London Fixed-gear and Single-speed

Im plannin on cycling from london to Hemsby in Norfolk (Great Yarmoth). Going on google maps and clicking 'avoid highways' tells me that its around 140 miles. I was hoping to do it in a day (gettin up eeearly). recon its possible fixed? dont think the routes too hilly and i like to think im pretty fit, ride every day around 8-10 miles, but it will be my first real trek. will it happen?

that's a long way for your first real trek. but if you think you will be happy sat in your saddle for 10 hours you should be okay. i would suggest doing a 70 or 80 miler first though.

Yes, pace yourself and eat lots, you'll be fine, probably.

Lots of people doing the Dunwich Dynamo fixed next weekend, that's around 130 all in.

Do it!

(don't sue us if you die)

oh and get a camel pack, then when you arrive you can look like a space man

Riding far isn't difficult, especially if you eat. What makes it hard is trying to do it fast. So take it steady, eat and drink frequently, i.e. ever half hour or so, and you should be fine.

But, as jonny says, if you've got time beforehand to do a trial run it'll give you more of an idea of what you'll need to do.

Thanks!... and one more thing, ive got a bit of a crummy seat: some rock selle itallia one with what appears to be a gel gooch spot in the middle, my arse is numb even after short rides. I'm kinda lacking funds but what would be the bestest chepeast seat for a long day of hours in the saddle? (but maybe ive just got a sensitive beehind)

what seat is best really depends on your but, and what works for one person wont really work fo the next, i like narrow stiff saddles, with a cut out for the boys.

the charge spoon saddle is supposed to be nice according to certain folk at certain publications

I just started doing longer rides (just got back from London-Windsor-London, did London-Brighton last Saturday) and what I found the most painful was not muscles but the arse and knees at the very end of a trip. I don't get that during my daily commuting (around an hour every day).

Under 80k doesn't really count for pain. You really need to be doing 70mi+ before you start to notice painful setup problems (unless they're really obvious ones). I'd not suggest doing 140mi out for your first ride and doing it fixed doesn't help because when you are in pain it's that much harder to stretch and stuff. You need to factor in navigation and breaks as well so with only 8-10 mile rides a day you're not really in a position to know how comfortable/uncomfortable your bike is, nor how much to eat and drink. Give it a shot but have a bail out option in mind (train, etc).

in my experience sore/numb arse is not caused by a poor saddle. But the fit of the bike and the way you sit on it.

If your sitting fairly upright, even with a big cushiony sprung saddle, your eventually going to get numb.

With racey thin hard saddles, sitting upright with your arse flesh being fully compressed into the saddle is just not an option.

You need to have a better balance of weight over the bike, with the weight you do put on the saddle, being taken by the bonier harder parts between your legs (i do not know the anatomical names!-not your nob)

anyway, thats just a tought.

don''t you think that 140 miles might take a tad longer than 10 hours ?

Yeah it took me about 11hrs to do 230k to Nottingham, geared. I probably would have done it in 6hrs if I didn't have to navigate myself hahaha

well 140 miles.....thats a lot....i pretty much guarantee you you could take 40 miles off that if you got a good map and picked out the small country roads hardly ever taken into consideration by google map.

it will be a nicer cycle aswel if your on quiet country roads.

maybe invest in some proper lycra padded shorts and some udder creme.
riding 7-8 miles on a commute isn't the best preparation, try increasing the distance over time. it doesn't take long before 50 miles is done in a few hours and it doesn't even knacker you out st the moment you are looking to do a distance 14 times longer than you are used to. if you can do 50 with no bother it's only 3x longer.

in short HTFU

Paris Chartres takes me 6hours to do 100km (60 miles) and I stop stretch, eat and drink every hour - thats not racing and with a few hills thrown in to boot - my next ride Paris - Orleans ~140km I will build up slowly checking out different routes, train time tables etc - it not the distance per se - it being stuck on horrible road with articulated lorries roaring up your arse - or not knowing where the nearest train is if you have a problem or have run out of gas - I am the owner of a very badly fitting pair of XL cycle shorts which make so much of a difference that I am planning to buy a proper air one of these days

i don't think doing 140 miles first time out is a good idea at all!

not a good idea, but do-able.....there is plenty of daylight at the moment, so leave early and do lots of 2 hour chunks....should be able to do 30 miles or so in 2 hours, take 30 min to 1hr breaks in between (but keep legs warm with jogging bottoms) eat plenty and drink plenty, wear cycling shorts and shoes you've already worn in, use vasolene, use correct saddle height (your problems might be incorrect saddle positioning ...usually too high)

should do it 14 hours....(10mph) which is what I allow as an avergae when cycle-touring, which includes breaks and lunch and taking photos.

take spare tubes and tools!!!!!

you'll be able to use the vasolene on your quiff when you get there, but send your drape suit and brothel-creepers with someone else....i.e carry as little baggage as poss.

Use drop or bullhorns too. Risers or flat bars will kill your wrists after 140 miles.

my advice - i'm very new to doing long distances, the london-oxford ride was my first, at 70 miles. that was ok, if a little hard on the arse, definitely helps if you're doing it with lots of people etc.

recently i cycled to portsmouth on my own, a route of 45 miles. the wind was coming off the coast at me the whole way, and that 40 miles felt like 80. plus, being on your own, it starts to get a bit bleak.
Norfolk could also be windy, it often is, being so flat.

I would think that after 50-60 miles, you will probably be a bit fucked off with it, and the idea of doing another 9--100 miles will be too daunting!

+1 to not riding on your own (^comment from nimhbus) ... in a group is way nicer/better/more encouraging, in my very limited experience.

Good luck on what you decide to do. Why not join the Dunwich ride this weekend and see how you feel from there? Loads of riders on that. Won't be too far to a train going your way from there if you've had enough.

+lots not riding it alone.

I've done a few longer cycles, mostly about 80-90miles but one was a double century (200miles) with a friend. We did it for fun (!).

We averaged just under 17mph (12hrs of cycling time) but then we were doing it as a challenge. I'd say that bike fit is incredibly important - mine is not the best and I had various numb bits afterwards. I had a problem with numb toes since I was using SPDs and touring shoes so the cleat was pressing slightly into my foot. I also got bad shoulder ache from just letting my back rest forward on my arms.

Planning a route that goes past several villages with shops is a very good idea so you can refill water bottles and food supplies.

A few useful points.
I used GPS to navigate (much easier).
I broke 3 spokes on my rear wheel - check it before you go, maybe take some spares too.
I couldn't go near sweet food by the end of the cycle.
Padded shorts = essential.
Repair kit = essential.

(If you're interested http://www.jwshale.com/cycling/doublec/doublec.html )

Hope this is useful.

You might be able to do it, but I wouldn't plan on doing anything else for the rest of the week! Your body just won't be prepared for the output you'll be asking it to do, and will find its revenge sooner or later! Why not take the train somewhere near-ish and do a 50 or 70 miler?

Yep. When you get to your destination you will need to eat masses and masses of food. Especially carbs

+1 to "you won't be able to do anything for the rest of the week"

I couldn't walk up the stairs after my cycle...

as said build up to it. having done it on a few occasions geared (and off road more than once) take a few weeks before hand and cycle 60,70,80,90 etc. to reach you goal. if you aclimatise you should not have any problems. i regularly put in +60 miles on a relaxing ride but know that +100 takes alot of extra effort.
everybody is different with how far they can ride straight off you need to find you limit then work on it to extend your stamina.

eat lots of fast burning foods like fruit and glucose whilst riding and build slow burning carbs from pasta in advance of cycling. if your going over the 6 hour limit (which you are) stop and have some proper food dont just depend on sugers.

Looks like a good route.... quite flat where I used to live in Willingham. I take it this wasn't single speed?

No, it wasn't single speed - most of it would have been fine, but there are a few hills at the start/finish that might have made it more difficult - particularly the finish...

+1 to eating lots during the ride.

The most I've ever ridden is 30 miles.

First time I did the route, I didn't take any food, was on my own, and just as I started to get 3-4 miles from my destination I think I bonked. It was not pleasant. When I arrived I then ate a horrific mix of chocolate soya milk and some salad thing from sainsburys really quickly and felt *really* sick. Not something you would want to do on a 140 mile ride!

Now I eat these vegan raisin/nut bar things and they sort me no problem.

What is the six hour limit?

i find nuts and bananas good but really found that the cafine *sp bars that cycle shops helped me with the two distance trips i have done.

sorry. i have a limit at around 6 hours at a reasonable pace on most rides before i really need to eat something proper. other people have different levels.

I rode from North Walsham (just north of Norwich) back to London, and from London to Waxham (about 15 miles north of Yarmouth), both times with luggage. It's pretty flat, once you are out of Essex, there are virtually no hills.

I went Great Dunmow, Sudbury, Rickinghall, Kenninghall and then into Norwich (where you find the steepest hills in Norfolk!). To get to Yarmouth, go out on the old Acle Road to Acle and then you will have to use a trunk road for the last 10 miles.

You don't need GPS, but I would def get Klickfix map-holder (fits on the stem or bars and holds the map.

I am not sure if it is 140 miles - but it did take all day. If you are lucky, you might get a tail-wind, and then it is a very pleasant ride. The route above is really pretty quiet, and although quite flat, still quite scenic. It is eminently fixable, as I said, almost no real gradients, but I would like to do it on a fixed into a head-wind or into bad weather.

+1

If you have never ridden over 100 miles, then I wouldn't try and knock this off casually. As Winston says above, average of 10/12 mph will get you there in around 12 or so riding, without spanking yourself.