6 Top Tips for your first long ride
Do you have a long ride coming up? It may be an event, a personal challenge like your first 100 or a long group ride taking you out of your comfort zone. Here are some top tips to consider before you tackle it so you can focus on having fun and enjoying the experience.
Tip #1 – Dress properly, be prepared
Long rides = long time in the saddle so it’s not unreasonable to expect the weather to change during your ride. Before you go check the most up to date weather forecast for where you will be riding and take appropriate clothing. In hilly or mountaineous areas the weather can be even more changeable very quickly. Hot, cold, wet, dry. Layer up and always take something to deal with wet conditions.
Additionally, focus on your contact points. Wear padded gloves to prevent your hands getting sore and fatigued. Always wear a decent pair of cycling shorts or inner with a padded chamois. Cream may be a good idea to prevent chafing from sweat if it’s a hot day and a tight fit will reduce the risk of chafing too.
Tip #2 – Keep eating
Fueling for a long ride isn’t just about how big a pre-ride breakfast you can consume, you will need to eat during the ride too. Gels and bars are fine but test them on other rides before your big one first so you know your stomach can cope with them. It’s a good idea to plan stops on your ride so you can eat a proper meal and take on some hydration too. Your gels and bars can fill the gaps between stops.
Remember, no matter how much you eat and drink, your energy levels will decrease. Constant snacking and drinking will help reduce how quickly they deplete and will get you through the ride better.
Tip #3 – Check your bike
Don’t let your bike let you down on the ride. A simple pre-ride clean and mechanical check will remove any worry about the bike on the day so you can focus on yourself and enjoying the experience. Problems can be fixed in time for your ride.
Further Reading
Tip #4 – Pack the right kit, know how to use it
Execution of a long ride, even if things go wrong like a puncture, rely on good preparation and knowing what to do. Make sure you have spares, money, tools and a pump. These should be essentials you take on any ride but equally important is knowing how to use them. Can you remove a tyre and replace a tube? Do you know how to use your multi-tool? Practice, ask friends, watch videos. There are plenty of sources of information to help you learn what to do. And remember, don’t feel stupid, all riders have to start somewhere and it’s a good life-skill to have not just for you but for other newbies to impart your knowledge to too.
Tip #5 – Just keep Pedalling
A long ride is always a physical test but it can be a mental game too. It’s inevitable things will get tough at some point. Low energy or a big steep hill to psyche you out. When you are out of your comfort zone it’s easy to throw the towel in and give up. My advice is if you feel like this, just stop, take a breather, have a bite to eat and drink and in a few minutes the feelings of failure will pass and you’ll be ready to go again. Personally, I break my long rides up into chunks or sections. Get to the top of the next climb. Complete 10 miles. All these little wins all add up to completing your bigger goal. And the best tip I can give you is just keep telling yourself to ‘..just keep pedalling’. Speed doesn’t matter as long as you keep moving, the end is always coming.
Tip #6 – Learn for next time
And when you do complete your long ride, review what worked and what didn’t. Did you eat and drink enough? Were you dressed appropriately? Answering these questions and making some changes for future long rides will give you confidence and make the experience a whole lot more enjoyable next time round.
Happy Riding!
