Melbourne Around the Bay in a Day 19th October 2003

"enock" wrote in message
...
I’m attempting this 210 km ride for the first time.
Has anyone got any suggestions on good training, how to cope with the
distance or even your personal experiences of the ride.

Have done a few of these so some observations.

Get comfortable doing around 150km (say Peats Ridge and back on the north or
Sublime Point and back on the south).

Unless you have experience in bunch riding don't try to learn on this ride -
you will probably link up with someone around your pace as it unfolds.

Try to avoid getting cold - take 2 bottles and whatever you like to eat in
your jersey so you can avoid stopping a lot or for too long.

You will probably need a jacket or wind vest on the ferry - its
surprisingingly cold when you stop peddling - and take all available cycling
clothing with you to Melb esp arm warmers and longs and make your best guess
of what to wear on the morning.

The western side (Werribee, Altona, Geelong) is a bit dull, smells and is
(usually but not always) the best side to do first in terms of adverse
winds - I'm not convinced of that but it is the conventional wisdom.

Leaving early and making an early ferry makes for a much shorter day (may
need lights for the first half hour)

Be prepared for a hunger bonk in the last 50k - replenish food stocks for
the jersey when you can.

When you finish do some stretches while waiting for mates to finish - gentle
stretches and holds for 30 seconds for your quads, hammies, glutes, hip
flexors, adductors and calf muscles will get the recovery happening that
much sooner - the massages they offer are nice but its the stretchs that
really do you some good - don't care what brand , yoga, pilates or whatever,
stretch back into shape the muscles you just tightened up a tad.

Then go looking for a good late lunch - you have earned it and the
endorphins will keep you high for a week, which is just as well because you
won't feel like riding for a couple of days !

Its a great day (way better than the 'gong) and a good place to get a taste
for endurance riding.

best, Andrew (remove the .x1 to reply)

On Sun, 21 Sep 2003 01:20:45 GMT, "Andrew Price"
wrote:


"enock" wrote in message
...
I’m attempting this 210 km ride for the first time.
Has anyone got any suggestions on good training, how to cope with the
distance or even your personal experiences of the ride.

Have done a few of these so some observations.

Good tips.

snip

Try to avoid getting cold - take 2 bottles and whatever you like to eat in
your jersey so you can avoid stopping a lot or for too long.

You'll probably get some handouts at the rest stations.

snip

Leaving early and making an early ferry makes for a much shorter day (may
need lights for the first half hour)

You will need lights if you start at 5:00. And it's the best time to
start.

Regards,
Richard.

On Sun, 21 Sep 2003 01:20:45 GMT, "Andrew Price"
wrote:


"enock" wrote in message
...
I’m attempting this 210 km ride for the first time.
Has anyone got any suggestions on good training, how to cope with the
distance or even your personal experiences of the ride.

Have done a few of these so some observations.

Good tips.

snip

Try to avoid getting cold - take 2 bottles and whatever you like to eat in
your jersey so you can avoid stopping a lot or for too long.

You'll probably get some handouts at the rest stations.

snip

Leaving early and making an early ferry makes for a much shorter day (may
need lights for the first half hour)

You will need lights if you start at 5:00. And it's the best time to
start.

Regards,
Richard.

yep some great tips from Andrew...

2 bidons is mandatory...and I prefer to add a sports drink type powder to
mine eg. isostar, gatorade, maxim etc...you also get a sachet in the food
hamper at the ferry.

yes you get fed when you line up for the ferry...just join the queue, and
make sure you bring your ticket or no ferry!!
eat your food on the ferry and fill up your bidons when you get to the other
side (they have these huge bladders full of water with enough teats (well
thats what they look like to me) to service many at once. :-)

Yes it does get cold on the ferry regardless of the day...travel as light as
you can but take enough clothes ie. arm/leg warmers and a rain jacket just
in case.
Have found that the gel packs are great on the go food rather than just
bananas which don't last as long in the energy department IMHO.
Also jelly beans got me through the last 50kms or so (as I'd shove a few in
my mouth every few kms!), so I always take a pack of them. Just don't emtpy
them into your jersey pockets or they'll stain.

Riding in a bunch is good fun and makes the kms go by that much quicker as
the average tempo is higher than by yourself. Just make sure you are in a
group that is compatible with you. There are all sorts of cyclists out
there...experienced, inexperienced and yes even the down right dangerous!!

As for training....you need to be able to ride for a long time so endurance
is the key....some long steady rides up to 140kms was good enough for me
last year...and I'd never ridden more than 165kms before ATB, but there is
always a group somewhere to sit in if you have had it (unless you are
last!).

And yes start early...less wind (if there is going to be any that day...and
there usually is!) and less crowded on the ferry and if all else fails
always someone behind you to keep you going!

enjoy...cya there!
Scotty

"Andrew Price" wrote in message
...

"enock" wrote in message
...
I'm attempting this 210 km ride for the first time.
Has anyone got any suggestions on good training, how to cope with the
distance or even your personal experiences of the ride.

Have done a few of these so some observations.

Get comfortable doing around 150km (say Peats Ridge and back on the north
or
Sublime Point and back on the south).

Unless you have experience in bunch riding don't try to learn on this
ride -
you will probably link up with someone around your pace as it unfolds.

Try to avoid getting cold - take 2 bottles and whatever you like to eat in
your jersey so you can avoid stopping a lot or for too long.

You will probably need a jacket or wind vest on the ferry - its
surprisingingly cold when you stop peddling - and take all available
cycling
clothing with you to Melb esp arm warmers and longs and make your best
guess
of what to wear on the morning.

The western side (Werribee, Altona, Geelong) is a bit dull, smells and is
(usually but not always) the best side to do first in terms of adverse
winds - I'm not convinced of that but it is the conventional wisdom.

Leaving early and making an early ferry makes for a much shorter day (may
need lights for the first half hour)

Be prepared for a hunger bonk in the last 50k - replenish food stocks for
the jersey when you can.

When you finish do some stretches while waiting for mates to finish -
gentle
stretches and holds for 30 seconds for your quads, hammies, glutes, hip
flexors, adductors and calf muscles will get the recovery happening that
much sooner - the massages they offer are nice but its the stretchs that
really do you some good - don't care what brand , yoga, pilates or
whatever,
stretch back into shape the muscles you just tightened up a tad.

Then go looking for a good late lunch - you have earned it and the
endorphins will keep you high for a week, which is just as well because
you
won't feel like riding for a couple of days !

Its a great day (way better than the 'gong) and a good place to get a
taste
for endurance riding.

best, Andrew (remove the .x1 to reply)

yep some great tips from Andrew...

2 bidons is mandatory...and I prefer to add a sports drink type powder to
mine eg. isostar, gatorade, maxim etc...you also get a sachet in the food
hamper at the ferry.

yes you get fed when you line up for the ferry...just join the queue, and
make sure you bring your ticket or no ferry!!
eat your food on the ferry and fill up your bidons when you get to the other
side (they have these huge bladders full of water with enough teats (well
thats what they look like to me) to service many at once. :-)

Yes it does get cold on the ferry regardless of the day...travel as light as
you can but take enough clothes ie. arm/leg warmers and a rain jacket just
in case.
Have found that the gel packs are great on the go food rather than just
bananas which don't last as long in the energy department IMHO.
Also jelly beans got me through the last 50kms or so (as I'd shove a few in
my mouth every few kms!), so I always take a pack of them. Just don't emtpy
them into your jersey pockets or they'll stain.

Riding in a bunch is good fun and makes the kms go by that much quicker as
the average tempo is higher than by yourself. Just make sure you are in a
group that is compatible with you. There are all sorts of cyclists out
there...experienced, inexperienced and yes even the down right dangerous!!

As for training....you need to be able to ride for a long time so endurance
is the key....some long steady rides up to 140kms was good enough for me
last year...and I'd never ridden more than 165kms before ATB, but there is
always a group somewhere to sit in if you have had it (unless you are
last!).

And yes start early...less wind (if there is going to be any that day...and
there usually is!) and less crowded on the ferry and if all else fails
always someone behind you to keep you going!

enjoy...cya there!
Scotty

"Andrew Price" wrote in message
...

"enock" wrote in message
...
I'm attempting this 210 km ride for the first time.
Has anyone got any suggestions on good training, how to cope with the
distance or even your personal experiences of the ride.

Have done a few of these so some observations.

Get comfortable doing around 150km (say Peats Ridge and back on the north
or
Sublime Point and back on the south).

Unless you have experience in bunch riding don't try to learn on this
ride -
you will probably link up with someone around your pace as it unfolds.

Try to avoid getting cold - take 2 bottles and whatever you like to eat in
your jersey so you can avoid stopping a lot or for too long.

You will probably need a jacket or wind vest on the ferry - its
surprisingingly cold when you stop peddling - and take all available
cycling
clothing with you to Melb esp arm warmers and longs and make your best
guess
of what to wear on the morning.

The western side (Werribee, Altona, Geelong) is a bit dull, smells and is
(usually but not always) the best side to do first in terms of adverse
winds - I'm not convinced of that but it is the conventional wisdom.

Leaving early and making an early ferry makes for a much shorter day (may
need lights for the first half hour)

Be prepared for a hunger bonk in the last 50k - replenish food stocks for
the jersey when you can.

When you finish do some stretches while waiting for mates to finish -
gentle
stretches and holds for 30 seconds for your quads, hammies, glutes, hip
flexors, adductors and calf muscles will get the recovery happening that
much sooner - the massages they offer are nice but its the stretchs that
really do you some good - don't care what brand , yoga, pilates or
whatever,
stretch back into shape the muscles you just tightened up a tad.

Then go looking for a good late lunch - you have earned it and the
endorphins will keep you high for a week, which is just as well because
you
won't feel like riding for a couple of days !

Its a great day (way better than the 'gong) and a good place to get a
taste
for endurance riding.

best, Andrew (remove the .x1 to reply)

"Scotty" wrote in message news:7ahbb.4565
2 bidons is mandatory...and I prefer to add a sports drink type powder to
mine eg. isostar, gatorade, maxim etc...you also get a sachet in the food
hamper at the ferry.

On that note.. fill each bidon with something different. I use water in
one and gatorade/staminade in the other. If you are not used to
drinking sports drinks - you might find two bottles of it all day a bit
too much. Also, bottles that have anything other than water in them
are hard to clean.. at least they are for me. I'm surprised my bottles
don't run away actually.. but that's another matter...

Have found that the gel packs are great on the go food rather than just
bananas which don't last as long in the energy department IMHO.

And they are smaller, lighter and much more "squish" resistant...

I remember eating a jam sandwich last year. Just wrap it in cling wrap.
Great change from all the fruit bars, energy drinks/gels, lollies and
bananas.

And yes start early...less wind (if there is going to be any that
day...and
there usually is!) and less crowded on the ferry and if all else fails
always someone behind you to keep you going!

How early did you start? Mine start time will be decided by the team
I'm with this year but I think last year I was in the 2rd or 3rd fastest
starting bunch according to BV's suggestion. There was a wait for
the ferry. Maybe 15-30mins moving through queues, eating lunch
using toilets, etc?

Hmm, I think I might have to start ramping up the k's.. just to see
how I'm feeling with 150+.

hippy

"Scotty" wrote in message news:7ahbb.4565
2 bidons is mandatory...and I prefer to add a sports drink type powder to
mine eg. isostar, gatorade, maxim etc...you also get a sachet in the food
hamper at the ferry.

On that note.. fill each bidon with something different. I use water in
one and gatorade/staminade in the other. If you are not used to
drinking sports drinks - you might find two bottles of it all day a bit
too much. Also, bottles that have anything other than water in them
are hard to clean.. at least they are for me. I'm surprised my bottles
don't run away actually.. but that's another matter...

Have found that the gel packs are great on the go food rather than just
bananas which don't last as long in the energy department IMHO.

And they are smaller, lighter and much more "squish" resistant...

I remember eating a jam sandwich last year. Just wrap it in cling wrap.
Great change from all the fruit bars, energy drinks/gels, lollies and
bananas.

And yes start early...less wind (if there is going to be any that
day...and
there usually is!) and less crowded on the ferry and if all else fails
always someone behind you to keep you going!

How early did you start? Mine start time will be decided by the team
I'm with this year but I think last year I was in the 2rd or 3rd fastest
starting bunch according to BV's suggestion. There was a wait for
the ferry. Maybe 15-30mins moving through queues, eating lunch
using toilets, etc?

Hmm, I think I might have to start ramping up the k's.. just to see
how I'm feeling with 150+.

hippy

we rode from Richmond down to the start and just kept going...it was around
6am from memory and we got in a group that stayed together until the first
half decent climb about 40 or so kms down the road (as we went the
melb-sorrento-queenscliff-melb direction), so it was pretty cruisy at first.
Yeah didnt take long at the ferry, we did pass by lots of cyclists on the
way and then queued a bit but went straight onto a ferry and then ate all
our goodies.
Hardest part is taking enough food but not too much that it ends up as
baggage. I had 4 gel packs, packet of jelly beans, a muesli bar as well as
the lunch you get at the ferry and it was about right. Started eating about
25-30kms in and kept it steady all the way.

"hippy" wrote in message
...
"Scotty" wrote in message news:7ahbb.4565
2 bidons is mandatory...and I prefer to add a sports drink type powder
to
mine eg. isostar, gatorade, maxim etc...you also get a sachet in the
food
hamper at the ferry.

On that note.. fill each bidon with something different. I use water in
one and gatorade/staminade in the other. If you are not used to
drinking sports drinks - you might find two bottles of it all day a bit
too much. Also, bottles that have anything other than water in them
are hard to clean.. at least they are for me. I'm surprised my bottles
don't run away actually.. but that's another matter...

Have found that the gel packs are great on the go food rather than just
bananas which don't last as long in the energy department IMHO.

And they are smaller, lighter and much more "squish" resistant...

I remember eating a jam sandwich last year. Just wrap it in cling wrap.
Great change from all the fruit bars, energy drinks/gels, lollies and
bananas.

And yes start early...less wind (if there is going to be any that
day...and
there usually is!) and less crowded on the ferry and if all else fails
always someone behind you to keep you going!

How early did you start? Mine start time will be decided by the team
I'm with this year but I think last year I was in the 2rd or 3rd fastest
starting bunch according to BV's suggestion. There was a wait for
the ferry. Maybe 15-30mins moving through queues, eating lunch
using toilets, etc?

Hmm, I think I might have to start ramping up the k's.. just to see
how I'm feeling with 150+.

hippy

we rode from Richmond down to the start and just kept going...it was around
6am from memory and we got in a group that stayed together until the first
half decent climb about 40 or so kms down the road (as we went the
melb-sorrento-queenscliff-melb direction), so it was pretty cruisy at first.
Yeah didnt take long at the ferry, we did pass by lots of cyclists on the
way and then queued a bit but went straight onto a ferry and then ate all
our goodies.
Hardest part is taking enough food but not too much that it ends up as
baggage. I had 4 gel packs, packet of jelly beans, a muesli bar as well as
the lunch you get at the ferry and it was about right. Started eating about
25-30kms in and kept it steady all the way.

"hippy" wrote in message
...
"Scotty" wrote in message news:7ahbb.4565
2 bidons is mandatory...and I prefer to add a sports drink type powder
to
mine eg. isostar, gatorade, maxim etc...you also get a sachet in the
food
hamper at the ferry.

On that note.. fill each bidon with something different. I use water in
one and gatorade/staminade in the other. If you are not used to
drinking sports drinks - you might find two bottles of it all day a bit
too much. Also, bottles that have anything other than water in them
are hard to clean.. at least they are for me. I'm surprised my bottles
don't run away actually.. but that's another matter...

Have found that the gel packs are great on the go food rather than just
bananas which don't last as long in the energy department IMHO.

And they are smaller, lighter and much more "squish" resistant...

I remember eating a jam sandwich last year. Just wrap it in cling wrap.
Great change from all the fruit bars, energy drinks/gels, lollies and
bananas.

And yes start early...less wind (if there is going to be any that
day...and
there usually is!) and less crowded on the ferry and if all else fails
always someone behind you to keep you going!

How early did you start? Mine start time will be decided by the team
I'm with this year but I think last year I was in the 2rd or 3rd fastest
starting bunch according to BV's suggestion. There was a wait for
the ferry. Maybe 15-30mins moving through queues, eating lunch
using toilets, etc?

Hmm, I think I might have to start ramping up the k's.. just to see
how I'm feeling with 150+.

hippy

hippy wrote:

...Also, bottles that have anything other than water in them
are hard to clean.. at least they are for me. I'm surprised my bottles
don't run away actually.. but that's another matter...


A tip given to me by a veteran Audax-er for cleaning bidons -
Milton Antibacterial Tablets.
Fill up the bidon with warm water and 1 tablet, leave overnight and its
as clean as a whistle.

http://www.google.com.au/search?q=milton+tablet

Al.