Can I ride this year’s Ride London 100 faster than in 2013? With your help, perhaps I can

I’m not really the type of cyclist to have goals for the season, or even, frankly, a “season.” The bulk of my cycling is getting about or recreational, and while I do take part in organised events, these tend to be sportives rather than races – you end up with an officially recorded time but that’s not the main motivation.

But this year, with slight misgivings and fully reserving the right to change my mind, I’m setting myself a target: to complete the 100 miles of August’s Ride London event in less than five hours. And I was hoping for your assistance.

For those who don’t know it, Ride London debuted last year as, the organisers hoped, a two-wheeled version of the London Marathon, with about 16,000 riders pedaling out of and back into the capital on closed roads a day after a shorter, family-oriented ride.

I was one of the participants, and frankly surprised the hell out of myself by completing the distance in five hours 20 minutes. Speed had never been a particular objective that day. I just got caught up in the excitement.

Lots of things went well. It was dry and sunny, but not overly hot, and with minimal wind. I didn’t suffer a puncture or any other mechanical mishaps. And I pushed myself, it felt in retrospect, about as hard as I could. That got me thinking: what would it take to beat that time, 12 months older and that bit more creaking and wheezy?

I’ve put a few of thoughts below, and I’d welcome your ideas on how I could productively use the next five months.

More/better training

This is the obvious answer, and the logical focus of my attention, but of course it’s never that simple. In the past I’ve tended to just go out for lots of rides, but time constraints – busy job, small child, the usual – means I must be more focused. I already have a turbo trainer, and will be hooking up a bike to it for various high-intensity sessions, but I’m still keen to hear tips on using my limited time efficiently.

Expert advice

As a follow-on for training, a few years ago when I was preparing for a multi-day mountain bike event I bought a cycle training manual and found it a bit impenetrable, over-keen for me to fill out ever more complex charts of my progress. This time I’ve read the hugely engaging if slightly more eccentric training book by Graeme Obree, but I’m still not that much the wiser. Any other tips?

A better bike/other equipment

This is somewhat theoretical – I’ve not got a spare pile of cash lying around – but it interests me nonetheless. My road bike is good but a bit elderly, a slightly aged and curious Klein Carbon Q, looking a bit like this. It’s not the lightest or quickest bike out there, but I’m very used to it and it’s comfortable for long rides. Would any gains from a (theoretical) new bike be potentially undone by disadvantages such as unfamiliarity or discomfort?

Also, is anything else worth upgrading? My road shoes are a bit elderly and have stretched a touch – could this reduce the transfer of power in a sufficiently meaningful way to justify replacements? What else could give me an instant boost: better wheels or tyres?



A bike fit

Obree’s book is vocal about the importance of getting a bike of the right size and setup (he’s especially keen on crank length). Like most riders, I imagine, all of this has been done purely on past experience and feel. How much difference, in theory, might some expert advice on this achieve?

A cycle computer of some sort

I used to use such a gadget but when it expired a couple of years ago I felt unexpectedly liberated from the tyranny of the tiny digits measuring my speed and slow-changing distance, preferring to concentrate instead on how much more my body felt it could push. Am I missing something? Note: I know professionals swear by power meters, but they tend to be absurdly expensive, even by posh cycling standards.

Diet

I’m reasonably confident on this one, and last year my usual natural/processed race day dietary double act – huge bowl of oats, seeds and nuts first thing, then a succession of chemical-laden gels, bars and carbohydrate drink mix when on the bike – worked pretty well. But again, any tips welcome.