Frequently Asked Questions

You rode HOW FAR?
Long-Distance Bike Riding FAQs

When I tell friends about this bicycling club, they are shocked at the distances our members ride. While 40K sounds like an amazing ride to them, it is but a season starter to us. So, are we a club of high end athletes? Far from it.

Here is a brief introduction to long distance bicycling through a series of questions and answers.

1. Why do most people ride distance? There are two common reasons: fitness and the social aspects of the group. The group makes the ride more enjoyable, and helps new riders learn the techniques to successful distance riding. There are techniques that make 40k a short ride, and 100k and up achievable by mid-summer.
2. Why do people ride racing (road) bikes? The answer surprises most who don’t ride long distance – they are more comfortable. The purpose of down-swept handlebars is to provide a variety of hand positions. A properly set up racing bike distributes body weight. About 1/3 is on your butt, 1/3 on your feet and 1/3 on your hands. In a traditional “comfort” bicycle, almost all of the weight is on your butt, which is why it gets sore quickly. The setup on a road bike is different for distance versus racing. Racers crouch over much more to lessen wind resistance, but it is a less comfortable position.
3. My legs tire out so fast, how do you do it? Another critical factor in long distance riding is seat position. On a ride last year, one rider was complaining of a sore back. He looked too far back and I suggested a movement of his seat by about an inch forward. He was amazed at the change and how good his back felt on the next ride. Bike setup is far more complex for distance. What you can get away with riding to the corner store is different from a long ride. Seat height is key, in that if your legs are not extended to their full length, you waste the strongest part of the push. Also, your knees will quickly hurt if the seat is too low. The right seat position for distance is not the right position for mountain biking. A mountain bike seat is much lower so that you can raise out of the seat on bumps. Beginners like to have their seat so low that they can comfortably stand with their feet of the ground when stopped. This is far too low and makes for tough pedaling.
4. How old are members? We have members from teens through their 70’s (you should see them go).
5. Do I need an expensive bike? In our group you will see bicycles that span from several hundred to many thousands of dollars. A proper road bike is built for comfort and more distance for the same effort. Some riders use mountain bikes, but they require more effort, especially the ones with knobby tires and suspensions. Those knobs steal a lot of energy, as do shocks. Mountain wheels and tires are also heavier. Weight saved on the wheels is more significant than on the bike. You have to spin the wheel, not just move it. Narrow seats are more comfortable, as wide seats tent to chafe the inner leg.
6. Do I need special clothes? You do need a CSA-approved helmet. Again, bike clothes are built for comfort. They are designed to breathe, shed perspiration and be seen by car drivers. As 1/3 of your weight is on your hands, riders usually wear bike gloves to prevent blisters. Cycling shorts provide padding for the groin while bike shoes make pedaling easier by not flexing. The picture above was shot at an outing when we had just gotten our order of club jerseys. We did look good in that picture, but usually you’ll see members in a variety of outfits.
7. Will I get left behind? We try to never lose a rider, especially a beginner. (We do, however, have a few advanced riders who are famous for getting lost.) I saw first hand the value of riding with a group last year when my bike broke down. It was not something that could be repaired on the side of the road. Ross rode back and got my car. We loaded on my bike, then caught up to the group, where he unloaded his bike and continued. This was especially nice for me, as I was 15 km from nowhere. It would have been a long walk back, made worse by my racing shoes. The tour director of a ride is responsible for making sure no one is left behind. Usually a rider will stay with the new people and coach them on technique as well as morale.
8. Does everyone ride in one group? No, usually there are two or three groups depending on rider speed. The front group likes to move out quickly. They will sometimes add an extra distance leg to make the ride more challenging. Long rides have short-cuts so that the weaker riders can shorten the distance. Sometimes it is just not your day, and a lesser ride is better. We regroup at breaks and lunch.
9. Where do we eat on the rides? Food is a big part of a ride. On each route, we try to plan for a nice lunch. Some people bring their own food; some buy food where we stop. Every rider is responsible for his/her own drink and snacks. The exception is the century ride in July.
10. What is a “Century Ride”? This is the key ride of the season. A metric century is 100 km in one day, an English century – 100 miles. Last year nine people did the 100 miles, eight did 120 km and 5 did 100 km. Support vehicles are deployed for the century ride to provide snacks and help stranded riders who can’t finish the ride or have mechanical difficulties.
11. When should I start training? The season is designed to progress from easy in the spring, to the July Century ride, back to easy in the fall. The best time to start is from the early season rides. It is nicer to make the beginner mistakes on a short early-season ride, not one of the tougher mid-season rides. The shorter rides also give you a chance to try out new equipment and clothes.
12. How do I start? Come out to a ride.