Questions on Long Distance Racing

From: Riding 100 Mile TT

Question: will you stop for a comfort break? or can you last for 4 hours?

It all depends on how much you drink! I remember one old guy telling me he did a 12 hour time trial without getting off his bike once! I don’t advise that as you risk dehydration. Generally, four hours is fine, but, it’s important to take on enough water to remain hydrated, but not too much you will need to be finding a hedge every hour.

One thing I won’t be doing is the ‘Tour de France style answer call of nature whilst on the move‘ routine. Amongst other good reasons:

• it wouldn’t be appreciated by a non-cycling public, who struggle enough to cope with cyclists on road, let alone
• I’d probably fall off whilst attempting manoeuvre, with intendant embarrassment.
• I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a CTT rule that could be given you a ban more strict than if you taken as much dope as Floyd Landis.

Question: How do you pick up more food and drink on the longer TT’s? Do you carry enough on the bike and make it last or are there feed stations on the way?

In a 100 mile race, you can need up to 3 – 5 bottles depending on the heat. If it it is moderate temperature you might need 2-3. Often time trial bikes only have room for one bottle cage. It also depends how long you take. If you do 100 miles in 5.00+ it’s in some ways much harder than doing it sub 4.

Some riders take a camelback and carry all water on body. I don’t like this as I find the weight off putting.

You can get a helper to give you waterbottles from a layby. These saves having to stop and get off the bike.

If you only need to stop once, you could just leave bottles by the side of the road, though if you do – don’t leave at the bottom of a 40mph hill, like I did.

Racing on Tubs

A while back someone asked a question about ‘tubs’. Tubs is the shorthand for Tubular tyres. They are a tyre with inner tube stitched in. It doesn’t need clincher rims, but is harder to mend.