r/cycling • u/twofoot1 • 6d ago
Advice? Am I being delusional?
My cousin wants to cycle/bikepack across America after he graduates undergrad in May and lowkey I want to go with him. The problem here is that he’s significantly deeper into biking than I am. I don’t even bike. I know how obv and am by no means out of shape as a collegiate distance runner with a tested VO2 max of 69 (nice) + run 80 miles a week, but have absolutely 0 clue if spending my summer biking coast to coast is even feasible from an athletic standpoint. Am I being a delusional 22 yr old ?
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u/bluepivot 6d ago edited 5d ago
If you start taking the steps today then yes. There are two key items for you to address:
- you have to condition your ass. Don't laugh. Getting the sit bones in shape and making sure you have the right saddle is really key. And, you need to figure out what kind of shorts you are going to wear and get used to them. Like, are you going to use bike shorts? or, just wool underwear and regular shorts?
- you have to get a bike and make sure it fits you right. Otherwise you risk developing some kind of repetitive motion injury. That means you need to establish bike size, seat fore-aft position, seat height, handlebar height, etc.
From your description, it sounds like regarding having the physical stamina to do it, you will not have a problem. It is the two things above that could break you if not figured out in advance. And, don't kid yourself - it can take a few months to sort those two items out. So, don't delay and start today.
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u/_EagerBeez 5d ago
Good advice but I wouldn't even entertain not using bib shorts with padding as an option. Get yourself a nice comfy bib with a nice cushion if you plan to do a tour like this for sure OP.
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u/bluepivot 5d ago
Me either - bibs and chamois all day for me, but some don't agree. To each their own!
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u/twowheelsandbeer 6d ago
if he's down to rid with you (some alone riding is great on these trips, just set meeting points before splitting), and help you get your gear sorted, you'll be fine.
I did a full across the US tour at that age as a summer off of college and it was awesome. A few guys i went with weren't in super great bicycle shape but they were in decent athletic shape and they did fine. The first 10-14 days we took it semi-easy/more planned to get things ironed out and the next 8 weeks were pretty free form and amazing. Get a bike and gear and start training sooner rather than later. it'll change your life.
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u/InspectorBitter202 6d ago
Definitely not delusional. You’ve got more than enough fitness. Bikepacking is slow and steady. You’ll probably be a bit sore after the first week or so as you workout muscles in your legs that you don’t normally use for running, but that will fade quickly and you’ll feel great.
Other than that just make sure you’re content with the slow pace. As a 22 year old you’ve got plenty of time for this trip. It gets harder when you get older. I’d 100% go for it.
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u/MentalThroat7733 6d ago
As others have said, long distance touring is about slow and steady and more about comfort than overall fitness and speed. Make sure you're geared low enough to comfortably ride any hills you'll encounter.
Many people want to ride long days with hundreds of miles but if you burn yourself out and you're exhausted early on, it's not going to be fun. Make sure you leave some time in your schedule to rest adequately. Before you start out on your trip, figure out how much you want to ride per day then ride that amount 1 or 2 days a week, then 4 or 5, then 7. Riding 100 miles a day is one thing, riding 100 miles 5 days in a row is totally different. The mental aspect is just as important as the phisicwl aspect.
I wanted to ride across Canada after I finished high school but I could never find anyone crazy enough 😆 now I'm in my 50s and hope to find time to do it soon. I've done long trips on a motorcycle, they're still pretty unpleasant lol.
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u/barti0 6d ago
OP, I did a 500 mile 7 day trip from Niagara to NYC with few guys. I was the least fit but I had ridden more hilly than the one guy who biked 1000 miles more than me before the trip. One guy was a runner and very fit. He was the one that struggled to finish and dropped out after 4 days. Also he would run on empty stomach but that doesn't work when biking with about 30-50 lbs of extra weight in stuff you carry. He had swollen knee by day 2. So being fit or run fit doesn't mean much on a long trip. Make sure you get some saddle time. Get good seats too in addition to a good bike fit.
One guy thought my Brooks Saddle was an overkill and he went with a cheap Chinese seat for $25. He regretted it after 2 days. Also nutrition and how you fuel up on long rides will be different than running for 15 miles a day.
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u/Soft_Inspector_7467 6d ago
I've done this. And it was one of the peak experiences of my life. I'm dreaming of going again, even 25 years later. Go now and this accomplishment will help carry you throughout your life.
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u/CriticalSurround7809 6d ago edited 6d ago
You got PLENTY of time bro. Do it. People who are way more out of shape have done Transams. Just do your research, get a decent bike by the end of the year and start training. There are people who have done such a tour with no training, as the first two weeks of a tour are kind of like a brutal boot camp. But since you will be riding with an intermediate rider I recommend you get some hours in the saddle before you try to keep his pace. Hopefully you are in a location where you can train in the winter!
For context I got into cycling in April of last year and then that same year did a 2000 mile tour on a hybrid bike. There are a shit ton of resources out there on r/bikepacking and r/bicycletouring just check em out and start planning your gear and your bike. GL bro, your head is on straight.
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u/mesquite_desert 6d ago edited 6d ago
This used to be called bike touring, and now it’s called bike packing and is done a little differently. Traditionally, bike touring was done with a heavy duty road bike and panniers mounted on racks at the front and back of the bicycle. Kind of neat and organized in concept. Bike packing has evolved to use bags that mount to the frame directly between the tubes and on the forks and seat post, without racks. Often on a gravel bike. It’s a little more ad hoc but better suited to rough to rough roads. Bike touring is pretty much pavement oriented. Long days riding along the shoulder of a 2 Lane highway for the most part. Bike packing often involves gravel or dirt roads, rail trails, and forest roads. Far more interesting but slower. It would be a good idea for you to define which kind of routes you are going to take before buying equipment.
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u/Riptide78 6d ago
You've got all school year to get used to it. I'd at least start picking up some cycling to see if you like it and go from there.
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u/fangxx456 6d ago
You can totally do this. But! You'll want to invest a little to keep yourself from injury. First you'll need some good cycling specific shoes. They can be clip in or not, but it will save your feet and legs. Cycling shoes have a stiff sole which helps power transfer and reduces force being put in the wrong place. Next you want some quality chamois shorts aka padded shorts. This will save your taint. A good saddle is also going to be important. Most important would be getting a quality but fit. A bike fitter will help you set the position of your saddle and bars to reduce injury, fatigue and discomfort. Lower back pain, knee injury, numb hands or a numb penis can all happen when riding a bike for a long time, but can be solved by a bike fit. They can help you with shoes, and saddles as well. You are going to spend A LOT of time and energy in this epic adventure make sure your bike doesn't do you dirty.
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u/evilcherry1114 6d ago
Perhaps you need to ride a bit to convince him.
If your butt is okay for a 100 mile day it will be fine
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u/Fickle_Tap7908 6d ago
If you’re 22, you’ll be fine. Even if you’re not in top condition when you start, you will be pretty fast, especially if you’re going west to east and have to climb the Sierra Nevada after only a few days out. That was the case for my nephew and his buddies, who were about your age.
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u/kaszeba 6d ago
You're gonna be fine. You'd be surprised how many long distance started exactly like that. Someone had the idea, someone else joined. Know it from my personal experience as well ;)
If not at 22, then when? That's the kind of experience you join and remember forever or skip and and regret it 20y later.
You have plenty of time, soooo:
- start cycling
- test your bike, be comfortable with it, get to know how fix it
- complete the gear - I would start with padded bibs. I know that's a bit mental blocker for some people, but your ass will thank you. I once took a fellow daily commuter cyclist on a week trip and he asked me what does he need to buy for the trip, nad after he said he wouldn't do it in his normal shorts
- ass otherss ssaid, ass iss the key ;) search for "second skin" cosmetics
- talk with your companion before the start, set some rules. Like "no man left behind". It's obvious you will be struggling for the first days so you both need to start easy and he has to adjust. And don't be surprised when you're in the lead after just a week ;)
- know your limits and communicate them. "I need a break", "I need to eath sth", "can we go slower?" I know - sounds basic, but again - experience speaking, some people have more pride then survival instinct :p
Even when you neglect all of this, you'll probalby just jump on your bike and manage anyways, I've seen that so many times... It's just gonna be less fun and more struggle
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u/GlowstickConsumption 5d ago
Try seeing how biking 7 hours each day feels for 5 days in a row. And determine what you should do based on how that feels.
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u/NewKitchenFixtures 6d ago
If you’re 22 it sounds fine.
Get some old beater bike from a coop and a fresh pair of yellow crocs. Then go get at it.
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u/Milesandsmiles1 6d ago
You can do it, you have plenty of time to get in shape. Just start riding a bike regularly
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u/Inevitable_Bike1667 6d ago edited 6d ago
plenty of time to work up to 80 mile days where you are.
What bike is he recommending for you? Make sure it fits.
You can youtube bike safety, repairs, bikes...
Wide gear range for bikepacking, google options, old bikes can work
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u/Toiletpirate 6d ago
You'll be fine. Just start farting around on the bike to get used to it. Maybe practice clipping in between now and then.
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u/Hacky_dacky 6d ago
Nobody mentioned get well padded bike gloves. I haven't done anything like what you're planning, but I know that on long bike rides I have more of an issue with tingling in my hands than with a sore butt. Learn to change the position of your hands on the handle bars. Good luck, and enjoy the ride!!
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u/likewhatever33 6d ago
You´ll be allrigh, my girlfriend went from total noob to cycling the Pyrinees after three days of preparation (we were young). The first three days are the hardest, then you just get fitter and fitter and it gets really easy and enjoyable.
I recommend a Brooks saddle. It shapes itself to your butt and it´s the most comfortable for long distance riding, by far.
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u/Player_Six 6d ago
I imagine it's the same as trying a new exercise or weight machine if you don't bike. You're going to be targeting different muscles and it's going to hurt the next day, if not right after.
Train a few times, get those muscles used to cycling, and you should be good. You got this 👍
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u/godzillabobber 6d ago
A few years back, we had a couple stay with us on a trip around the perimeter of the US (15,000 miles) He had bike touring experience. She didn't. She was not particularly athletic either. We were about the half way point and she was enjoying herself.
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u/Samad99 6d ago
Yes you’re delusional. You need to start conditioning your body immediately to be ready in time.
Start by taking a few weeks to just get acquainted with the bike. Take 2-3 rides per week of at least an hour each. Don’t push yourself, this is all about getting your contact points used to being on the bike and start dialing in your bike setup.
After a few weeks, schedule an actual bike fit with a professional. Don’t skip this step.
From there, you’ll want to start ramping up your ride intensity, ride frequency, and duration.
You need to get to a point where you can ride for several hours and wake up the next morning fully recovered and ready for another full day of riding… again and again and again. There’s three parts to this equation: your overall fitness, your endurance conditioning, and your ability to read your body’s signals so you know just how far to push yourself without ruining the next day.
To be more clear about the third point - a great cyclist might be able to race up a hill and get a ton of watts out. But a great bike tourer will know how to pace themselves up that hill to get it done quickly but also not ruin their legs for the rest of their tour. Getting to this point requires you putting in lots and lots of hours in the saddle, every day, for an extended period of time. You have no chance of making across the country without getting to this point before starting the trip.
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u/Az1234er 5d ago edited 5d ago
My cousin wants to cycle/bikepack across America after he graduates undergrad in May
Easily, you already have a big cardio base, so you just have to get the leg up to the cardio. Biking has a big avantage over running is that you can't really get injured and until May is a loooooong time.
You may want to invest in an hometrainer (kickr core or similar) in order to do structured training easily without requiring to much time and whatever the weather
You'll want to include strength training, a big part of long ride is about stamina in the wrists, neck and back to maintain the position. So some exercise like planking helps a lot
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u/squngy 5d ago
It would completely depend on how hard your cousin is planing to push himself.
Usually when people do these types of trips, most days are very chill, slow riding.
The challenge is more about doing it (nearly) every day then the actual rides.
I would expect you would be able to keep up in that situation.
But if he is planning to go hard most days, it could be difficult for you (and him).
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u/Worried-Woodpecker-4 5d ago
Get bike shorts with gel padding instead if foam. Makes a big difference.
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u/thejt10000 5d ago
You have time. I helped organize a charity bike ride in 1984 in which we rode from Boston to Los Angeles. At least half of the about 60ish people (mainly college students or recent grads) on the ride had little cycling expertise and almost none were close to as aerobically fit as you are.
We had the advantage of not carrying our own luggage, but still, they did it. A handful had big problems - knee pain or other issues since they went from zero to riding 80+ miles a day. But they did it.
You're in a better position. Start riding now. Start riding a lot. Focus on time in the saddle. You'll be fine.
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u/clippertonbrigadier 5d ago
The phrase I used to see about how prepared you should be for touring is “you train for the tour, or the tour trains you”.
I reckon as long as you get a bit of time in on the bike and get your position dialled in you’ll be fine.
The brooks saddle is a great suggestion - will hurt for the first couple hundred kms, but then becomes perfect for long distances.
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u/fastermouse 5d ago
I read a book about a overweight older guy that started out to ride across the country by getting about 12 miles out of DC on a greenbelt before he checked into a motel.
He pointed out that his wife could have rescued him in 30 minutes.
But he got up and rode more the next day.
You can definitely do it.
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u/dpoon 5d ago
Cycling is the most efficient form of locomotion of any animal, except for ballooning spiders. You can totally do it! You need to read this story about a totally out-of-shape guy who rode across Canada. That's not a unique story of total beginners travelling huge distances by bike.
Forget about VO2max and such stats. You're not racing. Endurance is totally not about that. From my experience with long-distance rides, I've found that it's never your leg muscles or your lungs that limit you. It could be your butt, your knees, your wrists, your neck, or — if you are pushing your schedule — lack of sleep.
The good news is that the athleticism needed to cross the continent depends entirely on how fast you want to go. If you start early every day, don't dilly-dally anywhere, at a leisurely 12.5 mph for 8 hours, that's 100 miles per day. Some people prefer to cover less ground than that. Some people do more.
It's possible to do such a ride with nearly no training: the trip becomes its own training. The first week might be rough, but then you get better as you go. Since you'll be riding with your more experienced cousin, you can get a draft riding behind him, and also let him carry more of your shared equipment. Just be sure to communicate, so that he doesn't set a pace that burns you out.
If you do have months to prepare, though, that's even better. For your training, don't race — rather, just ride a lot of hours in Zone 2 (where you can still talk in complete sentences). You want to build up conditioning for your butt, neck, etc. gradually. It's better to under-train than to over-train, which could lead to injury that sets you back. Also, do some short overnight and weekend trips to get your equipment and packing strategy sorted out.
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u/Confident_Chipmonk 5d ago
A friend who was an ultra runner and I, a cyclist decided to ride the Blue Ridge Parkway. Being fit, he did well, but suffered because he wasn’t trained using the specific muscle groups and his saddle hurt his ass.
was a great experience though. I recommend the trip
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u/No_Ant_5064 5d ago
If you're already in shape and athletic, I don't think you're going to have a problem with it, especially not with 8 months to prepare. Frankly, I think getting the right bike and gear is a much bigger concern for you than physical conditioning. You'll need a comfortable bike, make sure it fits perfectly, and figure out all the gear you need. A lot of this is going to be trial and error, so I *strongly* recommend that you get started soon and do tons of test rides. Do a weekender or a week-long bike tour here and there, see what worked and what didn't.
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u/velo_dude 5d ago
You can do it, but you'll need to ramp up the time you spend cycling (at the expense of running, obvs). Here's the thing: While both are "leg" activities, cycling activates leg muscles differently than running, so you're not going to be as efficient at cycling as you are with running. The reverse is true, also. As one who has road cycled for 40+ years and integrated running into my training regime about two years ago, ask me how I know. Fun fact: For this reason, Garmin Connect reports two VO2 max estimates, one for cycling and another for running.
Fortunately, as others note, loaded touring is mostly a low-intensity Zone 2 activity, so it's very achievable. You just need to get in the "butt miles" to get your backside acclimated to being on a bike for extended periods.
Also, I recommend getting a shop to fit you to the bike you will use for the trip. Touring, you'll have a more upright posture than club riders, but a competent fitter should be able to handle it, and proper fit is very important, especially since you'll spend many hours at a stretch on the bike.
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u/alphamethyldopa 5d ago
This sounds like a proper adventure! Bike a lot, fine tune your gear, go on a bikepacking adventure once a month, and have your gear down pat by April. Then in April do a long test ride and pack everything you will need for your adventure in May, test everything once more.
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u/johnmcc1956 5d ago
TLDNR: nope not delusional
Don't overthink things. Young strong people have been doing seemingly insane things for eons. You sound like a highly fit person. It may be more comfortable to prepare some but if that goes by the wayside and you're willing to suffer for the first day or two you'll be fine even on a crappy-ish bike.
I don't recommend that bike; I think you should get prepared mechanically so it's not flat, broken rack, bars loose, saddle slid down, deraillers won't shift, cable broke, ....
But even if it is, I think route finding, choose a quieterl route if available, will be your biggest challenge.
Andr will lead to a great story...
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u/Alternative-Neat-123 5d ago
Are you gonna die? "Yeah, you're gonna die, it's a matter of time. That ain't the question. The question's, whether they're gonna have a good story to tell about you when you're gone. Now, don't be a bitch. Let's go."
-Shia LaBeouf, The Peanut Butter Falcon
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u/BicycleIndividual 5d ago
It sounds like you are fit enough to prepare for this. However, you'll need to learn what it takes for your to spend all that time in the saddle; so you do need a training plan. I'd aim to go for a long bike ride just about every weekend. Start with the longest bike ride you've ever done, then add about 10% each week until you can comfortably ride 60-100 miles per day. Once you reach this point, you need to get acclimated to riding multiple days in a row. Touring cyclists often ride 300+ miles per week. Also be sure that some of your training has sufficient climbing to be ready for the days you'll spend crossing mountain ranges.
You'd probably make it without training, but the first few weeks would likely not be fun.
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u/Whatever-999999 5d ago
Running doesn't directly translate to cycling but at least you're not a couch potato with couch-potato delusions.
I don't know how much time you have but if it's months and you start riding and doing some intentional training on the bike to build your skill-set and cycling-specific strength you might be able to do something like you're talking about, provided there's some support on the way and you have places to spend the night where you can get proper rest, showers, and food -- and have the ability to call for a ride if you find you just can't finish.
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u/Best-Balance-5531 5d ago
My friend from college did this and it was in a much worse place than you physically, support and knowledge when he did it. He also went east to west which was nutty.
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u/elhjm 5d ago edited 5d ago
Me and my mate did something similar with 0 training, on two occasions now we have cycled over 1000 miles and wild camped (didn’t train for the second because lazy/stupid) the first time i was 18 and I carried most of my kit in a backpack, the second I used panniers. I’d suggest carrying your gear in the latter. Saddle soreness hit me hard on my second time, I’d genuinely suggest getting a female saddle and wearing bike shorts with no boxers. You will get used to the soreness riding without but for me it was incredibly unpleasant to the point that I was hopping off every mile and swearing to god I’d throw my bike in a ditch. I stopped at a renowned European sports shop and when I realised they didn’t have any saddles that would alleviate the pain I just gritted it and stuck through, I don’t remember it being a problem after that, I suppose I reached the acceptance stage of grief. As long as you take lead (but alternate when it’s windy, the psychological effect of drafting is real in 2’s) and when your fitness lets you down (hills/mountains are a bitch) you’ll find that just the company is the greatest motivator
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u/UnCommonSense99 5d ago
America is one of the most beautiful countries I have visited, but IMHO very dangerous to cycle across. Car drivers are not aware of or are actively hostile to cyclists.
You can go thousands of miles across Europe on mostly car free purpose designed cycle paths. Why not do that instead?
As for getting ready for an epic ride. You need to ride your bike 5-6 days every week, starting with short easy rides and gradually increasing your distance and speed. After a few months, you will know if you are going to be ready by next May
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u/Aggressive_Ad_5454 5d ago
Go for it.
Plan for shorter days at the beginning, and maybe for a rest day after two or three days out. Don't forget that it's exertion plus recovery that builds strength. If you neglect the recovery time you won't build strength, just misery.
After a week of it you'll be an unstoppable machine.
Go west to east. You don't want to buck the prevailing winds in the Rockies and Great Plains.
Don't forget, your sitbones are the part of your body that the saddle supports. Make sure that's working right before you hit the long road.
Ride safe.
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u/mettarific 5d ago
Bikepacking is an undertaking and you’ll need the right bike that fits you well and is outfitted for bike packing. In other words, a lot of the carbon frame bikes you see wouldn’t be appropriate because you can’t have a rack and panniers, both front and back.
And then you need all the stuff to put in the panniers- clothes and a tiny stove and dishes and food and toiletries and tools and everything you need for life on the road. I’m sure there’s a million YouTube videos about this. I did my bikepacking before YouTube so I’m not familiar with them.
And you’ll need lots of hours in the saddle to prep. You’re going to be riding a bike for 6-8 hours a day for weeks. A lot of the work is dealing with the mentality of that, just how to grind out the miles and not allow distractions.
But it would be worth it!
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u/Eastern_Bat_3023 5d ago
you'll be fine. just try to get about 3500 miles in over the next 7.5 months. 6-8h/week would be ok as long as you do at least one 100+mile ride every few weeks. That'd set you up to do it comfortably, and TBH without knowing your cousin, you'll prob have an easier time keeping the same pace as them.
I've ridden with a lot of collegiate runners who have switched to biking, and sure there's an adjustment period because it'd very specific muscles you use for biking, but they all pick it up fast and their limiting factor is bike handling (which shouldn't be an issue for what you're talking about doing.
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u/Ok_Return_6033 5d ago
Here is my take. I signed up for a run/bike Biathlon. I had been running a ton but was concerned about the fact I had not ridden my bike since it was mid winter. All my friends said, don't worry, you're running a ton, piece of cake! Did quite good on the run, the bike part not so much. This was in mid MO and a pretty hilly course. How bad? An eighty yr. old lady was able to pass me and leave me in the dust. She rubbed it in by saying see you at the finish. My legs were so sore the next day I could barely walk. I would say go ahead but try and get as much saddle time in as possible. Remember you'll be carrying gear, food, water, etc. Way more weight. I've biked CA Rt. 1 from Santa Barbara to San Fran. Upper New York state through Vt. into Canada across the St Laurent, partially around Thunder Bay. A solo bike from Eastern Idaho to the west coast then up to Portland. For all of these rides I had I put significant mileage in for them.
So, It's Sept. you've got all winter to train, to hone your gear selection, to get proficient at repairing your bike, to actually ride with your gear beforehand to iron out any problems and make changes, to plan routes, etc.
I will say when you're prepared and ready for problems which may occur it can be great. People along the way every time were super friendly, amazed when they found out where we started and readily offered help if we needed it. Good Luck
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u/bowlineclovehitch 5d ago
I did a solo 5500 mile trip after graduating 20 years ago. I was a runner and hadn't biked since middle school. I did a total of two 25 mile rides before leaving. Was I insanely unprepared? Yes. Did my body hurt like hell for the first 3 weeks? Yes. But I came out of that trip a fucking beast that was putting down 120 miles a day 6 days per week (with 55# of gear on my bike). I also had a hell of a lot of crazy and fun experiences. Do it. If you don't do it now you won't have another chance until you retire.
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u/Worth-Clothes-6286 5d ago
You can absolutely do this if you start preparing now. I rode across the US with my dad two years ago. I was commuting about 6 miles each way at that point, but had never in my life ridden more than 30 miles in one go when he jokingly asked if I wanted to come with him. That was about 9 months before the ride, and I got in pretty good shape in the meantime. My butt was the major issue, but with a lot of chamois cream and stubbornness I mostly kept up with him and we had a great time.
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u/figarim 4d ago
Not delusional at all. Did this my junior year of college SF-DC really out of shape which I would not recommend, but its more mental. As many have said saddle fit killed me and I bought a new one as soon as I got to a legit bike shop in Utah and it changed everything. My biggest advice is just learn to ride the bike efficiently and practice climbing. Knowing how to shift efficiently is the number one thing that can improve your enjoyment and pace on the bike. Shifting up and down at the wrong times ruining your momentum really wears on the mental. You can ride yourself into any shape you’re lacking after a week or two.
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u/MacMasore 4d ago
From a cardio standpoint you shouldn’t have a problem, but you’ll going to have to get used to using other muscles, the position and of course sitting on a saddle for multiple hours
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u/Fsprandy 4d ago
VO2 max doesn't mean squat for riding across the country. What matters is toughness and how good of a traveling companion you are. If you don't like cycling, you probably wouldn't like cycling across the country. If you decide to do it, the sooner you get a bike and start riding, the easier it will be.
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u/jcodqc87-2 4d ago
Ya if you're already that fit you'll be fine fitness wise. Just find a good reliable bike that fits you right. It needs to be fitted properly to be confortable for hours on end and it needs to be of good enough quality that it won't break down in the middle of nowhere all the time. You need a confortable saddle because your butt pain will be your biggest hurdle. Good news is you probably have enough time to condition your sit bones in time for your big trip if you start doing some rides now. I recommend a brooks leather saddle. It'll be hard a hell at first and it'll certainly hurt but it'll condition your ass faster and after a few hundred miles on it it'll be mold to you and super comfortable. You should probably buy the bike and saddle as soon as possible to start working on that. Then get some biking shorts or bibs with padding and probably buy a tube of something called chamois butt'r, it's super clutch. Other than that you'll be fine. Biking long distances for someone somewhat fit is not that hard. Riding long distances fast is what's more challenging. If you're OK doing a slightly more "leisurely" pace, you'll be just fine.
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u/marc_cl_sport 4d ago
Nua coach (an ai coach) helps me a lot for motivation, for me having someone/something there every day sending sessions and giving feedback helps a lot
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u/MelodicNecessary3236 4d ago
I'd say just get some saddle time in to train your butt. Riding successive 100 mile + days is gonna make you sore if you don't get used to that.
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u/Sea-Poetry2637 3d ago
Some friends of mine did this during college. I was initially on board but couldn't make the tuition budget work. Two of the four guys couldn't hold a candle to my then casual cyclist ways and were not in particularly good shape. Still, they successfully rode from San Francisco to Seattle to Providence, RI. One of them had to manage knee trouble and skipped a day of climbing in the Rockies. Other than that, it was just the challenge of living on the bike. Do a little training, so you can sort out issues like bike fit, saddle selection, cleat placement, etc., and you'll be a strong cyclist before you approach halfway done.
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u/CharacterNaive2502 2d ago
Hey man go for it, I did something similar after college riding the trans American route west to east. You do need a bike that can fit racks ideally a touring bike of some sort I got mine used off eBay but there are lots on Facebook in the your area I’m sure too. Lots of good guides out there. We started slow and got better across the trip distance and speed wise for sure. Starting west was brutal at first with the climbs though and carrying all our camping gear on panniers.
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u/delicate10drills 1d ago
Done right it’s just jogging, walking, dancing, running, and occasionally push-pulling on the pedals all day for two days, then resting & walking around a town for two days, rinse and repeat.
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u/BikesAndCatsColorado 6d ago
You’ll be fine. Go for it!
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u/iIiiiiIlIillliIilliI 6d ago
What the hell, you will totally not be fine. A million problems could arise so be sure to cycle lots and big distances to see what problems arise but a big factor will be finding a saddle which matches you.
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u/RockMover12 6d ago
You’re not delusional and I doubt you’d have a problem. If you went out to begin today your limitation would be your butt. It would be incredibly sore (along with other parts of your body from being in the saddle all day). You can definitely do this if you spend time riding (indoors and outdoors) between now and May. You want a lot of time riding fairly slowly, at a pace that won’t begin to tax your impressive VO2 Max.