got2triagain wrote:
I am kind of in the same situation as the OP. I am training for IM 70.3 Galveston and even though the average temperature here in Louisiana doesn't prevent outdoor riding, this has been a miserably wet month of January and all of my riding has been indoors on the Wahoo. My plan is similar to yours. I will do either IM 70.3 Memphis, or Waco in the fall and IM Texas in May of 24. I have been able to do a couple of 2.5 hour plus rides with very little discomfort. Based on how I feel physically after those rides, I think that 5 plus hours is doable. Mentally I start to struggle not to want to watch the clock at around the 2 hour point, so I know that is where I will need to figure something out. Rouvy, football and Netflix have helped.I think being comfortable on the bike is half if not most of the battle. I know someone who gets off their bike every hour for a quick break and this person does 5 hr indoor rides all the time. For me I get off the bike after 2 hours to pee and refill my bottles with nutrition. Then I ride for another 90 minutes and do the same (quick break). And then I have 90 minutes to go. I'm only off the bike for 5 mins or less on each break. Same as I would if I was riding outside (pee breaks, getting more water at a general store). Breaking it up into segments helps a ton.That is the only way I can do 5 hrs on the bike. But also I have a workout to follow and Zwift helps a lot. And movies/podcasts are great too.
Death is easy....peaceful. Life is harder.