How To Ride Ultra Distance - Beginner Ultra Endurance Cycling Tips For Your First Ultra Ride! Part 2

[@23Gears]

I have an extra tip. I rode a 250km motion race in Northern Denmark. Onenof the aid statuons served lasagne which was delicious after 120km of sweet stuff. I ate waaay too much and spent the next couple of hours really struggling - wanted to get off and throw my bike in the ditch! 😆 So the tip is, dont overeat as your stomach will steal energy from the rest of your body while trying to digest the stodge. Small and regular food intake is the way.

[@theroadprovides]

That is very true the “watt blocker” that said I like it sometimes as once the hard part passes I can go pretty hard, but does slow you down for a bit

[@blaze1148]

Andy - one tip I really recommend is getting _Photo Chromatic_ glasses which change the tint depending on the light levels....fantastic if cycling on bright days then into the shadows / night.

[@theroadprovides]

good call, my oakleys have that, I like that it highlights the oil patches on the roads too

[@n22pdf]

@@theroadprovides Yes I have these in my Jawbreakers excellent recommendation :) Pete

[@LIFE_ToBeContinued]

Thanks Andy. This time next week I take on the Tuscany Trail, 475km with over 6,000m elevation and my aim is to go as long as I can. We'll see! So this ride is inspirational to me. Thank you.

[@theroadprovides]

That sounds like an awesome ride, let us know how it goes :)

[@WPKSC]

Another great video Andy with some great tips. Can’t agree more on the Pacing one, that’s one thing I’ve learned after years of burning matches really quickly then bonking 😀. And the next one, Enjoy the Ride 😊, if you don’t enjoy it you either won’t get through it or will hate doing it again. Look forward to the next video 👍

[@theroadprovides]

Thanks buddy :)

[@irondistance4313]

I will remember not to chase the avg pace. Well said, the coarse will roll and so long as I fuel and pace my self in zone 2 i will finish

[@theroadprovides]

That’s what I tend to do, didn’t go so well on the TCR but that’s more an injury prevention issue of mine I think

[@HikingFeral]

I am pretty new to cycling. I have got to 7 miles a day every day. I am 37 and had not ridden a bike from 12-37 years old. My goal is Worksop to York - 75 miles. I will keep increasing my mileage slowly and watching awesome videos like this one. Thanks so much for all this free information! Nothing beats the feeling of cycling down a hill after ages of climbing.

[@theroadprovides]

That’s great to hear mate welcome aboard 😁

[@thomasharriso5570]

Andy that was brilliant but of video with part 1 and 2. I've got the desire to do some ultra. And all your videos will be watched avidly! Cheers tom

[@theroadprovides]

Cheers for watching buddy get stuck in :)

[@sjjw43]

3 weeks out from a 200 mile event & most of the tips I've discovered (or I'd hoped I had), you have boosted my confidence considerably. Importantly I'm just concerned about stuff out of my control, weather, mechanicals, cars! THANK YOU

[@blaze1148]

....are you doing CTS ?

[@theroadprovides]

The unexpected is exciting, not being run over though! You’ll be all good I’m sure buddy 😁

[@sjjw43]

@blaze1148 No it a Norfolk Cycling Events Round Norfolk Epic, circumnavigating the county which is 200 miles

[@LeeWright]

If anyones still watching.... Andy, mate, we watch the lot 😂👌I have loved both of these videos, great content Andy.

[@theroadprovides]

cheers as always you legend :)

[@romaninsh]

My tip from my long rides - bring ways to entertain yourself - audiobooks or music. Pick a good saddle, have a plan in case of rain, eat soup in a pub, buy sugary drinks, stretch and go steady on the climbs.

[@theroadprovides]

Thanks mate, the rain point is fairly poignant right now too

[@WheelersAtLarge]

Well done Andy, love some of those roads. Useful info 👍

[@BLuRZzHDGaming]

Hey Andy watched this video and rid 140km with 3000m elevation, longest and highest I’ve ever done. Cheers!

[@theroadprovides]

Thanks for letting me know mate I hope you had an awesome ride??

[@jeffs5519]

Yes, adventure is a big part of epic rides like this. You hit on it.

[@alistairmacfadyen9365]

You are one hell of an athlete, I will be happy once I do my first century. Taking up Audax riding and can’t wait too get started, you are very inspirational.

[@theroadprovides]

Thankyou mate! But honestly anyone can learn this stuff 😁

[@markblackman1109]

Amazing ride and the tips are golden. Many thanks.

[@theroadprovides]

Thankyou bud, hope they’re useful for you 😁

[@NeilSmith-us9lm]

Another inspirational, informative video Andy.....keep em coming and stay safe

[@theroadprovides]

Same to you mate

[@johnmiller7427]

Great narrative and camera work,well done Andy

[@theroadprovides]

Thankyou mate 😁

[@martinevans1256]

Absolutely amazing ride

[@theroadprovides]

Thanks mate 😁

[@hughgrainger3766]

Lots of super-positivity - thanks Andy. Last day of the Rebellion Way tomorrow.

[@theroadprovides]

Ah nice, hopefully that was a good ride mate

[@kogerken]

Andy, enjoyed Part 2 as uncharted as the first. Thanks for the effort in making this. I’ve always regarded getting my food right as the hardest part of long distance cycling. Thanks for the tips and I’m looking forward to other videos.

[@theroadprovides]

Thanks mate 😁

[@ShawnIsBatman]

A great ride and awesome tips and advise! Thanks Andy!

[@theroadprovides]

Thankyou buddy hope you’re all good 😁

[@jamestoday2239]

Shit the bed! I couldn't ride that far but nice to watch, and get inspiration for when I'm not sick and can get out and do some long rides (by my standards) they are always the most memorable. Cheers

[@theroadprovides]

Get well soon my friend hopefully you can get out soon 👍

[@chasc301]

Great video Andy, rode my double with a far more experienced rider and it was interesting how our highs and lows were never in sync! Made for good company and lots of laughs. My ride HR ave was 134bpm and like you my Wahoo told me I burnt 11k kcal (which I find hard to believe). I plan a solo one at max daylight hours so not long now…cheers again. Some really good camera work too.

[@theroadprovides]

thanks mate I'm sure the burn was probably right :)

[@alicat749]

Thanks for the tips. I've been training for a 130mile event for 6 months. The longest ride so far is 100 and I suffered so those tips will help. Looking forward to more content.

[@theroadprovides]

Ah cool I hope they help you buddy 😁

[@Jaqaroo]

That was a great ride Andy! I liked the tips about pacing and keeping it fun - I try to make every ride an adventure, even doing the same regular routes. Surprising, although perhaps not, you burnt 11,500 calories, but only took in about 4,000, even after all those bars and drinks. Obviously important to keep eating, especially on those long rides. That bike delivery guy right at the end - possible side gig...! Ultra Delivery...😅

[@theroadprovides]

Yeah I did thank him for the tow too, he was going pretty quick 🤣

[@paths.to.ponder]

Nice video. Tip 9 was golden..the sine wave. That was a great piece of insight. Never realized it before. Thank you for sharing. How do you make the rides look like a video game with all the info on the screen?

[@theroadprovides]

Thanks yeah that’s an important one for me. Those overlays are from several free online tools I found but various

[@laurentaudibert9632]

Cracking video Andy! Those tips will pay dividends no end!

[@n22pdf]

Great vid Andy.. well done on the ride and some great tips I'll be taking away with me :) Pete

[@theroadprovides]

Hope they help you out buddy

[@mikeowen000]

Very helpful pair of videos, thanks! I’m training for an Everesting, and definitely got some great tips here.

[@andybassett4011]

Hi. From one Andy to another, ,(This one keen to up his mileage) the tips were great and well considered and its nice to see someone using MPH rather than KM's. But more than that considering its just watching a guy on a bike you're videography and general commentry made it really enjoyable and a good watch. You got yourself a new subscriber 👍🏼

[@theroadprovides]

Thanks Andy mate 😁

[@ws5246]

Thanks Andy. I've signed up for Chase the Sun (South), 205 miles on 22nd June. This series has been very helpful in alleviating some of my nerves, I have never ridden more than 112 miles in one go before. I think I just need to stay steady, eat well and enjoy the challenge. I have done a number of 80-100km rides and plan to get up to 120 miles in training before the event. I understand that there is no need to ride 200 miles before the day but suspect knowing what more than 100 miles on the bike feels like might be wise. Any thoughts on this? I have done one Ironman so I know what a 12-13 hr day feels like, that was about 8 years ago though. Thanks for the great content. 👍

[@theroadprovides]

Hey, If it were me I'd just want to build up gradually and hit about 150 miles a few weeks before the event, that's what I'd do anyway for a first ultra distance type thing 👍

[@TheMrAPRise]

Another great video, and very well considered words...very helpful and encouraging.

[@theroadprovides]

Thanks for sticking around buddy 😁

[@Gazmaz]

Well I’ve just subscribed to you channel after finding this set of videos. Loved them both, I’m relatively new to ‘proper’ cycling (🤣) only started out on a secondhand bike roughly 2 years ago, joined a club July 23, and last week did with a group ride the longest and most elevation I’d done so far, we went up Long Mynd did 66 miles and 6000 feet of climb. I was shattered by the end but loved every minute, and so many of the tips you gave I could relate to on the ride, for newbies like me I’d add that the help I got from the others on that ride was also really useful. I’d love to do more longer ride and have admiration for all you guys (& gals) that go out and do these long rides. I think I would have struggled to motivate myself to do a long ride without first being in a long group ride. But this has inspired me to get out and try and do a longer ride myself. As for the avg speed tip I need to get away from that, I keep comparing myself to the others around me, but I’ll never get to their standard starting at 59 years doesn’t help lolz. Great videos keep them coming.

[@theroadprovides]

Go give it a go mate it’s very rewarding! The avg speed trap is so common, it’s literally the worst metric to train from and almost 100% ego based so I avoid at all costs 😁

[@robrobinson420]

Amazing riding. I do shorter rides more now im older and life in way i get tired ill alot . But did 41 and 38 rides past Sundays and feel good im trying to eat on bike more . Good videos 🚴

[@theroadprovides]

Thankyou mate 😁

[@christopherhood9241]

Super set of videos Andy. Point 10 is so so important - certainly helps me when the low's kick in. Wishing you all the best of luck with APN24, I start Wednesday looking forwards to the adventure :)

[@theroadprovides]

Have a good ride mate, I just finished my route, it's gonna be epic! See you at the finishers meal then :)

[@theroadprovides]

Everything ok bud? I saw your dot return to base?

[@christopherhood9241]

@@theroadprovides hi Andy - many thanks for reaching out. Scratched late last night so returned everything to Sheffield & making my way home. Wishing you all the best with your ride.

[@A_AAA232]

fantastic ride Andy, really strong if a bit unhinged taking on cheddar gorge for fun on that 200miler! Some nice filming over the two videos and useful tips, cheers....you put in all the prep and training so try and enjoy the ride - I defo know that feeling on a long ride when all I'm thinking about is getting back home for pizza :) I agree, average speed means less when it's all about the distance and the challenge of taking on the ride - cheers

[@theroadprovides]

thanks mate, I need to factor that sort of thing in though, my race is next week and I have great dun fell to climb after about many hours straight of riding 🫠

[@A_AAA232]

@@theroadprovides good luck with that one Andy......make sure there's a pizza (or two) for when you get back home!! -yep, I guess when it's a race then ave speed does come into play :) but for 'normal' rides, just settle into it and soak up the surroundings rather than pace it hard all the way! have a good one

[@theroadprovides]

I will still be ignoring avg speed 🤣 heart rate, fuel and just keep pedalling

[@Thomas-y3w]

nice one, really interesting to see how you put it all together. that was a stonking amount of belvita, never considered them for a bike ride before, makes sense though. I do max 100k/1200m elevation on my big loop, might see what other targets I can set. thanks for the video

[@theroadprovides]

Lots of elevation then 💪 the belvita is hard work I do need to mix it up I think

[@kristinlow1205]

These are awesome videos, cheers!

[@theroadprovides]

thanks for watching :)

[@gregwhiteuk]

That was some ride, great video and thanks for all the tips it’s appreciated. Any chance you can share which camera and mounts also which telemetry overlay software you used? #rideon

[@theroadprovides]

Thanks, yeah sure, dji osmo action 4, grille mount and garmin virb software 👍

[@JoanneHastie]

How do you pace your caffeine intake? I am training for a 24 hour mountain bike race. Somewhere I read for that distance not to take caffeine in order to avoid the crash. So my long rides have not had any caffeine. So watching you drink a Coke looked soooo good!!! My training often peters out at the 5 hour mark due to boredom, I wonder if a well timed caffeine break would help finish an 8 hour ride. Since I am looping mountain bike trails I can cut out anytime… I guess the advantage of training on the road is you have to get home.

[@theroadprovides]

I’m finding those things change quite often. I met someone at my last race that had an interesting strategy of cutting it out in the lead up then using it at points in his race. I might try that next.

[@thedoginside]

Have enjoyed these vids Andy thank you.

[@theroadprovides]

Thanks for watch buddy 😁

[@theroadprovides]

Thanks for watching buddy 😁

[@josephlyne8290]

Enjoyed that one thanks

[@Markhypnosis1]

Great video. Your calorie burn estimate from Whoop is interesting. How does Whoop calculate it? Heart rate? The reason I ask is because when I did a 204 mile ride last summer my calorie burn was just over 8000 calories, and it was calculated using my power meter pedals which is apparently a very accurate way of determining calorie burn. There was only 500 calorie difference between that and the other time I did 204 miles.

[@theroadprovides]

Hey, so it's a bit more complex I guess as whoop is factoring in my basal metabolic rate as well as effort used. Your pedals are measuring the energy to push the pedals, there is also background calorie burn to just breathe and be alive, as in if you didn't leave the couch all day you'd still burn calories to function if you know what I mean

[@cheryllee2202]

Thanks for the tips! Can do a bike check? I'm interested in what bikes are better for long rides 😊

[@theroadprovides]

Hey, I did do one not too long ago, can you see it in my videos?

[@jgogl9791]

Hey Andy, cld watch your vids all day! Did my first century ride last month, and it's the first time I've experienced the proper highs and lows during a ride. Only 30 miles in and I was burning matches big time into a horrible headwind, alone on what I expected to be a really busy popular road (Mallorca west coast), thinking this spells the end of my making it to the end. Had to decide whether to turn back or not, needless to say I am glad I didn't. I know you train hard but find the distances you smash out daunting, do you think that if you're a slight build and never been strong on endurance that you can build it up to that level? I had to go properly slowly to manage 100 miles. Take care.

[@theroadprovides]

You definitely can yes, it just takes building slowly and gradually. I think anyone can do it, you just have to put in the miles but why not 😁

[@theroadprovides]

and thanks for the feedback 😁

[@chrisjoyce5539]

Great video! Great tips! Thanks for all the hard work in producing these videos. Really good information going on there. Some of them like the undercarriage again didn't use but I'm using it now and good luck for all points North. Yeah just starting back on the bike slowly after 4 weeks off with some prostate issues so hopefully that's resolved itself and get back to cycling properly😊

[@theroadprovides]

hopefully all healed then mate, go easy I guess but you don't need me to tell you that. Thanks, APN is one week away!

[@chrisjoyce5539]

@@theroadprovides good luck with the weather

[@theroadprovides]

I might need it 😬

[@jaredmickel5636]

Do you ever use Tylenol or ibuprofen for aches and pains in long rides? Seems like they might help with the “lows”.

[@theroadprovides]

Hey, I don’t no, one time I had raging Achilles pain on a 1600km ride and needed it then, but not generally

[@jaredmickel5636]

Got the double done! Not too bad really. Had “hot foot” for the first time ever. Ate tons and just kept pedaling. Coke is the nectar of the gods. Got some good results from ketones too.

[@phoffen3829]

I would add: don't try too hard to find other people to ride long distances with. The vast majority are either too fast, or too slow. If you are a poor climber, like me, but can do long distances, it can get extremely discouraging. Cycling is not really a team sport anyways.

[@theroadprovides]

I agree with the solo part, I pretty much only ride alone

[@thepatternforms859]

I have a 130 mile race coming up with 14,000ft climbing. Some climbs are 3.6 miles long and others hit 20%. Steep enough to force us out of the saddle and to go hard - so how to pace the event then? Does this mean blowing up is inevitable?

[@theroadprovides]

I can only say what I would do, blowing up is never an option as will not help anything. I would just plan for a slower pace, easier gears and eat a lot more to fuel the climbs. More elevation just means slower pace, once you accept that then you won't blow. Then above 20%, I just walk when the pace isn't much more than walking pace anyway. For me it means less energy used, plus it actually stretches out my calfs and hamstrings. A lot of people are too proud to do that, blast up climbs at walking pace anyway and destroy themselves in the process.

[@thepatternforms859]

@@theroadprovides thanks for the info! I’ll let you know how it goes!

[@thepatternforms859]

Ok I did it! I got 2nd in my age group and 21 over all! Did it on a tri bike (Cervelo p5) with compact up front and an 11-36 back. 14,000ft climb 130 miles! It was brutal but fun. Next year I’ll go back with a proper road bike! Took me 8 hours!

[@p49N]

Thank you for not rambling. Its a differentiator your do better than others

[@br5380]

Got to be honest but my refuelling 'strategy' is stopping at cafes 🙂

[@theroadprovides]

living the dream

[@br5380]

@@theroadprovides Butchers hot Cornish Pasty today, homemade too.

[@romaninsh]

I have done several ultra long multi day rides. Refueling is the biggest challenge. Having good quality food and not spending time waiting for it to be cooked.

[@blaze1148]

Cycling in the dark is no joke....you can't see the potholes until you are literally on them - I hate it !

[@theroadprovides]

Least it keeps us awake though I guess 🤣

[@jeffs5519]

Get a good light mate, can be like riding in daylight.

[@blaze1148]

@@jeffs5519 ...i've got a great light but after 175 miles with 20 to go you can't put it on full beam and so some light is better than no light at all when you have a reachable one.

[@br5380]

137bpm is "mid Zone 2 for me" - how old are you out of interest?

[@theroadprovides]

Hey, I'm 39

[@br5380]

@@theroadprovides get rid of the beard, my Dad always looked at least 10 years older when he'd got his 'winter' growth rather than 'summer' clean-shave 🙂 I'm a lot older than you 'are' and the top of my Z2 is 130bpm, which is why I asked...

[@toddwest9115]

Every video I see it looks like people are going like 30mph.. Are they really going that or is the camera making it seem faster? I hit 22mph on flat perfect asphalt with bike total with me is 285 pounds. And thats me going all out. But i can comfortably average 11-12mph on smooth asphalt according to RideW/GPS. Thats in medium traffic with hazardous shoulders. I can ride all day at 10-11 for about 8 or 9 hours i feel. Is that good or am i pedaling to slow? Because this guy look like hes doing 30-40mph and bikepacking vids look like they moving 20-30. So is my average of 10-15 good? Im on an Trek FX3 Disc. Loaded with panniers and racks.

[@theroadprovides]

Average speed is a distraction from lots of other good metrics, the ride file is in the description, I don’t ride that fast really 👍

[@toddwest9115]

@@theroadprovides you average 16.5 mph. So that makes me feel better. Your light setup helps you fly. Not that im on your level but doing what im doing at 11mph average is pretty decent considering weight... Just did my first bikepack trip this week to test out the setup. Never again will i bring my laptop and charger on my backpack. 3 days later and my back is killing me. No more riding with a damn backpack.