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Preparation/tips for 50 mile ride

5 min read

Asked by: Gregory Toland

How do I prepare for a 50 mile bike ride?

For a 50 mile ride, you need a substantial breakfast, a couple of gels, bananas and nutrition bars during the ride, plus water/hydration fluid. Commonly, when people run out of steam on long rides, it’s lack of energy to power muscles rather than a lack of fitness and training.

How long should a 50 mile bike ride take?

A good 50 mile time is 03:12:39. This is the average 50 mile time across all ages and genders.

How much water do I need for a 50 mile bike ride?

In those cases, the researchers concluded that cyclists should aim for 0.15-0.20 mL of fluid per minute per kilogram of body weight for rides between one and two hours, and 0.14–0.27 mL of fluid per minute per kilogram of body weight for rides more than two hours.

What should you eat before a 50 mile bike ride?

(Cereal, skim milk, a banana, and a bagel with jam equals about 90 grams of carb.) Many riders find that adding some protein and fat, like scrambled eggs or an omelet, keeps their stomach satisfied longer. Prehydrate. The day before the ride, drink to thirst.

What is bonking in cycling?

Published: August 25, 2022 at 2:00 pm. The bonk is a funny name for a terrible feeling, when suddenly there’s nothing left in the tank, the legs turn to jelly, and getting to the finish or just back home becomes an altogether supreme effort of will. In a race or sportive, bonking certainly means game over.

Is 50 mile bike ride a lot?

No matter how you sugarcoat it, 50 miles is a significant distance and therefore you are going to be riding for a prolonged amount of time. This means you will need to refuel and rehydrate whilst on the bike to ensure you don’t fatigue and hit the dreaded bonk.

What is a 50 mile bike ride called?

The origins of the century ride are obscure, but Dora Rinehart did century rides in Denver, Colorado in the 1890s. The TOSRV began in 1962 with two riders.

What is considered a long bicycle ride?

If you talk to a non-cyclist, 20 miles sounds like a long ride, but for an enthusiastic club member 100 miles might be a long ride. There are cyclists who regularly cycle much greater distances than this (Tour de France stages are often 140 miles or more).

How should I prepare for a bike trip?

It’s also important to consider the appropriate clothing and gear to take on your trip.



11 helpful training tips

  1. Consider your trip grading. …
  2. Get miles on your legs. …
  3. Train consistently. …
  4. Practice climbing hills. …
  5. Be flexible. …
  6. Push yourself. …
  7. Train in a variety of weather conditions. …
  8. Get familiar with handling your bike.

Is Gatorade good for long bike rides?

Yes, Gatorade can be beneficial for cycling, as it offers hydration, carbohydrates, and electrolytes (such as sodium and potassium), all of which are depleted during sports endurance performance [1].

Is caffeine good for cycling?

Caffeine often improves performance



For cycling, studied performance improvements from caffeine include better time on a repeated time trial event or time to exhaustion workout, better focus and lower levels of perceived exertion.

How do you prevent muscle fatigue when cycling?

The best solution is to not rush into things and slow down a little if you feel fatigued. Take a break and then continue with your ride. If the muscle tension becomes severe and does not allow you to ride, all you need to do is pause your ride and stretch the affected muscle.

What to eat to prevent bonking?

Good sources of carbohydrate include sweet potatoes, rice, fresh fruit, vegetables, cereals, dried fruit and oats. The supply of energy from glycogen stores in your body is however limited to just 90 minutes, less if you’re riding very hard, therefore it is important to keep topping up throughout your ride.

Why do I hit a wall in cycling?

In endurance sports such as road cycling and long-distance running, hitting the wall or the bonk is a condition of sudden fatigue and loss of energy which is caused by the depletion of glycogen stores in the liver and muscles.

How do you know if you are overtraining cycling?

Signs of Overtraining

  1. Prolonged muscle tightness, soreness or pain.
  2. Persistent niggles and injuries.
  3. Feeling fatigued – not just after exercise.
  4. Loss of appetite.
  5. Increased perceived effort (PE) – the same workouts feel harder.
  6. Loss of libido.
  7. Disruption in menstrual cycle in women and loss of period.
  8. Irritability.

How do you prepare for a long bike ride?

8 Tips for Long-Distance Cycling

  1. Use your pedalling power wisely. …
  2. Fuel well and often. …
  3. Keep your pre-ride meal carb-heavy and easy to digest. …
  4. Make segments your friend. …
  5. Focus on RPMs and cut yourself some slack. …
  6. Avoid aches and pains with a few simple moves. …
  7. Don’t underestimate the power of the mind.

What should I eat on a long bike ride?

Cycling Nutrition During the Ride

  • Bananas (high in carbs)
  • Trail mix (high in healthy fats, protein, and concentrated carbs)
  • A peanut butter and jelly sandwich (high in protein, carbs, and healthy fats)
  • Cheese cubes (high in protein and healthy fats)


What is a 50 mile bike ride called?

The origins of the century ride are obscure, but Dora Rinehart did century rides in Denver, Colorado in the 1890s. The TOSRV began in 1962 with two riders.

Can I ride 100 miles without training?

Realistically, you do not need to follow a training plan to ride 100 miles. But if you do prefer to follow a more structured approach, it certainly won’t hurt. We’ve even got a handy guide on how to build a training plan here.

What should I do the week before a century ride?

A two-week taper is most appropriate before a century ride. In the first week of your taper, cut your training volume by 40 percent. So, if you rode 200 miles in your final week of hard training, you would ride about 120 miles the next week. Cut back evenly on all your workouts.

How do you eat on a century ride?

While bars and gels can do the trick, it’s tastier and more nutritious to fuel your century ride with real food like peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, bananas, fig bars, Peanut M&M’s, trail mix and other food you like.