View Full Version : Advice for going looooong (Double Century Rookie)
jcs7282
08-13-2019, 12:44 PM
Looking for any advice, experiences, cautionary tales, tips, tricks, et cetera related to going on a loooong ride – say 200mi +.
Earlier in the summer a friend planted the idea of doing a small group double century around the time of the solstice. For various reasons that never happened, but, I have not been able to shake the idea of doing a double century ever since. I have the opportunity to ride ~100mi to the start of an upcoming event, where I’d join some friends there for another ~100mi. I think I could do it but the prospect of doing it is daunting.
A bit about me and this idea FWIW:
-I have ridden 100-110mi multiple times this season, including routes with significant climbing (8-11k feet) so have no concerns with a “regular” century
-Longest ride ever was B2VT last year (149 mi, 9k feet)
-If I did this I would be riding overnight to the early morning start (no sleep, few if any stores open…would self-support)
-Weather is looking good, dry and not too hot during the day
Main concerns are the whole riding overnight part and just the whole mental challenge of riding through ~7 hours of darkness…only to ride another 100! But I would be riding with friends on the back half, which I think would help mentally.
Anyway, if you have any experiences/tales/advice to share about doing something like this, I appreciate your wisdom!
spoonrobot
08-13-2019, 02:00 PM
What is your start time? Midnight?
Riding overnight as part of a double century is a slightly different question but here's my take on a more normal double century. Like you my longest ride prior to a double was 150 miles.
I've only done two but they went well and ended up just being centuries that took twice as long. I mean I did the same things I do on a century until I hit two hundred miles. Ate, drank, sang songs and pedaled along - they were hard and I was glad to be done but like I said they went well.
The only thing I did different than a normal century was stretch several times an hour from the beginning. I can brute force a century riding with poor posture and pedaling squares but I knew that wouldn't work for ~12 hours so I made sure that every opportunity I was stretching on the bike while coasting down a hill or fast flat section. Paid more attention to posture and position and made sure to move my hands around on the handlebars often.
I also found loneliness an issue on both my rides as there were extremely long stretches with no cars, people or things to look at. Just rural forest and grassland. These two rides were the only time I listed to podcasts in the past several years and it helped immensely. I have not ridden overnight but have ridden for 4-5 hours in darkness and I suspect riding overnight may invoke a similar feeling.
I'd also recommend packing a little extra clothing. Even though it's summer, riding through dawn after a full night may feel much cooler than it would otherwise. Having arm/leg warmers may keep you from getting a summer chill, which is almost worse than in the winter.
If it's Solo/unsupported for that distance I'd be thinking fenders & a bag to be prepared for changes in the weather.
I did B2VT last year and in 2016 and the hotter weather in 2018 really made it harder for me. 2016 as soon as it started to get hot it rained and that helped me a lot. I know my challenge on longer and longer rides is dealing with heat.
For me to have the most fun with a huge ride like this I think I'd rather do it on my own schedule where I can pick the day with the best weather and then I can time it to when I feel most fit too, least pressure.
B2VT and rides like that seem to try and straddle our bad/cold/wet spring weather with the hot humid summer days that come later. Really tough.
I also slept really badly before B2VT last year.. anything 150+ again I really want to make sure I get a good night of sleep.
srsoltis
08-13-2019, 02:06 PM
The week before your ride:
1. Get lots of sleep.
2. No caffeine.
3. Eat well.
4. Test your lighting to ensure it is bright enough and lasts long enough.
On your ride:
1. Bring warm clothes; it is cold at night.
2. Make sure you drink fluids.
3. Have fun.
If you can ride 150 miles, you can ride 200.
You didn't say where you're doing this either...
There are lots of 200mi routes that would be less thank the 9k feet of climbing B2VT had last year. That could be a big factor.
That big 5 mile climb at mile 135 last year was pretty horrible that deep into the ride. The 5 mile descent afterwards felt like one of the best ones I've ever had though!
jcs7282
08-13-2019, 02:19 PM
Ha, I was intentionally being vague so as to remain non-committal!
But I'd be riding from the Boston burbs out to the start of D2R2, doing the 160k route. I rode the 180k last year solo. Doing 160k this year with friends.
If I did the ride to the start, I'd be looking at something like a 11PM departure to ensure plenty of time to get to start and get some food/coffee/water before "starting" again...
Without a doubt this would be the hardest thing I have ever done on a bike (and, perhaps physically ever in my life...but once ran a marathon on little training and I do not think I'll ever be in that much pain from a sport again, I hope)...but that's the point I guess! If it was easy I wouldn't be wondering if I could do it!
YesNdeed
08-13-2019, 02:29 PM
I've done the Atomic Smasher 200 twice, totaled 231 miles last Summer, riding to/from the start/finish from home. What I didn't do last year which I did do the first time around in 2014 was put in some big rides leading up to it, say 120 and 140 milers. This was very helpful, and last year hurt so bad that I never want to anything like it again (;)).
Plan to eat real food at some point. Seriously, like a hamburger. Ok, beef might be a bit heavy to carry in the gut, but get a good dose of protein, along with a balance of mono and poly saccharides (fast and slow digesting carbs...think fries and a Coke). At around 120 miles and after a big climb, Los Alamos was a good stopping point, and about the time I was getting pretty sick of roadie gels and such. I had a salt bagel with a heaping amount of cream cheese. This did the job quite well, and I was ready roll after that and a coffee, with about 30 minutes of downtime. Did I mention salt?
Electrolyte pills are a good idea. I like Hammer Endurolytes. Plan on sweating A LOT. Needless to say, plan on numerous water stops. I obtained a bar bag for additional supplies, and this was great. It also made for a safe refuge for my phone in all of 3 different downpours I rode through. I'm really glad I didn't get struck by lightening, as a hiker in that same area in the Jemez Mountains did last week. He was airlifted to a hospital. He also happens be a cyclist.
Start early, like, 5 AM early. Mile 160 on through 200+ is a difference world from the average century, and it's not possible to know long it's really going to take. I kept a comfortable pace since I wasn't sure how it would play out in the latter portion of the ride. Having a bailout option is also a good idea. The loop I did didn't really have that option after Santa Fe about half way through, and went through some remote areas. I brought a separate power storage thing for when my Garmin ran out of power, which it did at 180 miles. But, I brought a micro USB cable and not Garmin's proprietary charging cable, so it availed me nothing. I Strava'd the remaining miles directly from my phone.
In the end, it was an absolutely amazing ride and emotional experience. Riding a bike takes on a spiritual experience when encountering such a vast array of sights and climate changes. It was 12K+ feet of climbing, if I recall.
Ha, I was intentionally being vague so as to remain non-committal!
But I'd be riding from the Boston burbs out to the start of D2R2, doing the 160k route. I rode the 180k last year solo. Doing 160k this year with friends.
If I did the ride to the start, I'd be looking at something like a 11PM departure to ensure plenty of time to get to start and get some food/coffee/water before "starting" again...
Without a doubt this would be the hardest thing I have ever done on a bike (and, perhaps physically ever in my life...but once ran a marathon on little training and I do not think I'll ever be in that much pain from a sport again, I hope)...but that's the point I guess! If it was easy I wouldn't be wondering if I could do it!
You going to ride home too? So much for "maybe not as much climbing as B2VT". You could easily be looking at 15-20k feet of climbing.
Maybe hook up with New England Randonneur for some of there other rides to build up. I haven't done anything but their 100k rides (plus riding to/from the start) but they do a great job. My kind of event in the way they keep it low key. You could do the 200k and 300k or something as preparation.
I did a solo 120 mile ride leading up to B2VT last year.. it was a super tough day with about 7k feet of climbing and I was really on the fence with whether that one actually helped or hurt.. It wasn't quite long enough and yet it was stupid hard too and maybe too close to the event. (I rode to the Pack Monadnock Summit from Boston Suburbs and back.) I would want to get that dialed in before going longer.
These rides are almost divorce inducing for me though, not so eager to do one again right away. The amount of preparation looks really selfish from an outside perspective.
jcs7282
08-13-2019, 03:02 PM
No way on the ride home, that would make it 300mi!
I have friends I could hitch a car ride home with!
Ha, I was intentionally being vague so as to remain non-committal!
But I'd be riding from the Boston burbs out to the start of D2R2, doing the 160k route. I rode the 180k last year solo. Doing 160k this year with friends.
If I did the ride to the start, I'd be looking at something like a 11PM departure to ensure plenty of time to get to start and get some food/coffee/water before "starting" again...
Without a doubt this would be the hardest thing I have ever done on a bike (and, perhaps physically ever in my life...but once ran a marathon on little training and I do not think I'll ever be in that much pain from a sport again, I hope)...but that's the point I guess! If it was easy I wouldn't be wondering if I could do it!
Is the point of this to do the double century? Or to ride to D2R2? If the latter, can you leave Friday morning, and camp at the start? That's what I'm doing. PM me if your plans are flexible, and maybe we can ride out together on Friday.
Reactions to sleep deprivation on the bike will be very personal. It doesn't bother me much, I have no trouble staying awake on 24-30 hours rides. One of my friends has started to fall asleep while riding at 24 hour ride. Another has had hallucinations towards the end of a > 24 hour ride. (Both of them, and I, will be riding the 160K also) If you're not sure how you'll respond, you'll probably want to get some sleep before riding D2R2.
Benb makes a good point about New England Randonneurs. I do a bunch of their rides. If you're thinking about long distance riding, look them up for next year.
Chris
jcs7282
08-13-2019, 03:12 PM
Is the point of this to do the double century? Or to ride to D2R2?
The point is to get in a double century. Sort of a "two birds, one stone" opportunity for me. I've got young kids so getting chances to do stuff like ride 200 (or 100, for that matter) are few and far between.
Normally I'd camp the night before and hang out, but I'm trying not to miss any bedtimes for the kiddos this year. So, although I'll leave in the middle of the night, it doesn't count against me since they'll be sleeping by then!
Perhaps we'll cross paths on the 160k route. I'll be the guy on a blue Zank with red wheels, you'll see me from a mile away.
John
KidWok
08-13-2019, 03:17 PM
Wear a watch that has a timer continually starts over like a Timex Ironman. Set the time interval to 15 minutes. Make sure to take a big drink every fifteen minutes. Maybe take on some food every other time it rings. For hot days, set the timer to shorter intervals to make sure you're getting enough hydration.
I like using a touring handlebar bag to store all my food. It's big, easy to reach into, and I can stay on the bike longer by carrying more food and water. One of the things I hate when doing long distance rides is stopping too long and letting my legs cool off. Would much rather take a sandwich to go on the bike and take small bites of it over a longer period of time while moving along than taking half an hour off the bike to take in a bunch of food, only to feel my stomach weighed down and having cold legs when getting back on the bike. A big bag also allows for a variety of foods so it doesn't get boring eating the same bars and gels. I used to stuff a whole package of Fig Newmans, Clif Bloks, ham or turkey sandwiches cut into quarters, apples, and a frozen water bottle to keep it all cool that I could drink later. Stop by a fruit stand for some Rainier Cherries or Raspberries.
Tai
Wear a watch that has a timer continually starts over like a Timex Ironman. Set the time interval to 15 minutes. Make sure to take a big drink every fifteen minutes. Maybe take on some food every other time it rings. For hot days, set the timer to shorter intervals to make sure you're getting enough hydration.
Most computers can do this too, so no need for an extra watch.
If you've got a PM you can probably get a Garmin or whatever to alarm you based on kJ or something instead of time, which is a bit crazy.
Honestly if the goal was to ride 200 I would just go ride 200 and not try and hit the D2R2 goal at the same time. Then you're on your own timetable and not worrying about making it to the start of D2R2 at the right time or letting down friends.
The point is to get in a double century. Sort of a "two birds, one stone" opportunity for me. I've got young kids so getting chances to do stuff like ride 200 (or 100, for that matter) are few and far between.
Normally I'd camp the night before and hang out, but I'm trying not to miss any bedtimes for the kiddos this year. So, although I'll leave in the middle of the night, it doesn't count against me since they'll be sleeping by then!
Perhaps we'll cross paths on the 160k route. I'll be the guy on a blue Zank with red wheels, you'll see me from a mile away.
John
Sounds good, have fun!
I'll be on the big white 44 Huntsman, also difficult to miss :)
As others have said, make sure you eat and drink enough on the overnight. It's easy to get behind on that.
If you have the time, I think a nap at the D2R2 venue will be a very good idea. An hour or so will make a big difference.
Hopefully I'll see you out there.
Chris
jcs7282
08-13-2019, 03:33 PM
Ooooh a 44! Never seen one in person. I will keep an eye out! So much eye candy at D2.
doomridesout
08-13-2019, 10:24 PM
Things I learned dabbling in this world (before having a kid):
As long as your stomach doesn't bother you, eating more calories and drinking more water than you think you need helps keep everything on the level. Eat real foods, including savory stuff and protein. Ensure or Slimfast is very helpful, IMO.
Don't blow up. Make sure your bike is geared so you don't have to go in the red, ever.
Working on your lactate threshold will pay the biggest dividends in training for this kind of thing. As in, shaving hours off how long it takes.
Low rolling resistance tires and fast equipment are really helpful.
Finding people who want to turn over a brisk but not suicidal pace is also extremely helpful. A draft can be make-or-break, particularly while everyone is fresh.
Good luck! IMO, starting at night solo adds a lot of difficulty. The nervousness of riding in the dark on roads shared with car traffic, alone, would really fatigue me.
Drmojo
08-13-2019, 10:47 PM
First double was SoCal
Grand Tour started ca. 1960
Second was Hemet
Third Davis
A pal of mine has ridden over 200 doubles!
Smead here and Pete B have done many
fixed doubles and tandem doubles—as have I
Alas “only” 37
If you hydrate and eat, and can finish 100
strong— you can ride a double. Just find
a rider or group that is near your level.
AND
go easy for first 50-70 miles, do NOT hammer
or get carried away. Prepare for wild mood swings, and
above all enjoy your self!
No flats no crashes is a perfect ride
But prepare for both!
Enjoy
mojo
Peter B
08-13-2019, 11:23 PM
CONSISTENT calories and hydration--its just like medicine.
The timer idea is sound advice.
Add some electrolytes if its hot.
Pace yourself early--off the front, off the back, off the bike.
Service your machine.
Charge your batteries.
Rest well beforehand.
Keep moving; the clock never stops.
Vary your position and remember to relax.
Maintain your friction zone.
Enjoy the ride!
doomridesout
08-13-2019, 11:50 PM
go easy for first 50-70 miles, do NOT hammer
or get carried away.
Quoted for emphasis. The first 1/3 should feel just a bit too easy. Ride in a group at your sustainable solo pace.
19wisconsin64
08-14-2019, 06:33 AM
Hi, I suggest riding in a place where there is a dedicated bike lane that is separated from the road, like in Denmark. The reason is this - riding long periods at night exposes you to getting killed by a drunk / sleepy drivers.
Since the 70's I've been running and cycling, and though it can be very quiet and cool and different to be out at night, that is when no matter how far off to the side of the road, or how many lights, or whatever you do.... well, you get the point.
Not trying to be a killjoy, just trying to be reasonable here, even though it's not a "popular" opinion in this thread. For 25 years I called the Boston area home, and know how the drivers are....they won't see you when they hit you, or maybe they will the fraction of a second before their car crushes you. Can I say this on this forum, or will it get banned?
At one point I was lucky enough to live in what I considered a "cycling town" of Dover, MA, after living in Boston, and Brookline forever. Right down the road from me, several times, in several places, cyclists were squished by cars.
So, so many tales of long-distance ultra-marathon participants, both running and cycling, getting all of their bones smashed while they die under a car. Hope this isn't too graphic, it's a reality if you do this on public roads, it's simply too risky no matter how prepared you are.
Denmark, or similar country with cycling lanes that are dedicated and separated by physical dividers. 200 miles, go for it, just don't risk dying for the challenge here in the states. Maybe do it over two days, or on a closed car-less loop? Or maybe the Pan-Mass Challenge (if you haven't already).....just be safe.
It's not a matter of being brave, or being strong, or reaching a goal, it's a matter of cycling the next day and the next.
R3awak3n
08-14-2019, 06:38 AM
Impressive to do 100 miles and then do 100 D2R2 miles which are as tough as they come. No advice from me as I never have done more than a normal century but I agree with if you have done 150 you can do 200, specially because you are used to elevation.
spoonrobot
08-14-2019, 08:00 AM
Hi, I suggest riding in a place where there is a dedicated bike lane that is separated from the road, like in Denmark. The reason is this - riding long periods at night exposes you to getting killed by a drunk / sleepy drivers.
This may be the least helpful post I've ever seen on a forum. Truly an achievement.
jcs7282
08-14-2019, 08:30 AM
This may be the least helpful post I've ever seen on a forum. Truly an achievement.
This may be my wife posing as a forum member, trying to talk me out of it!!:)
Thanks for all the advice guys, I am on the fence. Leaning towards maybe saving the 200 attempt for another time. If things don't go well I don't want to wreck my D2 ride, which is like bike Christmas for me. One of the best days of the year...
prototoast
08-14-2019, 08:38 AM
I'm also considering doing my first double, and I'm confident my legs could handle it, but I'm worried about pain in contact points (mostly feet and butt), which are usually fine up until 100 miles or so, but really start bothering me after that. Is this just another level of acclimation I need to develop, or does riding doubles (or longer) require fundamentally different shoes / saddle than shorter distances?
93KgBike
08-14-2019, 09:21 AM
The point is to get in a double century. Sort of a "two birds, one stone" opportunity for me. I've got young kids so getting chances to do stuff like ride 200 (or 100, for that matter) are few and far between.
Normally I'd camp the night before and hang out, but I'm trying not to miss any bedtimes for the kiddos this year. So, although I'll leave in the middle of the night, it doesn't count against me since they'll be sleeping by then!
Perhaps we'll cross paths on the 160k route. I'll be the guy on a blue Zank with red wheels, you'll see me from a mile away.
John
I am pretty much in awe of you. The way we are organized, right now, there are zero chances to do that, because I feel like I can't afford to be that spun out anymore, ever. (I had to carry my son on my shoulders for 10 hours at Disney a few years ago and swore off recovery days after that.)
We all commute together by bike in the AM/PM, which is great!, but the longest ride I've done in the last year was 70 miles on zwift; outside I did 50 miles on a cargo bike... But my 5 y/o can ride our 10mile 'climbing' route so the trade-off has been worth it.
We love watching the videos of the starers/finishers. Good luck! We'll be pulling for you, and all the participants!
The point of the whole Denmark/bike path thing is just to be hyper aware of sleep deprivation & night time dangers if you're going to be pulling super long hours overnight.
You hear lots of stories about ultramarathon riders getting tired and drifting into traffic. And it doesn't take a car, you could be on some utopian European dedicated bike path really far from the cars and still have an accident all by yourself and crash into a tree or something cause you're tired and it's dark.
Just be extra careful. It's a big enough issue we've all seen the rules of some of the Ultramarathon races change to try and get the riders to sleep.
I am pretty much in awe of you. The way we are organized, right now, there are zero chances to do that, because I feel like I can't afford to be that spun out anymore, ever. (I had to carry my son on my shoulders for 10 hours at Disney a few years ago and swore off recovery days after that.)
We all commute together by bike in the AM/PM, which is great!, but the longest ride I've done in the last year was 70 miles on zwift; outside I did 50 miles on a cargo bike... But my 5 y/o can ride our 10mile 'climbing' route so the trade-off has been worth it.
No harm in this, it just takes awareness to realize what is going on. Once you've got a family to take care of some of this cycling stuff just looks super indulgent.
Sign up for one of these huge rides and you need to do a lot of other huge rides to prepare. Most of the people on the ride are single or don't have kids and have 0 time restraints. You're out riding 100 miles and it's just a training ride, not even the actual big ride, and they have nothing to get back to. So if it's a relaxed ride no problem taking extra stops that add hours to the clock time. Let's stop for another cappucino, let's stop for a fancy lunch. It gets really hard to make that work when you're the one with a partner & kid(s) back home and they're all going nuts cause you're gone. And then when you get home you're shelled and there is still housework or yard work or something to do that requires energy. And then if you have a little kid they wake you up in the middle of the night and your recovery is destroyed and you're a mess for days. It wrecks your training and annoys everyone else in the house that you're not on point.
There are other ways to stay in shape that can integrate a heck of a lot better with the family. It kind of sucks, it was really hard for me to admit it.
First time I did B2VT I was at Disney during prep for the ride.. I had rented a bike on vacation. Had that experience of going out and riding hard and then having to trek around Disney for 12 hours on the "recovery day".
verticaldoug
08-14-2019, 09:50 AM
Since you are meeting friends at the start, give them a change of kit for you.
Fresh kit, fresh chamois cream (lots) will feel good. Wash your face, and wipe yourself down. You just start the second half feeling refreshed. I can think of easier 2nd halfs than D2R2, but if your rode 140 last year, and 100mi solos are not at all challenging, you'll be fine. Just eat solid foods, and stay away from gels.
Riding at night can stink, if you have a support crew in a car to follow, you'd be better off.
Hellgate
08-14-2019, 09:53 AM
Since you are meeting friends at the start, give them a change of kit for you.
Fresh kit, fresh chamois cream (lots) will feel good. Wash your face, and wipe yourself down. You just start the second half feeling refreshed. I can think of easier 2nd halfs than D2R2, but if your rode 140 last year, and 100mi solos are not at all challenging, you'll be fine. Just eat solid foods, and stay away from gels.
Riding at night can stink, if you have a support crew in a car to follow, you'd be better off.Sage advice.
jcs7282
08-14-2019, 09:53 AM
I am pretty much in awe of you. The way we are organized, right now, there are zero chances to do that, because I feel like I can't afford to be that spun out anymore, ever. (I had to carry my son on my shoulders for 10 hours at Disney a few years ago and swore off recovery days after that.)
We all commute together by bike in the AM/PM, which is great!, but the longest ride I've done in the last year was 70 miles on zwift; outside I did 50 miles on a cargo bike... But my 5 y/o can ride our 10mile 'climbing' route so the trade-off has been worth it.
We love watching the videos of the starers/finishers. Good luck! We'll be pulling for you, and all the participants!
Thank you!
In terms of fitting it in...I wake up very early (4AM) during the week to get my rides in most days. Weekends we have an agreement I can get out early and return mid/late AM, that way I usually get to squeeze a longer (60-80) ride in without missing too much family time. The other weekend day I hang with the kids most/all day and we do outdoor adventures...hikes, rail trail rides, etc. and my wife gets to do her gym stuff. It's all about balance/give-and-take.
When I get home from rides there's no downtime, just time to down a coffee & some food and it's on to the next adventure with the boys, who are 4 and 7. Some days it's a lot, but both things are important to me so I make it work. And they're both very into riding so my dream is to someday be doing longer 2 wheeled adventures with them alongside me.
jemdet
08-14-2019, 09:57 AM
Echoing what others have said here.
My mantra is "don't try." Never go into the red. Take it easy on the hills. Take in the scenery. Bring low gears. Cruise. You won't be mad if you still have something in the tank after 200 miles.
Replace the salt that you're sweating out. Try not to overeat. Get back on the road ASAP if you do - burn some of it off. Some things are harder to digest. I love a cold chocolate milk if I'm riding at 15... but it tends to sit worse at higher speeds.
Most of all, have fun! And remember to replace some of those calories when you're done :)
fmradio516
08-14-2019, 09:59 AM
Just eat solid foods, and stay away from gels.
Just curious what the reason is behind the gel thing.
verticaldoug
08-14-2019, 10:30 AM
Just curious what the reason is behind the gel thing.
Everyone is different, but too many Gels for me lead to GI distress. I rather eat lim cakes and other solids.
This may be my wife posing as a forum member, trying to talk me out of it!!:)
Thanks for all the advice guys, I am on the fence. Leaning towards maybe saving the 200 attempt for another time. If things don't go well I don't want to wreck my D2 ride, which is like bike Christmas for me. One of the best days of the year...
IMHO, you'll be better off waiting on the 200.
Ride D2R2 this year, and have fun. Keep this idea in mind for next year, train for it, and make it happen when you're ready. It will be a great adventure, but, it will be that much better when you're well prepared.
As far as riding at night, NER does an overnight 200K each year. We've already missed this year's edition, but something to consider next year:
https://nerandonneurs.org/nersite/?p=1859
Chris
YesNdeed
08-14-2019, 11:04 AM
I have not done D2R2, but based on what I have heard, it's not necessarily a road bike with roll fast road tires. I cannot imagine doing a double on anything other than a dedicated road bike, with reasonably efficient tires. A century would be no big deal, but 200+ mile rides in my experience are a challenge of shear distance alone.
This is coming from the guy that claims a race's level of difficulty has little to nothing to do with distance, and more to do with who shows up and makes you suffer. The really big rides put rides like RAAM qualifiers into perspective.
We have the New Mexico Endurance Series (NMES) here and that makes joining ridiculous rides no one should ever attempt more organized, but you can plan your own double. If you can get a dedicated crew of your best riding mates together and settle on a day to do it, that might be safer bet. But then if you top off D2R2 and total 200, you'll be top rank hard man!
fmradio516
08-14-2019, 11:31 AM
Everyone is different, but too many Gels for me lead to GI distress. I rather eat lim cakes and other solids.
Ah ok, i thought maybe you meant to completely stay away from gels.
Im not sure what gastro distress is supposed to feel like, so maybe i dont get it :)
Plz dont tell me what it does because then ill actually look for it next time i have a gel.
This may be my wife posing as a forum member, trying to talk me out of it!!:)
Thanks for all the advice guys, I am on the fence. Leaning towards maybe saving the 200 attempt for another time. If things don't go well I don't want to wreck my D2 ride, which is like bike Christmas for me. One of the best days of the year...
Did you do the ride out to Deerfield?
I was looking for you on the 160K, but didn't see you.
I hope you had a fun time either way.
Chris
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