
So, you’re looking to bike till your bones feel like they’re ready to snap, huh?
The kind of ride where you wonder if your legs will ever forgive you, the kind that makes you question your life choices.
That’s ultracycling, my friend. A beautiful, insane challenge that’ll grind you down until all that’s left is your stubborn will to keep going.
But don’t expect miracles, or quick fixes. You’ve got to put in the miles, and they’ve got to count. And if you’re here for some sugar-coated nonsense, go read a fairy tale. This is about grit, sweat, and fighting that damn little voice in your head telling you to quit.
1. Consistent Training: The Slow Burn, Not the Flash Fire
You think you’re ready to jump in with 200 km rides? Slow down, kid.
You’ve barely ridden a month, and you’re already pushing yourself to the edge.
The thing about ultracycling is that there’s no instant gratification. There’s no hack, no trick that’ll make you stronger overnight.
You want endurance? You build it.
Slowly. Like a fire that starts with a single spark and builds into a relentless blaze.
You’ve got to ride, and then ride some more. Every day, but don’t go all-out. Build up your volume over time, and let your body grow with it.
If you’re pushing yourself too hard, you’ll burn out before you ever see your potential. Think of it like a marathon, not a sprint. Your body needs to adapt—gradually.
2. Back-to-Back Long Rides: Train Your Legs to Hate You and Love You at the Same Time
Riding long distances is tough. But riding two long distances back to back?
Now you’re really testing yourself. This is where you separate the boys from the men. This is where you find out if your mind has the balls to keep going after your legs have decided they’re done.
The trick is this: don’t do it too early. You don’t just wake up and do 200 km in two days. Start with a long ride, then the next day, hit it again. This is how your body learns to recover quickly and how your legs learn to keep pushing even when they feel like lead.
It’s not just about physical strength; it’s about training your body to endure, no matter how tired it is.
3. Fuel Like a Madman
You think you can ride through the pain without feeding your body what it needs? Good luck with that.
If you don’t understand the importance of fueling, you’re doomed. And no, a couple of granola bars and a gulp of water won’t cut it.
Ultracycling requires a steady supply of carbs, protein, and fat, or you’ll hit that dreaded wall—hard. 60 grams of carbs every hour. That’s not a suggestion. That’s the minimum if you want to keep your body from screaming for mercy.
You need to eat before you’re hungry, drink before you’re thirsty. Real food, none of that sugary nonsense. If you think you can survive a 12-hour ride on a handful of jelly beans, you’ve got another thing coming. Carry food, pack a variety, and don’t skimp on the fuel. You’re going to need it.
4. Recovery: Rest Isn’t for the Weak, It’s for the Smart
The worst mistake you can make is thinking recovery is some lazy luxury. You’re not some 20-year-old who can ride all day and party all night.
Your body is going to break down if you don’t give it the time it needs to repair. Recovery is when you get stronger—not during the ride.
After long rides, hydrate like your life depends on it. Stretch, sleep, and don’t even think about pushing yourself on rest day.
If you’ve been riding consistently, your body needs time to recover, to rebuild those muscles, and to make you tougher. Skipping this is like trying to build a house without a solid foundation. You’ll fall apart.
5. Mental Fortitude: The Road Is Not Your Friend
The mind is a tricky thing. It’ll tell you to quit. It’ll tell you you’re not strong enough, not fast enough, not built for this.
But guess what? Your mind is full of shit.
The only way to deal with this is to outsmart it.
Get comfortable being uncomfortable. Get used to the idea that your mind will lie to you every time you’re tired or hurting, and your job is to ignore it.
Develop tricks to get through the pain. Break the ride into smaller chunks—”just get to the next town, just get to the next hour”—anything to keep the mind from spiraling into weakness. Ultracycling isn’t just about the body. It’s about having the mental strength to keep riding when every fiber of your being wants to quit.
6. Intervals and Hill Training: The Secret Sauce for Strength
You think all those long, boring rides are enough? Think again.
The real magic comes from pushing your body to extremes. And that’s where interval training comes in.
Short bursts of all-out effort followed by easy recovery periods. You’ll build stamina, increase your VO2 max, and get faster.
Hills? You need them.
If you’re not climbing hills, you’re not training properly. Hills build power. They test your limits.
When you can handle hills like they’re flat roads, you’ll know you’re ready for anything.
Ultracyclists aren’t just long-distance riders; they’re powerhouses. You need strength to push through the tough terrain, the headwinds, the endless climbs.
7. Know Your Limits, Then Go Beyond Them
This one’s simple: if you don’t know where your limits are, you can’t expand them.
The toughest part of ultracycling is learning how far you can actually go. The trick is this: find your breaking point and push it.
Don’t listen to the voice that tells you it’s too much. You don’t find out how tough you are by sitting on the sidelines.
Get on the bike, find your limit, then pedal past it. Every time you think you can’t go any further, there’s always a little more in the tank. And if you’ve done the work—if you’ve ridden the miles, fueled your body, recovered properly—then you’re not going to break.
TL:DR;
Strategy | What It Does for You |
---|---|
Consistency and Gradual Build | Strengthens your endurance over time, letting your body adapt and grow naturally. |
Back-to-Back Rides | Trains your body to recover fast and handle multiple long days in a row. |
Proper Nutrition | Keeps your body fueled, preventing bonking and helping sustain your energy throughout the ride. |
Recovery | Rebuilds muscles, preventing overtraining and ensuring long-term improvement. |
Mental Training | Develops the mindset to keep going when everything hurts and you want to quit. |
Intervals & Hills | Builds power and stamina, making tough terrain and long distances more manageable. |
Push Your Limits | Expands your capacity, making the impossible possible. |
P.S.
If you’re still thinking about quitting, I’ve got news for you: you will.
Eventually. But not today. Not when you’re this close. So suck it up, hydrate, and keep pedaling. Pain fades. Glory sticks around.
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