PTW

Hi, guys,
i thought, i would come direct to people who would know what they ae talking about.

I am hoping to do a bike ride to raise money for my son's rugby team, anyway, i thought i would like to do a bike ride, but this is the crux...
i don't want to do it by half's 2 say the least,
i want to rie from Southend on Sea Essex, to Port talbot, a total of approx 280 miles,
can you guys give me a rough idea what would be realistic to cycle in anyone day, without killing myself,
I am not a pro cycler, just a run the mill guy who likes to cycle, so any advice would be most grateful, at this planning stage, to make sure i don't set myself unrealistic goals
i would be most greatful if someone could give me a little advice, because i believe a little advice goes a long way.....

many thanks chris jones

Chris
There are loads of books which will tell you all you need to know about long distance riding but
you would be most welcome to attend the club night in Taibach where you could use the experience of those learned oldies who have done many long distance rides and lived to tell the tale
taibach community centre . Every Friday 7.30

Hi Chris,
There's a few things you need to consider. Are you going supported or unsupported, if it's the latter you'll need to be training with loaded panniers. how long have you been cycling and what sort of weekly milage are you averaging.If it's a supported ride, 60-80 miles a day would be roughly what your aiming for, with a load 50-60. several club members have done a few tours over the past few years including the E2E twice. an average milage of 100 miles a day, but don't forget these boys and girls have been cycling as a pass time and competetively for many years. Don't let that put you off, but, you'll need to be doing about 3 or 4, 30 mile rides during the week and a good 60-70 mile ride on the w/end. In saying that if you've got a month to complete the ride you could do 10 miles a day. The daily milage I mentioned was based on a four day tour. As Anthony said above, call over to the clubroom of a Friday or attend the Ramblers ride on a Sunday, it'll give you an idea of your fitness levels. the ramblers ride goes along at a nice pace, not quite touring pace, but not as quick as the club ride, but as I say, it'll give you an idea. When are you doing this charity ride?. If you're doing it this time of year, you'll be riding into a headwind all the way. . Hope that helps and hope to see you out on a ride sometime.

Agree with the above and, without knowing you or what preparatory time you've got, I'd go for 3-4 days to make it enough of a challenge.

Probably my most enjoyable solo ride was a three-day tour to visit to my Mother who was then living in Middlesbrough in the North East. It involved three full days of about 100 miles per day (Port Talbot to Church Stretton - Church Stretton to Preston - Preston to Middlesbrough) and I got as much fun from planning it all out (what to carry, route, guest houses, etc) as I did from riding it.

Good luck with it mate and just stretch yourself enough to make it suitably heroic and epic!

There you go, Chris!. take a leaf out of Alf's book( Paris-Brest-Paris, 85 hrs, if I ain't mistaken) and do the ride in one stint, probably looking at between 20- 25 hrs, that would really impress any would be sponsors.