220 miles in last 36 hours

Triathlon Forum
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I’m now 3/4 through my own little mini cycling “training camp”, an idea that grew from a Chris Carmichael article sometime last year in Bicycling magazine. It’s kinda the culmination of my big winter cycling base buildup and supposed to bolster you ahead about a month (4 long rides in 4 days). Now, these aren’t just leisurely all day rides, but actual training rides (20 mph) with no more than 5 minutes of stops total per ride (adjust clothing, refill water bottles, etc).

For those of you who do this kind of volume on a regular basis the following may seem redundant:

WHAT: Tuesday 60 miles with 90 minutes at Tempo (75 rpm, 23 mph), Wednesday 50 miles, Friday night 80 miles, Saturday afternoon 80 miles, Sunday morning 60 miles, Monday 60-80 miles

All non-Tempo rides 20 mph ave, low simmer aerobic, 85-93 rpm on flat to rolling terrain

WHAT I’M LEARNING:

After 170 miles you just get kinda numb on your backside and on your inner legs–and you like it that way and almost dread having to stand up to stretch your back or stop at a stop sign because of the feeling that will creep back…

Hammer Perpeteum as a sole energy supply is convenient, palatable, and inexhaustible source of nutrients on the long road. The all complex carbs/no simple sugars deal works for me. No, no sponsorship deal here.

A 3 minute pit stop at Starbucks for a fresh Double Espresso with Splenda after 3 hours in the saddle makes the world a better place.

CytoSport FastTwitch (Caffiene, Nitrous Oxide, Taurine, Creatine) is the craziest, most unbelievable pre-ride supplement that still has me hopped up 14 hours later…and posting on ST, uh oh.

If you apportion your effort properly (aerobically), your body just keeps getting more efficient.

Alternating daily long rides between Tri-TT bike and road bike (also with different saddles) makes the muscles and sitting so much nicer.

Graduated Compression socks really do wonders for recovery (my fourth year using them).

Riding 220 miles solo is a lot of time exposed in the wind.

Houston has a surprisingly nice winter cycling climate (75 F, mostly sunny, kinda windy out in the boonies).

Richards, Huntsville, Hempstead, Katy, Tomball, the Woodlands, Brookshire, Pattison, Buckhorn, Sealy, Conroe, New Waverly, Willis, Montgomery, Waller, Prairie View, and Khorville won’t make the stages of the TDF, but they make for some pretty good road riding. You know how I really know–because all the motorcycles were on the same roads this weekend!

Posting to Slowtwitch at 9:00 PM the night before won’t make my culminating ride tomorrow any easier…

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Lots of interesting things here. I spent most of last summer doing some pretty big mileage weeks on the bike. This weekend was no exception. 130 on saturday and another 70 today. Your right about you body getting better as you go. I actually felt great yesterday around 110 miles in. And 220 miles is a long time to be alone. I have a double on saturday, so we’ll see how it goes. How do you like the cyto fast-twitch? I’ve thought about trying it just for kicks. Enjoy the rest of your miles.

3

there is a guy called Jan Heine, who would ride the Cannonball (298 miles, Seattle to Spokane, on I-90) solo and unsupported. He would sleep overnight in Spokane, and ride back to Seattle the next day, only a couple of hours slower than his outbound ride, which was typically one of the fastest if you take into account his need to pull off I-90 to get liquids.
He would end up having ridden 600 miles in your 36 hours, by himself with essentially no company as he crossed the eastern Washington plains.

its great to hear about people doing good, sustained training on their bikes. but lets not get carried away by imaging that the IM 112 miles is a long way. people like heine ride distances like that as a commute to work (sometimes). ride on! and dream big!

4

It appears that you’re sponsored by CytoSport but have never tried FastTwitch. A guy there, goes by the name “Iron”, turned me on to it.

What’s it like? For me, who is hypersensitive to caffiene to begin with, it’s like rocket fuel. I don’t lift weights or do explosive strength training, but I do take FastTwitch about 8 times a year, for epic endurance or hard training and a couple big time races. Seems to minimize perceived exertion and keep me lit up for endless hours as long as I’m properly hydrated and fueled.

Tastes great (like grape flavored Bubble Yum gum).

It makes me retain water over the next couple of days after taking it, sometimes a 3 to 5 pound increase in water weight. I had this tested by my doctor in the lab once and there were no ill effects. It gets eliminated the usual way…

No banned substances in it, but I do use it sparingly.

5

If you ever think you might be a little touched, there’s always Danny Chew to look up to:

http://www.dannychew.com/
.

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Yes, I am sponsored by cyto. I just keep forgetting to ask them for some when I order stuff. I worked at a power gym for awhile, and all the kids there lived on the N0explode stuff, all power lifters. I had thought about it a few times for cycling. But, never looked into it much. Might be something on the list to try.

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Wow, that’s soooo much cycling. I am not sure it sounds like FUN but have a good time on today’s ride!

love from,
a girl who would probably rather spend that much time in the pool than on her bike

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I agree!

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I was all impressed until you said Houston. Houston is flat like a pancake. You should be able to do 220 miles in an afternoon!!! Come on over to Austin for a real workout. :slight_smile:

Just kidding, sounds like a good camp. That’s a lot of miles, even in Houston.

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Actually north and northwest of Houston. Not pancake flat, but not quite rolling either.

I’m still trying to set a sales appointment way out west later today so I can do my last 60-80 mile culmination ride in Bastrop State Park before sunset. That enough climbing fer 'ya?

I envy your hills and big climbs…

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Oh yeah, Bastrop is good… Makes the Houstonians hearts fill with fear on the MS150. It’s got some steep sections, but they’re never too long. Nice and curvy through the trees. You’ll love it.

13

I did a long weekend big block for Louisville last year Day 1- 2mile swim, 106 bike with 9,500 ft of climbing, 3 mile trail run. Day 2 100mile bike with 9800 ft of climbing (definately felt better day 2 on the bike after I loosened up an hour in to the ride, Day 3- 18 mile run, 1.5 mile swim. I was very tired when all was said and done, but even the run felt good.