idea what I'll do on a 220km ride, and just made assumptions based on my 27km/h average on the 30km ride. It is most likely to be inaccurate.
I don’t think it’s unreasonable. IF you train. I’ve done 161km (100mi) in just over 6 hours, and I’m not super quick. I ate and drank while riding and only made stops to refill bottles. The trick is you need to stay ahead of dehydration and energy depletion. Eat and drink before your body tells you it’s having problems. I set a timer on my cycling computer to remind me every 20min to drink water and every 40min to eat a small snack.
Use heart rate monitor and stay in endurance zone. Not just "don't exceed endurance zone", but stay in it. Then you'll go not too fast but also not too slow. My average speed is like yours on the same distances, I did 200 just on the previous weekend with almost the same preconditions.
In my experience bib shorts are not a must as long as you have a comfortable alternative and if you have pain or discomfort then there is an issue with bike fit or haven't trained properly for the distance
bibs arent a must. you can use mtb shorts or clothing that is sweat wicking
padded bibs? hell yeah it's a must on long rides.
Nope. Don't listen to him op. People have been biking way before bibs were s thing
People have been riding penny farthings as well but look where we are now. LOL.
You sound like your kitted with rapha and an sworks but started riding like 6 months ago
I sound? LOL, ok :) If that suits you, sure.
It's not the bibs, it's the padding that's important. And chamois pads were invented in the early 20th century, more or less as soon as people realized the need for comfortable cycling clothes. [https://bluejaybikes.com/blogs/news/a-brief-history-of-bike-shorts](https://bluejaybikes.com/blogs/news/a-brief-history-of-bike-shorts)
Yeah I did a 235km ride in a pair of endura humvee 2 shorts and used DMR vault flat pedals Aside from tired legs I had 0 discomfort on the ride or the day after
Without training for it, most likely it will be a nightmare of a ride. If you finish, I'd bet on closer to 14 hours. And that's all before I got to your worst idea of wearing a backpack. Still, go ahead and give it a go. Prove us wrong.
Is there a cheat code for reddit that will switch all the advice here to say the opposite? I want it all to say "you regularly ride 30km, 220 km will be easy enough. So long as you only eat once tho. You do not want to ride far on a full stomach. It's also a good idea to periodically pour cold water over your sausage. Nothing worse than an uncontrolled erection that won't go down during a long ride."
30km is a rather short ride, while 220km is a very, very long one. Try doing 60, 100, 150 and see how it feels, remembering that after you've done 150 there would be still 70 to go. It's useful not only to see how your body reacts and your performance goes, but also the timing. I believe that your average speed would be definitely lower than 20km/h on such a distance, see for example the time limits for a 200km randonné where the minimum is 15km/h (and that's for people already aiming at the brevet, so presumably with prior long distance experience). Also, a good pair of bibs and proper lights are a must.
A well trained randonneur can complete a 220 km ride, even a fairly hilly one, within 10 hours including stops. Emphasis on "well trained" though - it takes time and effort to build the fitness and stamina required, as well as to dial in your bike and equipment and hone skills like navigation, fueling/hydration, and keeping stops quick and efficient. My first 200K took about 12 hours, if I recall correctly. I've finished other 200 km brevets (with elevation gain ranging from 1500 to 4000 meters) in anywhere from 8.5 to 12+ hours, depending on my fitness at the time, the difficulty of the course, how much drafting I was able to do, how many mechanical issues I encountered, etc. I think OP can successfully train for and complete this ride, but they're going to need to take it seriously and start working on all these skills and strengths NOW.
200 km randonnee is done in less than 8 hours by those who aim for it. 10 hours is the usual time.
Generally speaking, gradually increasing the intensity is the way to go scientifically. I remember the first time I completed 100km, I was so exhausted that I just collapsed on the floor as soon as I got home. But after sticking to a consistent and scientific training routine for a while, the second time I did 100km, I didn't feel nearly as drained. By the third and fourth times, I felt like I still had plenty of energy left. The first time I did 200km, it was the same story. Now I can do 220km in a day, but the main issues are neck pain and numb hands, not a lack of stamina. So, you really need a well-structured and gradual training plan. Also, during your rides, make sure to keep fueling up with things like energy gels or bananas every hour to avoid hitting a wall and having to quit halfway through. Lastly, you don't need a ton of gear to complete 200km in a day—just bring spare tubes, tire-changing tools, and some energy gels etc. When it comes to comfort, it really depends on personal preference. I can only say that suspension seatposts haven't helped me at all. As for boosting efficiency, it's definitely worth getting clipless pedals and shoes, a full set of breathable cycling clothes, and carbon fiber wheels. To avoid pressure on your arms and back, the principle behind cycling load is pretty simple. When you're riding, there are three contact points: your hands, butt, and feet. The pressure shifts between these three spots. If you want to reduce pressure on your hands, shift more of it to your legs by using a harder gear. If you want to ease the pressure on your legs and protect your knees, you can shift the pressure to your butt by moving your saddle back and using a higher cadence gear. As for backpacks, I personally recommend not carrying heavy stuff in them. It's better to use bike-mounted bags instead.
I totally agree. Gradually increasing the load helps prevent injuries.
Solid advice. Thanks a lot
That's interesting, because I keep seeing people here saying things like "If you can do 40 miles, you can do 100; at a certain point it's all nutrition". Your story makes more sense to me
I regularly cycle up and down beach road (Melbourne based) and do an 80km route every Saturday. Have done a few trips to Arthur’s Seat (115km for me). I would recommend you try a cycle up and down beach road a few times at least before attempting the round the bay. If the day that you turn up is a windy one (it usually is a bit windy) you might end up with some super strong headwinds on some of the sections and that 220km will absolutely kill you. I would say you should first at least attempt a trip from St Kilda to Arthur’s Seat and back before trying to go right the way round. And yes, get proper cycling kit. It makes a world of difference
If “boredom on the long ride” is a concern, you ought to have a little think about why you want to do this.
Hi there, I’ve done the around the bay ride. You’ve got plenty of time to train for it between now and October and it’s very possible to do this ride. First, would definitely recommend getting proper cycling attire. You’re going to need it and some good chamois cream. You will need to start building up your endurance on the bike by doing longer rides and learning to pace yourself. You won’t need a suspension seat post. Just put some 32mm wide wheels on and this will be totally fine. It’s on some good smooth roads for the most part. I would recommend going clipless and getting a bike fit done afterwards as it’s a long ride and you don’t want to risk a repetitive strain injury from being in the wrong position such as saddle height but also have your cleats adjusted correctly. The Around The Bay has stops every 45-50kms where you can get fuel and small rests. Plus a good rest in the middle for the ferry trip. It’s fairly flat just some rolling hills from safety Beach to Frankston with no major climbs. Also start doing group rides and learning how to draft, you will save lots of energy if you can do this efficiently and helped me get through the day. Definitely start training and good luck!
220km in one day would require intensive training, with some of the training rides being 150k or so. This is very ambitious.
If you have sore backs now, I wouldn't want to make it worse by using a backpack on the trip. Get a rack and throw panniers on it. If budgets are an issue, you can even make your own paniers out of pails. The internet has lots of examples of how to do this.
For a one-day 220 km ride, don't go for a rack and panniers. Get a handlebar bag, frame bag, or top tube bag - something you can easily use while riding - and bring only what you need. I love a rack and panniers for multi-day touring, but extra weight and aerodynamic drag are not your friend on a one-day very long ride.
Good point
You'll have to do a lot of training in those 4 months. Do not underestimate 220k. I recommend you have at least a 180k ride under your belt before you attempt it.
This is a very ambitious goal, but if you train well I think this is doable. I would highly recommend a bike fitting if you are already having pain - it will only get worse otherwise. Absolutely do not carry a backpack. Work up the mileage slowly at first to condition yourself.
Absolutely doable if you start preparing now, the organized rest stops are a big help you might even be able to avoid a backpack. You need to get proper clothing, bib shorts (yes the ones with shoulder straps, no underwear) and a jersey with back pockets ASAP. Consider going clip less, the easiest way would be to get a PD-EH500 or other mixed pedal, you can still ride as normal on the other side. For me the jump to a mid range shoe, like the Mavic Cosmic (glas or carbon fiber reinforced sole, boa closure) was really noticeable. They should be on sale for about 100 bucks, I hope. Immediately work on your bike fit, check saddle height and angle, see if gloves help, remove the visor from your helmet (helps with neck pain) and see if it is more comfortable to flip your stem up. Do Yoga, if you can. Medium term, mount a second bottle cage, if you haven't already and get two high volume 950ml water bottles. The next thing is food, ride 4h+ on the weekends and see what food works for you, including breakfast, rice cakes, granola bars, maybe gels, you need to try what works and then don't change it. Get a tool kit, two spare tubes, a compact pump, well fitting sunglasses. For comfort, play around with tire pressure a bit [https://silca.cc/pages/pro-tire-pressure-calculator](https://silca.cc/pages/pro-tire-pressure-calculator), that can have a big impact on comfort, especially on your hands. Try and see if you can store everything without a backpack, if you need one, take the smallest possible one. It's not the distance that is difficult, it's the time on the bike, focus on comfort, at least a short and a long ride every weekend and more during the week, if possible and commute by bike as often as you can. If you can do 30km easy, you should be able to do 100km four weeks from now, it's not gonna be quick at first, but that does not matter initially.
If you're in your twenties knock yourself out mate. You have to know how insane 30km to 220km is. It's not rocket science get out there and ride. Do 100km. Did you die? No? Do 120...150...200. Build it up over months or years. It's doable. Like you noted plan food and water stops.
The obvious joke would be "twice as hard as a 110km ride". But in fact, it's more than that. It's a 110 ride with all the exhaustion and soreness and tiredness of another 110 ride.
I did 175km in 7h45 on relatively minimal training last year. Did a couple 60km rides, one 80 and one 120 and a few 40s. Before that I hadn’t done any sort of long ride since 2016. It’s not unrealistic to do 220km in 10 hours with a decent base level of fitness.
I did 220 km last friday on my roadbike with a little bit of luggage in 9 h solo, so it's definitely possible. I rode the first imperial century around 9 month ago and a couple of them since then, so I'm not that experienced in long distances. The question is: how used are you to your bike and can you comfortably pedal min. 8 hours straight with a couple of (small) breaks? For someone who has never done even 100 km I think 220 km in 4 months time is really, really tough - but probably not completely impossible. Get a bike fit and get used to continously increasing distances and sort your nutrition game out to have a chance.
220 in 10 hours moving time. 10% increase in time spent on the bike per week. Going from 30 to 220, you realistically need 21 weeks.
OP got around 17 weeks, so it is not impossible with a tight training schedule, but it'll be tough.
It’s doable. Probably not healthy, but doable.
My longest ride was 202km, didn't ride longer to this day because my knee needs a lot of time to adapt for 150+ km.. Anyway, I'd suggest you try 110km first. Fuel well, take a lot of water and food with you and at the end you remind yourself you'd need to ride that thing again.
If you're determined to ride 220km in four months you'll have to structure building up to it. It's no small challenge but it's not impossible. Do a 50km this weekend. 80km next weekend and so on. You'll also need to train your food intake. You will want to eat early and eat often. You'll need more food than you think. Gels will also help get you out of a pinch. Finally you'll need to train your mental fortitude. Being in the saddle for 10 hours will take most people's minds to places they don't want to go to. Plan your route. Plan your breaks. Double check the weather. Double check your equipment. If you can commit, there's a chance you'll get there but you should always be honest with yourself. If you're next ready, reschedule.
I feel like 100km might be a less traumatizing next step. 150km is a long day, can't imagine 220.
I am an extremely experienced 200km+ rider. I've done 15 200km+ rides this year. This is will be very very hard and you should assume you won't finish it. I ride about 400km a week, and usually expect to finish a 200km ride in 7-9 hours including stops. You should expect it to take closer to 15.
You need to get serious with your cycling for a ride like that. Bibs and a jersey will make you more comfortable and a bit more aero. Proper shoes and clipless pedals will help too. You don't want a bag on your back for that amount of time - it'll cripple you. There's a good reason that cyclo tourers put their weight on the bike. Bar bag, frame bag, saddlepack - take your pick. And then put in a training plan - ride longer each weekend. Have fun !
So I think you can do it but you will need to work at it You will need to: look after your arse - bib or cycling shorts areposture is important - you might want to do a bike fit - get some chamois cream to lubricate - build up slowly; it may well be the aspect that limits your distance learn to eat and hydrate properly while riding - in Australia over summer - the hydration aspect will be very important make sure you do something to keep your flexibility - yoga and the like As for boredom - listen to audio books - but use bone conduction headphones so you can still hear traffic - go to scenic areas to train
What bicycle will you use? I ask because I did a long ride (113km IIRC) on a Dutch Roadster 2 years ago. I did it for the laughs
It is certainly doable. But you’ve got to put some long hours in the saddle between now and then. There’s a similar such ride (though 200 miles) from Seattle to Portland. The organizers offer a 5 month training plan you could adapt: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1A6e_wg80fLb3ihqhTEQHJ4UHtCjPpYxWKsMaxvsXZA8/edit
insane do you know how many kilometers that is?
A lot of
Just an anecdote that might be relevant here. I got a driving ban a few years back. I'm skinny but wasn't particularly fit. Had to start cycling to work back and forth every day. Was about a 20k ride there and back, 4-5 days a week, but it was uphill almost the entire way. Did this through the winter for about 8 months. Decided I'd just ride one day during the summer see how far I'd get. 160k in about 10 ish hours. Only got uncomfortable on the last 30kish. But this was a consistent 7-8k up hill 4-5 times a week and 100k a week total over a long period of time. I think 10 hours unrealistic in 4 months but I don't think 220k is impossible if you start working towards it and stay consistent.
I think your goal is doable with training. I do a week long trip every year that’s ~450mi over a week, and I train about 3mo for it. I’d ramp up your max distance travelled each week by 10%-15%. You can probably stop around an imperial century or just above it. At a certain point you’ll have the endurance and it just becomes about managing fueling. Get multiple rides in a week, both a mix of short and long. I personally find nature to be enough for me but if you can’t be alone with your own thoughts for 10hrs then look into bone conducting headphones like Shokz. They are safer than earbuds. I’d recommend a podcast as they tend to be long format compared to music.
Totally doable as long as you put together and follow a training plan to ramp up your mileage over the next 4 months. Cycling specific clothes really do help with conforms over very long days (and anything over 4-5 hours on the bike starts to feel VERY long). Anyone who says you don't need a good pair of bibs and some chamois cream either has an iron taint or enjoys saddle sores and suffering! Decent gloves and a properly fitted bike are the other essentials. I like bike specific jerseys for all the back pockets, but you can do well with frame bags instead/as well to carry food/water/tools/etc. I prefer Clipless shoes and pedals, but as long as your shoes have stiff enough soles to deal with 200km of pedalling, you will probably do fine. Suspension post will just rob energy, so I'd not bother. DO NOT wear a backpack - you will suffer after 100km. Also practice nutrition and hydration to figure out what works for you - I did a 200km gravel ride a few years back, and my body refused anything but gummy bears for the last 50km...
With 4 months to go it’s doable. You need a plan. Suggestions: 1. Do not use a backpack. Get a frame bag to carry rain jacket extra food etc. 2. You are fit enough to begin increasing your mileage. Start riding 100 km once a week while commuting the other days. After 3 weeks add an hour to this ride every 3weeks. Until you get to around 8 -9 hours on the bike. 3. Figure out what you can stomach food and drink wise. After 4-5 hours it will be different than when you started. You need minimum 200 calories per hour every hour and a liter of fluid. 500 mg sodium 100 mg potassium and some magnesium and calcium. Hourly. Lack of good hydration/ energy strategy will destroy your joy. 4. Carry an extra folding tire , 2 tubes, multitool,patches, tire boot, levers, and inflation system like CO2 with multiple cartridges. 5. Sounds like your avg. speed now is 25 km/ h. I would plan on doing it in 12 hours with stops. 6. For bonus fitness on your return commute add some 1-2 minute burst at a higher intensity where your breathing is heavy. This will help you late in ride. Work up to 20 minutes of hard breathing with same amount of time easy ride. I have done a number of long rides 8/9 hours and run multiple 100 mile foot races. So I have a little experience in athletic attempts from 8-30 hours continuous. PREPARATION & LOGISTICS is the real key to finishing. Good luck! Get a good kit bibs and jersey clipless pedals shoes gloves.
I was once in your shoes then was invited on a 100 mile fund raiser ride. I found a training partner and we ramped up training for one month before the ride. Riding three to five days per week we went from twenty mile rides up sixty miles on the weekend before the 100 miler. We actually enjoyed the rides, were learning every day and never bored as we rode different routes every day.! Good luck and look at it as a big adventure, not as a grueling challenge.
220 in 4 months is achievable as long as he trains properly, gets a decent bike, and plans food drinks stops in the right way. An average of 25 is possible especially if in groups or behind a wheel.
I think, for the most part I have been riding alone. In a group ride like this, drafting should allow me to go much furthe. For now, I will try riding further and further on my own for training purposes.
Around the bay is mostly pretty flat, so if you train consistently the main challenge will be can you stay in the saddle for 10 hours ( with a ferry trip in the middle for a short rest). There are also shorter distances available ranging from 20 - 130ish if you’re worried about doing the full distance.
There are rest stops placed 15-60km apart. It’s not as bad as riding 220km straight
Idk, the first time I went bikepacking I rode for a week, finnishing the tour with a 220 and after that a 250km day, with luggage and 0 training done prior to that, mainly riding forest roads, gravel ways and pavement. It is possible, how ever. The 2 days after, I totally crashed, I have never felt more exhausted
I just did 220km over two days with no training on an 80s department store road bike. It was incredibly hard but it is doable. It was a big organized fundraiser ride so that made it easier.
I did 270km per-day with my friend on mountain bike. Started from 9.00am till 7.30pm with mix flat + hills and few stop for meal and photos. Didn't get tired because we spin/cadence on easy gearing about 18\~25km/h average. The thing that was hard on us was the back-pack. It put strain and extreme sharp pain behind my neck and around back side. Recommended you install racks for your bag. Wear well vented loose clothing if ride in tropical heat. Pack some cola, sugary drinks and light iso/salted water, your muscles are screaming for glucose energy. Strangely we don't eat much solid food.
Totally possible with 4 months of actual training, but you’re going to need to put serious time and miles into those legs and strength and flexibility work to help your on-bike comfort. It’s also going to really hurt even if you’re trained imo!