hey andrew, whattup?

(speaking of prep for 24 hour mtn bike races) i sorta think that long days split up like you are doing are fine. they fit life better, and possibly even are better altogether since the chance for overuse injury is ( i think) lessened, and they build up tenacity by hitting you with that stiffness and sloggy and damn-i-don't-wanna-be-doing-this feeling by the third ride of the day. the key to a 24 solo is just to keep yer ass going when you have 14 hours in the done column and 10 freaking more to go . . . . . i think doing multiple rides prepares you better for that than does just grinding along. i mean, how long you actually gonna DO for a long ride? 6? 8? 10? none of them will prepare you to feel like you will during that 24 solo at 3 am, man. better to jut be ready to know what it is like to climb back in saddle for another lap when you are already past sore and tired - looking to survive. multiple rides imulate that better, i think.

longest day was like 9 hours, maybe ten, done in three or four stretches. that seems like enuf. past that you are just being a freak about it.

oops, wait - that is a lie. i did a 12 hour race also . . . around 2months before the 24. that was good- main benefit there was in dialing in the need for adequate pacing off-road. in my case i was on a singlespeed for the 12 and the 24 so i used the 12 hour experience to convince me of the benefit of gearing down a little more than i wouldv'e normally. for the bulk of the race - and had a spare SS with a bigger gear for later at the end if i felt like craking it, which i did.

school is expensive. :)

I'm thinking of making my 4 day ride camp at Easter ultra long days prehaps off road. Either way I think 4 days of long days in the saddle should put me in the right frame of mind.

Are you doing a Masters? and working?