What to do for a long bike ride?
Going to do my first long ride, I’m planning on riding from key largo to key west (about 100 miles). But I was wondering what do you do for these kind of rides. Things I should bring? Good meal to eat before? Snacks to keep me going? About how long does a 100 mile ride take for a less experienced rider? Also if anyone has ever biked the keys how is it? I’ve read a little on the ride and people have done it and said its not too bad except small patches of small shoulders with traffic and drunk drivers at night, but I won’t be riding at night. Sunscreen is a definite haha, going to be a long, beautiful, hot ride that hopefully ends in a hammock on the beach.
I ride a dozen or so centuries a season. Here are my recommendations.
You should have at least 500 training miles before attempting this ride. You should work you way up to longer and longer rides. A minimum ride of 75 miles as part of your training must be included. Just riding a bunch of 25 mile rides won’t cut it. You need serious saddle time.
Now if you train correctly you will answer your own question about time. a casual rider will take 12 hours, a less experienced rider will take 10 hours, a trained less experienced rider will take 8 hours, a skilled century rider will knock it out in 5 – 6 hours.
Do not even attempt this ride that any part of it is in the dark. You will be fatigued, and that with the combination of road conditions and traffic in the dark will spell disaster.
Food. There are many brands, but I consume Hammer Nutrition products. High energy, protein, no refined sugars or dyes. Go to their web site and read. Hammer bars, Hammer gel, and Perpeteum fuel my centuries and doubles. You can check out Power Bar, GU and others too. Do eat some high protein low fat meals the week leading up to your ride and a bowl of oatmeal and a banana for breakfast the day you ride. Don’t forget that you need 20 ounces of water inside you every hour of riding.
Train hard then have fun.
You need to train for a ride like that 100 miles is not easy even for a seasoned rider. You need to be able to ride at a reasonable pace so you don’t have to spend a lot of time in the saddle. You need to train for a century. What to eat is not really important you can eat about anything but you do need to drink plenty of water.
http://www.google.com/#hl=en&cp=20&gs_id=1n&xhr=t&q=how+to+train+for+a+century&pf=p&sclient=psy-ab&source=hp&pbx=1&oq=how+to+train+for+a+c&aq=0&aqi=g4&aql=&gs_sm=&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=1b5a45eeaa4ceed&biw=783&bih=393
For a less experienced rider, between 7-10 hours. If not a road bike much more. Before going for a century, you should have done several 70 miles rides successfully.
You need a bottle of water per hour, or find places where you can replenish.
In 10 hours you will needs a whole meal made of juice, fruit, nuts, gelatin.
Also, a granola bar every 30-40 minutes or bananas or apple as you ride. Or a stop every 2-3 hours.
Pasta the night before for carbs.
Eggs for breakfast for protein and cereal with dry fruit.
Sunglasses, helmet, padded shorts.
Be aware that there are opposite lines of thinking on this issue.
Well although the journey down there is great in a car, I dont think that I would like to travel down on a bike.
Have you thought about where you are going to stay each night??
I assume that you are planning on hostels and lodgings, as you cant carry a tent and stuff on your bike?
Hey Ire man,
Up until about 3 years ago I lived in Key West and cycled up and down US1 pretty extensively.
Condition of the bike-way will vary, all depends on when they last picked up all the trash along the side of the road and where.Traffic can be a bit unnerving especially if you’re not used to riding on busy streets. The 7 mile bridge can be very challenging, because it doesn’t get cleaned up all that often and there’s usually a LOT of tire-killing cr*p RIGHT where you need to ride to stay out of the way of traffic and the grade up and over the top is a real thrill.
On certain parts of the bike way you need to look out for the iguanas and pythons, they like to sun themselves on the pavement (not kidding)
Once you get past the 7mile bridge it’s pretty easy going into Key West but you really need to be aware of traffic, drivers down there have absolutely NO clue when it comes to cyclists. It’s probably because they don’t see all that many of them and don’t really know how to act around us. A lot of the bike way is separated from vehicular traffic but a lot of the route has you right along side of traffic moving at anywhere from 25-55 MPH so be prepared.
Make sure you have LIGHTS on your bike! Even if you DO plan on getting there before dark it’s best to be prepared. Key West Police and Highway Patrol WILL ticket you if you’re riding without lights at night. Make sure to take a LOCK and tools to fix a flat along with you. Don’t know how to fix a flat? LEARN! Bike shops can be few and far between along US1 and it is inevitable, you WILL have a flat along one of THE most isolated spots on the route.
As for that hammock on the beach? Well that might be alright during the day but don’t try to stay on the beach overnight. You’ll probably end up with MUCH different accommodations then you might expect, courtesy of the local police. Check out either Warm showers or Couch surfing for accommodations before you go.
Certainly, the ride is doable and there’s a lot to see along the way. If you can ride comfortably for 70 miles in a day? You can probably do it and not knock yourself out too badly. If not? Better train some more.
As for food? You’ll probably find enough along the way to fuel yourself and it’s best to stop every once in awhile anyway. Be sure to take enough water along and hydrate!
Above all else? HAVE FUN!