Next week, I am going across Nevada along highway 50. From South Lake Tahoe to Utah, it is going to take me 5 riding days to complete this adventure. I have been listening / watching training road podcast and I couldn’t find any podcast regarding how to prep up for this type of cycling challenge.
What kind of advice are you looking for? You can’t train for such an event in just 5 days.
Is this an organized ride? I’m having a hard time imagining riding highway 50 on a bike. I’ve driven on parts of it and it seems like it would be a dangerous road to ride on. Lots of the stretches have a 70mph speed limit and not a wide shoulder.
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it is organized ride with overnight accommodations at( Fallon, Austin, Eureka, & Ely) . Google “Cycle OATBRAN” for it. This is my second time to do this. My primary concern is lactic acid and cumulative fatigue.
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If you’ve been training for this, I don’t think the mileage should be too bad unless there is extreme or even just ‘bad’ weather.
It may unravel by day three if you don’t fuel and hydrate enough during and especially after the rides each day; don’t sleep well; eat something you had a hunch you shouldn’t, i.e., a new food, warm buffet food; or don’t occasionally vary your rising position or cadence and develop acute sore areas.
Enjoy, looks really nice.
- Find a Delorean
- Go back in time 3-4 months
- Log on to the TrainerRoad forum
- Ask this question
I’m sorry, lol … I’m not trying to be a rude, this just gave me a chuckle. I feel like a jerk, but please just take this in jest 
I sincerely wish you good luck. At this point I’d spend your time resting and buying chamois cream. Nothing you can do on a bike at this point is going to help you 5 days from now. It likely will just make you more tired.
I will accept any punishment from the collective judgment of the forum if this is terrible of me.
Good luck on your ride! Riding bikes is always awesome*
*Unless you can’t sit down. Or have massive chafe. Or you bonk. Other than that, it’s always awesome.
I’m a terrible person 
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With one week before the event, make sure you have a plan to feed yourself. And hydrate.
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As I mentioned before, this is my second time to endure this ride. So I am aware of the effort. When it comes to preparation, I have done my best. Last time, third day was a killer. Fatigue and lactic acid kicked in at 6000 ft of elev. … huh! My question is not only about this ride, but generally trainer road should put more attention to ultra endurance rides, and not only about races. Ultra endurance rides is totally different animal than a single day race and it should be treated as such.
While I agree with you, we are trying to answer what appears to be a question or two in the first post.
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Lactate clearance is trainable but not in a week (for example, see Secret Interval Training: How to Make Lactate Your Best Friend - Roberto Vukovic).
Right now, your best options:
- keep your effort relatively low intensity, so you don’t accumulate lactate, and
- have appropriate gearing on bike, so you don’t have to push too hard when ascending
As you have done same ride, I assume you already know the importance of continuous fueling, hydrating, bike fit comfort, etc
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Make this an eating and hydrating event. No time to train more on the bike.
I wouldn’t change your diet, but maybe bring more of the same fuel that you’re used to carrying on shorter rides. If you normally bring a few gu gels, bring more of them. Bring some extra salt tablets, like Nuun (but don’t go crazy with them either). Pack some extra real food that’s easy to digest, like some plain bagels.
Bring an extra bag or two of gummy bears. These are pretty easy on almost anyone’s stomach.
Good luck!
EDIT - I don’t know what you’re doing for on the bike storage, but this sounds like a case where I’d want a handlebar bag and top tube bag (at the minimum) to carry extra fuel. Just a thought.
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You keep mentioning lactic acid and related fatigue concerns. Can you explain that more?
Are you getting closer to Threshold power and efforts than appropriate for this event type and duration?
I also wonder if this is gearing and cadence related to a degree?
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This is organized ride with regular fueling stations … hwy 50 is waay different than 80. Scenery is beautiful. I live at Ocean level, and on the second day it is a climb from Fallon (at 3,900) to Austin (7,200). Last time, I brought myself a message gun. That helped. This time, on each stop, I’ll do more starching even if I don’t feel any need for it. I found that to be VERY important. Since I know the road and most of steep hills, I’ll take it more slow when ascending. One more interesting info, last time when I came back, without sweat, I crushed 4 PRs, and never reached them again. This time I am at the peak of my FTP, about 30 watts better than last time. This week, I am resting from any bike activities other than washing it and prepping up my travel bag. Too bad, Oatbran “Bike the West” is organizing this ride for the last time. The main fella is retiring. Next year, maybe “Cycle Oregon.” They have good camping concept.
yea, third day can’t be be rested like on the first one. There is no answer to it. Sleeping disturbances at the higher elevation can bite too, and aging too. I am 55+. So, it is going to be painful, sore, perhaps even crumping at moments. But also it winds out all other issues and troubling thoughts from the head too. So, physical tiredness for the mental freshness is a good trade …
If you pace yourself conservatively, eat well and rest (sleep) with no issues, it’ll be fine if each day’s mileage is something you have already experienced. You might also come into form on the last day if you don’t overreach.
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