Long distance cycling: London-Edinburgh-London training

murray5 · #1 24.09.2008, 00:17

http://www.londonedinburghlondon.co.uk/ :info on this ride can be found under this link.It is indeed quite a challenge but the time limit of just over 4 days should make it an enjoyable experience depending on fitness levels.Commuting to work keeps me ticking over at the moment but will have to sort out some kind of training plan to prepare properly......Working in the nursing profession (shift work)makes it difficult to meet up sponataneously but can certainly plan shifts in advance to meet up for a ride.will keep in touch

ChrisW · #2 24.09.2008, 08:44

murray5 - it is very evil of you to tempt me in this way. Several times I've ridden close to and above 200 kms in a day, but 1400 km in just over 4 days would certainly be an interesting new challenge!

dakman · #3 25.09.2008, 11:06

	Quote:	murray5
	http://www.londonedinburghlondon.co.uk/ :info on this ride can be found under this link.It is indeed quite a challenge but the time limit of just over 4 days should make it an enjoyable experience depending on fitness levels.Commuting to work keeps me ticking over at the moment but will have to sort out some kind of training plan to prepare properly......Working in the nursing profession (shift work)makes it difficult to meet up sponataneously but can certainly plan shifts in advance to meet up for a ride.will keep in touch

Are there any hills to go up or is it all flat?

Longbyt · #4 25.09.2008, 11:16

	Quote:	dakman
	Are there any hills to go up or is it all flat?

Quote from their page:-
Route Profile
The 2009 route will be very similar though slightly less hilly than the 2005 route as we miss some of the Howardian Hills.
A route profile LEL 2009 will be available when the route has been finalised. LEL 2005 Route Profile

Good Luck!

ChrisW · #5 25.09.2008, 11:50

Thanks for the link, Longbyt. The Canonbie to Edinburgh section looks a little wild (sawtooth pattern, but with very small teeth), but apart from that I think I'd call it a flat route if it were in Switzerland

. The biggest climb appears to be about 350m over 15 km - that's what we do on the approach slopes before getting to the real pass roads in Switzerland.

dakman · #6 25.09.2008, 12:07

It does look like an interesting challenge though the probability is that I will be too far west to take part. Maybe in another four years.

SamCole · #7 25.09.2008, 14:22

Well I've now done 10,000km in the last 12 months so i think i will give the London-Edinburgh-London a go,

not sure about the sleeping on the school floors, My feet/snoring may preclude me from such activites, (Chrisw will vouch for that from our ride to Paris.)

but yes I would be up for it will just book a few B&B's instead with showers and things

Sam

ChrisW · #8 25.09.2008, 14:35

S**t, if Sam's doing it then I'm now more than just tempted - now I'm obligated.

Oh boy!

Erm... · #9 25.09.2008, 14:56

I would like to think i could do it but i know better!

Instead I'll put forward Paul, Claude & Mark again.

ChrisW · #10 26.09.2008, 10:35

I was just browsing around the London-Edinburgh-London website and I found this video, very inspiring! [EDIT: The direct video link doesn't seem to work, but you can see it by going to the LEL website, then clicking on "Links", then "LEL 2005 video".]

As well as setting maximum cutoff times to reach the checkpoints by, the organizers also impose a maximum average speed of 30 km/h to encourage people to not take it too seriously and not race too much. The roads they use look pretty good, staying mostly in rural areas. It doesn't actually go into the center of London or Edinburgh - the start/finish is actually just outside the M25 (London's motorway ring-road).

OK, time to get back to work.

addstar1 · #11 26.09.2008, 23:35

First ever post on the EF - yay.
Erm... is right Paul (me), Mark, Claude and quite possibly Gregor (the guys who did the tour du lac) are in for this event. Will start to look at a training plan over winter and beyond.

So of the guys in the Lausanne region...bring it on for some serious miles.

murray5 · #12 27.09.2008, 03:09

hello sam,

i reckon that 10`000Km is more than enough to be well prepared for this event.Ive managed to get through the Swiss marathon(640Km)with just 2500 km under my belt,although5000 km is often the suggested amount..I usually have a limited marathon programm in mind for each year which gives me the incentive to keep training.I start off with the drei-länder giro (175km ,3500hm) towards the end of june-a great marathon with over 3500 competitors.The Stilsferjoch being the main hurdle;followed by the the swiss Marathon at the beginning of july , a very cosy event with on average not more than 300 riders(www.radmarathon.ch).I usually end up with the otztal at the end of august which is not really my speciality being a pure mountain event(and im far from being a lightweight).I reckon that for the London .Edinburgh event the swiss marathon would be great preparation.
I first rode the Trondheim -Oslo event,my first marathon, (540 km) in 1994 in around 28 hours.My german friend who rode with me was constantly reminding me of his 4 hour "vorsprung" that the following year i decided to train seriously (gave up smoking as well) and in 1995 i bettered my time by almost 7 hours ,finishing in around 21 hours-so training does indeed pay off.
Im encouraged to read that several riders are toying with the idea of riding the L-E-L event and if interest is still around i would suggest meeting up early next year to discuss training ,tactics and general logistics of getting there etc. and riding hopefully as a group.
Apart from that ,i will try to get along to a sponatneous ride.Having 7 kids does restrict me somewhat as i have to be at home when my wife is working. Regards Will

#13 27.09.2008, 10:21

	Quote:	addstar1
	So of the guys in the Lausanne region...bring it on for some serious miles.

Sheesh, I can't let the guys have all the fun here. I'd like to start training for this, too.

Although it does seem like an impossibly huge ride, I would have once said that about riding around Lake Geneva (~175 km). This is only about equivalent to riding around the lake twice a day for four days in a row.

Piece of cake, right?

Heather

ChrisW · #14 29.09.2008, 09:37

In case anyone was wondering, these posts have not disappeared - they have just been given their own thread (thanks Nanda). Now we can discuss this to our hearts content all the way through to next July.

We did a couple of good rides this weekend to wear ourselves out, and we're now considering which tandem to buy to do the big event on.

NigerianBusinessman · #15 29.09.2008, 14:03

	Quote:	dakman
	Are there any hills to go up or is it all flat?

i did it in 2001 and assuming the route is similar then, yes its quite flat. the last 600k (assuming you start in the middle) is very easy going.

my time was 100hr15minutes or something. that is slow enough to rest and eat icecreams etc

ChrisW · #16 29.09.2008, 15:46

	Quote:	NigerianBusinessman
	The last 600k (assuming you start in the middle) is very easy going.

Unfortunately, that is not an option this time, everyone now starts and finishes in London.

murray5 · #17 30.09.2008, 01:12

	Quote:	HeatherM
	Sheesh, I can't let the guys have all the fun here. I'd like to start training for this, too. Although it does seem like an impossibly huge ride, I would have once said that about riding around Lake Geneva (~175 km). This is only about equivalent to riding around the lake twice a day for four days in a row. Piece of cake, right? Heather

Hello Heather ,
Yes,the psychological aspect of these long distance rides is obviously essential.I break them up into the refreshment posts and concentrate on getting to the next stop,even its only for 20 mins for a coffee and sandwich or cake as you may be suggested.
I will definitely enter for the ride and concentrate in winter in keeping the the legs turning.I^m certainly not aiming for a record time ,whatever that maybe,but i like to think a 20km average over the whole distance (including sleep)should be possible.
That said my marathon experience is limited to 640 km (swiss marathon) and even sleeping at sargans for the night i usually manage to keep a 20 km average.
My personal preference on longer rides is indeed to take advantage of sleeping arrangements.Ive ridden through the night on several occasions and felt terrible in the morning(terribly cold,concentration goes etc) and for the sake of an hour or two gain on the final time im not sure whether its worth it,especially over 4 days.
I havent looked at the route in detail but i reckon 4 hours sleep per night should be sufficient.
Another motivating factor for me is that we are actually going somewhere..England to Scotland! and not just riding round in circles.
I hope you are still keen to take part and although you live on the other side of Switzerland it would be great to meet up in the not too distance future with other potential competitors (Eg Chris-havent written to him yet but im sure he would oblige).
All the best,will

dakman · #18 30.09.2008, 11:00

	Quote:	murray5
	(Eg Chris-havent written to him yet but im sure he would oblige). All the best,will

I have a sneaking suspicion he probably will too

murray5 · #19 02.10.2008, 01:10

	Quote:	ChrisW
	In case anyone was wondering, these posts have not disappeared - they have just been given their own thread (thanks Nanda). Now we can discuss this to our hearts content all the way through to next July. We did a couple of good rides this weekend to wear ourselves out, and we're now considering which tandem to buy to do the big event on.

Was talking to the owner of the bike shop today where i had my bike serviced.Apparently he is an ex -profi "Köbii Marquart" and still rides at an eltie level in tandem mountain bike marathons(didn`t know there was such a thing).
He specialises in tandems and is certainly worth a call if you want advice in this area.www.marquart-radsport.ch.

murray5 · #20 26.05.2009, 14:02

Have just received confirmation of a start place for this years L-E-L.Just what i needed to give me the incentive to start putting some miles in.Is anyone from the EF going along.?

Will be at the Alpine Brevet if the LEL doesnt leave me to drained.