On Fri, 11 Jun 2004 10:34:30 -0700, Terry Morse wrote:

Badger_South wrote:

I'm toying with the idea of doing a long ride this fall, after a summer of
400 mile/months, and I'm interested in some ideas as to pacing. Here's
something I've been thinking about:

Ride for three hours, then 30 min rest (and take a shower?), eat, then ride
for 2 hours, repeat rest, then ride for an hour, repeat rest, then ride
final 2 hours. Does that seem like a good scheme? 3-2-1-2?

Why not just do an organized, supported ride? They typically have
rest stops every 1.5-2 hours apart. It's a great place to find out
about pacing and fueling, and there's sag if you need it. Try a 100k
to see if you like it. If that was too easy, try a 100-mile.

Well there probably aren't any organized supported rides in my area.

There are weekend group rides, I hear, but never been able to track any of
them down to an actual person. (I'm in Charlottesville, Va).

In addition, I'd want to ride my own pace, and would worry about being
dropped and having that affect the motivation. I realize in an ideal sitch,
your suggest -would- be the way to go. Also the area around here that
people ride these things are probably too hilly.

I'm planning the ride in Va Beach, where it's mostly flat, and doing it on
bike paths. (there's 137 miles of them down there!). It would take a big
stroke of luck to find an organized ride in Va Beach to co-incide with my
attempt, but I'll definitely try to check that out. I'm heading back down
there in about a month. Even if the ride was a 50 miler, I could do that
and then finish up on my own. Great idea...

Thanks TM!

-B