200miles on the Hottest day of the year

Statistics

Distance: 200miles

Average speed: 17.6mph

Elevation: 9500ft

The day was predicted to be a lovely day, in fact, the hottest day of 2020. Consequently, Sam and I planned a 100mile road ride where we could take our summer road bikes out for a lovely spin to places we had never ridden before. 

The ride was going smoothly, but the temperature increasing, fortunately, we found a church to refill our water bottles after just 3hours; top tip: it is a great bailout for hydration 

The heat was really affecting to Sam, he struggled in the last few miles to the halfway point of Café Ventoux. I’m not a person for cafes, but this is apparently the cafes of all cafes and if you’re a cyclist you apparently should go to it according to many fellow friends. Thus, I did and it was lovely, lots of homemade cakes, milkshakes and bike storage for hundreds of bikes. the route was nice to keep it fresh as I never ride that way and a 100mile ride means you can cover some significant distance away from your local area.

After the café stop, we had a few stops to grind back home; Sam was counting the distance down probably metre by metre as opposed to a mile by mile basis. I was worried for him, he was riding the small ring (a gear designed for significant hills) for a couple of miles on the flat.  But once we got to a shop and brought significant litres of fizzy drinks, it brought some life back into his legs which left an uneventful remainder to finish his 30mile ride; it was amazing how effective some sugar changed the performance of his body.

I offered 150miles to him as the weather was so beautiful; however, he politely declined, which I don’t blame him after his midday bonking. I quickly stopped off back home to refuel with 2 eggs, refill water bottles (6litres drank so far) and stockpile with lots of jelly babies as well as fitting my lights in case I went for a 200-mile grind.

To round up to 150 miles I did a Sutton on the hill loop (a favourite local route of Mine), I rang Jo at Duffield and ask for the support of hydration and food to push onto 200 miles. I quickly rode to Rowsley where I met her for some crisps and water; an absolute saviour as your metabolism seems to be through the roof after a long distance. then for the remainder of the route, I went back along the a6, a loop around Ripley while Jo followed with magical food stops of McDonald's, cold water and coke; it was a delight,  the heat was still 22degrees at 9pm and this was a huge shock to the body as I have never ridden in these temperatures for a long distance; I have never been abroad so it was a totally new concept for my body to cope with.

All in all, the first 100 miles with Sam, we averaged 16.9mph and then over 17mph for my final solo 100 miles. I rode in the big ring (50tooth) for the entire ride and felt I remained to have power on the hills. This is promising news for my Everest challenge that is in 4 weeks’ time

Nutrition

1st 100miles 20 jelly babies, electrolytes in drink, milkshake and a sausage roll at Cafe Ventoux

Second 100: tailwind carb drink, couple of packs of crisps, cocktails sausages, chicken nuggets and chips, water and coke. It was much more nutritional once Jo was there to force it down me.