Video: How to ride a 100-miler

I have done a couple of 100 miles, 15mph for the first 25 miles, then just go with whatever feels comfy.... you know what made it for me, I smiled the whole way, most fun ever, keep waterbottles topped up, eat regular, dress properly the pros don't dress like they do because they look cool. you know your number two's schedule make sure it's out of the way, protein the week leading up, and hi carbs 2 days before.

Have fun

I've done the Fred Whitton 3 times and several solo 100's, my advice is:

1. Take a swig very 15 -20 minutes, I make up my own drink with honey and a pinch of salt flavoured with dilute orange juice. The honey keep me going for miles. I also take a good drink at each food stop. Solo rides I use a 3 litre cammel back.

2. I eat bananas and cerial bars, the geobars from the Co-op are very nice, but any of the healthy ones will do the trick Nutragrain are very easy to get down. I also take 2 or 3 gells for emergency boosts.

3. Butter up your gentlemans equipment, I use Savlon it really works for me.

4. Pace yourself, don't get into the mad dash at the start, be selfish and ride your own pace. Don't stop for too long at feed stations, 5 minutes is enough or you'll stiffen up YUK!

5. Che k your bike the week before, and go test ride it to check everything is adjusted and works! Also wear clothes your used to, specialy shorts, unexpected rubbing in the wrong place after 60 - 70 miles...... disaster.

6. Keep smiling and enjoy it, even the painful hills you'll feel fantastic at the end...... I do

If you're a baldy like me don't forget sunblock on the head. Did forget a couple of years back on a charity ride and ended up looking like Tony the tiger.

If you're not used to eating bike foods for 100 miles / 5-7 hours, then take something savoury with you in addition to the normal bars and gels. Even if you eat a lot of the sugary stuff, you stomach could well end up in rebellion.
Do you very best to have a good poo before you set off, as difficult as that is at 4am. Portaloo poo will require much queuing and horror.

Smile and wave and enjoy it, there should be loads of people lining the route. I cannot wait.

Remember it's a game of two halves - the first 80 and the last 20.

Let gravity be your friend and rest on the downhills rather than hammering it.

Drink every 15 minutes whatever and eat at every opportunity.

Go commando - boxers do rub after a while.

Well, I rode the route back in April so I could see what I'm in for on Sunday. Having never done more than about 60 miles before, it was not too bad. I got through three bottles; I should have drunk more, but it wasn't too hot back then, four brioche + apricot jam and a caffeine gel I downed a few miles before Leigh Hill.

Of course I could have done without the four punctures I had due to all the pot holes on the s**t London roads - the first before I even got to Piccadilly. I also got lost a few times trying to follow the route on my Garmin, but that will not be a problem on Sunday.

I'm hoping to be much faster on Sunday than I was back in April, but then again, there weren't 20,000 other people clogging up the road then.

Good luck to everyone else who'll be there too.

JK

Sunblock even if it aint sunny- dont forget the tops/backs of your ears !!
first 30mins take it easy and warm up. All the twats that go off at 25mph at the gun will be dead after 1hr and you will pass them all. Go your pace not someone elses. And chammy cream your ar*se will thank you for ever for it.....

Survival tip - Stay well away from that guy who likes to ride no-handed in a bunch.

Take two bottles, not one. If you don't have two bottle cages on your bike, buy one and fit it.

Supposedly you should have 500ml an hour but it depends how hot it is and how much you sweat. If you have two 750ml bottles you'll be absolutely fine just drinking as you need and filling up at the feed stations.

Bananas are good but they're hard to unwrap on the bike. If you're planning on eating and riding then maybe have a banana at the start and one at each feed station. I'd go for cereal bars like Jordans Frusli or Dorset Cereal bars. It's all personal though. Some things I can't stomach and others I can eat for days.

Oh god this is so going to be me. Hungry and Thirsty, worried if I drink I will have to stop and pee. Hope there are some nice leafy spots in Surrey as the Hubs are quite far apart.

Any estimates on what fluid intake should be/how many refills if I have a 750ml water bottle then I can target water stations?

My personal tip: cut out the route profile out of your magazine, mark the water station positions then sticky tape it down your top tube. Then you know you just have to get up Box Hill to get to the next stop.

The furthest I have ever done is 100km not miles, need to pace myself. See ya there.

Take two bananas, like the guy in the photo.

Unlike the guy in the photo, separate them before putting them in your jersey. Schoolboy error.

went out and did 135miles solo a few weeks back, longest before was 80miles, only comments, ride within yourself, eat and drink.
It isn't that hard, more a head issue than a body issue if you have a reasonable level of fitness

hmmm, the link seems to have broken....

Don't ride past the first feed stop in order stay with a group of club cyclists who you are already struggling to keep up with.