Cycling 100km in a day may seem like a huge feat, but for most, it can be a case of mind over matter.
The beauty of cycling a long distance over the course of a whole day is that you can take it relatively easy. There's time to grab a coffee in the morning, a bite for lunch in the afternoon, and still have plenty of time to knock over the 100km before dinner. However, it's still important to plan well and break it down into smaller rides.
If, physically, walking to the mail box has you chasing your breath, you may want to tackle smaller distances to start with. It's always a good idea to know whether your limitations are physical (getting a sore ass), cardio (just slow down a bit if your puffed) or mental (practice some mind over matter).
Our top five tips to get you to 100km:
1. Choose a route that is flat.
Cycling 100km can be challenging enough, so don't let a climb make it any more difficult that it needs to be.
2. Pace yourself.
If you think that pulling over for a coffee and a rest is going to get you through, then it probably will. Cycle at a pace that is comfortable enough for you to hold a conversation and ride at the same time.
3. Check the wind direction.
Cycling all day into a strong head wind makes life a real struggle. Check the weather forecast for wind as much as rain. It can make all the difference.
4. Pretend the train line is your support van.
If you're cycling in suburbia or on one of the many rail trails, find a route that is near a train station. That way, if you've had enough for the day, you can just head to the nearest train station to go home. It's like your own support van!
5. Come ride with Social Cycles
Social Cycles conducts day tours from Melbourne completely free of charge! Social Cycles aims to create awareness for an epic ride around Cambodia in November 2015 and January 2016. These Melbourne based rides are fun days out that allow all sorts of people to build confidence on a bike whilst exploring Melbourne's best rides.
Social Cycles offers free Melbourne based rides building to 100km most Saturdays. To learn more about the free Melbourne rides, check out the Social Cycles Meet Up.
For more information on the Cambodia trip, visit the Social Cycles website.
