“Questions are being asked as to why you haven’t been riding the timerials on the Amersham Road.”
Gladys, this ridiculous looking stem alteration to my TT bike should be confirmation that something is not quite right in the land of the hippy.
After hearing about Meurig setting all the club records last year I went a bit wonky in the brain and decided I would try to break the one he didn’t set – the Willesden 24 hour TT record.
As a fat, err, big-boned, ex-sprinter it’s proving to be some task trying to train for something at the complete opposite end of the spectrum – “ultra-endurance” perhaps?
I’ve enlisted the help of friend, bike-fitter, coach and mechanic, Scherrit from The Bike Whisperer, to attempt to get me into shape for the ride.
Mick’s Tour des Alpes is on the cards for this July so my only 24hr option is the East Sussex Cycling Association 24hr in late June.
Having actually done some of the specified training and knowing the speeds required along with hearing the course is anything but flat and not having any 12 hours before this 24hr I have decided to make this a bit of a “test” event. By test event, I mean I want to finish it, alive, mostly in one piece, without crying in a ditch for 8 hours, vowing never to ride a bike again rather than break any records.
So, I might be out to do some of the West London TTs but they’re not really suited to 24hr preparation. Thanks for the concern 🙂
Great work Stu! While I’ll be doing plenty of 24hr stints this year with the little one coming along, my 24hr bike riding cravings whill have to be satiated vicariously – keep up the training, prep, and the blog!
And Good Luck!
One word of warning…
After completing a 24hr, anything else seems short. With the high’s that you can only get with ‘ultra’ endurance events, it’s not uncommon to become an endurance junkie…
Only problem is you can’t just flog a telly then see your favourite street corner dealer – you’ve got to go through the whole shebang again!
Highly recommend you getting a MTB so you can do an offroad Enduro just for ‘fun’ – in Australia at least there’s a really cruisy fun vibe at most of the races. Could be a good way to stave the withdrawals that you no doubt will get 🙂
You’ll be like someone who’s crossed the oceans on a major journey of exploration and discovery, back on land, living a ‘normal’ life, who dialy standing on the beach looking over the breakers, feeling slightly disjointed with those people in your ‘normal’ life who just don’t understand…
I’ve done Enduro before. It is great fun.
But I live in London now and don’t have a car, storage space, an outside hose. It’s often wet, cold and muddy and with no wheels to go to/from anywhere decent to ride, not enough room for bikes and no place to clean them (other than the bath) I just can’t be bothered. This 24 thing is just a big experiment. You’re assuming I’d want to do it again.. I much prefer drinking marathons.
I already misunderstand ‘normal’ people and am misunderstood. This is all moot until I finish one of the bloody things. I want to try an Adamo saddle.. look ’em up. In the TT position my nuts are going to be too squashed.
Well, once you’ve done one you won’t want to ride your bike for a while… then you’ll ride it… and remember how good it feels. You’ll also notice somethings different… a sense of ease, and a depth to your strength you haven’t had before… Then you’ll do a ‘big’ ride and think "that wasn’t so much of a challenge?". Then the yearning will begin. Maybe you’ll start looking at ride calendars… maybe you’ll entertain the idea of riding PBP… maybe you’ll cruise around the Ultra Cycling website and realise that maybe RAAM is something you can indeed do… basically, you’re fucked 🙂
I’m built for going faster over moderate distance, into a howling hot headwind, not lumpy ultras. We’ll see. 🙂
I’m sick now anyway so I think I need more sleep and less cycling.
You don’t need to prove anything to anyone else with it, but what a great personal exploration and adventure! It’s just riding bikes. Don’t loose sight of that 🙂
You should spread the word of the great Don Stallman – just google "Show me your tits Don Stallman"
Speaking of enduro rides… Murray to Moyne for me this weekend. Echuca to Port Fairy in 520km in 24hrs (its a relay so will probably cover 240 odd km myself). I’m am officially a cyclist now, owning a pair of bib knicks and also having purchased my first ever tub of chamois cream… application instructions? hahahaha… hmmmm
Simo, best of luck mate. I’m sure it’ll kick arse*!
*plenty of chamois creme will stop it kicking too much arse if you get me.. 😉
Gladwrap – cover your hands with a sheet, wipe the cream on, then throw the gladwrap out. To understand why, try applying once without anything covering your hand… 🙂
Where ARE you putting all that cream, Anthony Stinkyballs?
I’ve only done it in one event – my last 24hr – and trust me, it helped 🙂 But all the vas’ in the world won’t make up for a great pair of nicks, a great saddle and great bike fitting
** NOTE ** do not underestimate the important role that great flexibility of your hips plays in letting your pelvis contact your saddle at a comfortable angle ** /NOTE **
** NOTE 2 ** MTBer’s may have more ‘thuds’ to deal with, but there’s more chance to stand too, so I find it easier on the bits to do massive offroad rides than on-road rides. Something to thing about ** /NOTE 2 **
Handily, I live around the corner from a great bike fitter. He was actually in Australia recently meeting with Steve Hogg to enhance his skills.
The saddle is the issue. Riding in a TT position puts a lot of pressure on nuts and perineum and you aren’t out of the saddle floating over bumps like on the mtb. I’ve got a couple of options to try – SMP and Adamo saddles look promising. Failing that it’s just going to be the standard SLR I use and hope for the best.
Assos ftw.
Hmmm… maybe there’s something in your blog title… maybe try one of these!
http://www.allaysaddles.com/?lkz=en
Who knows?
But how exactly does someone fit you up for a saddle? I can only imagine…
That was a joke by the way 🙂
I do the saddle testing, Scherrit does the rest of the bike fit. For example, I’ve had an issue with my right knee/calf that just wouldn’t go away. He retested my legs using some stuff from Hogg and so far so good. The saddle thing I need to get out and do more miles on my TT bike to eliminate the options. But for this I need saddles to test. They have SMP for me to try but I’ve been told about the Adamo and want to give that a go. Missed one on ebay yesterday, damn. Someone on the forum has one I might be able to try out, we’ll see.
I rode my bicycle last night.
Went from Scoresby through Upper Fern Tree Gully to Upwey… yes, I did go past the house we’re taking over the lease of next week… yes… it was important to ‘just check it out’ out more time… no, I don’t think anyone has noticed how many times we’ve driven past excitedly… but I digress…
Just riding into the street that I’ll be living in I was in my lower gear (39×23) out of the saddle going "F$$$$$ck…"
Hopefully I get some climbing legs… and loose my descending belly 🙂
How does that relate to your 24hr attempt? Well, seems I’m back in training 🙂 No specific event in mind, but CORC 24 October this year, or the one down Forest way in December, or Aussie 24hr champs next year or… well… lets just see what the baby brings us – if there’s going to be sleepless nights, surely I can be riding at the same time? 😀
Turbo/rollers next to crib. Job done.
Yeah, gonna ask Bro if I can borrow his rollers again. He’s coming down Easter, but his car will prob be a bit on the full side… we’ll see. In the meantime, I’m getting inspiration from the second coming of Christ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8srxQbgB90)