300 Miles in 3 Days, any advice?

[Ray Young]

Going to be doing my Borders 300 miler over three days starting this Sunday. Never done this distance over this time period before. Going ultralite and plan on sleeping in bothies both nights so only taking sleeping bag, mat and bivi bag (for emergencies) plus waterproof, mozzie headnet, essential tools, inner tube, food and energy gels/protein bars. I can stock up on food daily as I go. So, any advice?

[Dan_K]

I've only ever done that sort of mileage on the road so can't give much advice apart from eat real food as often as possible and remember to enjoy it!

Good luck Ray.

[composite]

Start early, end late each day. Eat loads, like loads.

[Bearbonesnorm]

Start early, end late each day

I'd second that ^ ... make the most of the daylight. I find it easier to ride for 16 hours @ 10kph than 12 hours @ 13kph. However, I do know others who are different.

[Ray Young]

Start early, end late each day. Eat loads, like loads.

Starting at 10am sunday, first bothy is 95 miles in and there is a lot of off road on the first day so I am taking lights. Plan on 5-6 hours sleep. Day two is mostly forest road with 105 miles to the next bothy with only one really viable place to stock up on food until the next morning so will have to carry what I need. Plan on another 5-6 hours sleep until sunrise at around 4am with the aim of getting to Wooller for the early shops opening before the final push to the end. I will definitely eat lots as I get miserable if I get too hungry and double miserable if I start bonking.

[Ray Young]

Now decided to start at 8am to make sure I hit Moffat before the takeaway's shut for the night .

[pushbikemike]

Good luck ray. Let me know how you get on.

Im still trying to get the Friday off work. If so I'll have a crack at it in 3 days starting next Friday.

[Matt]

Aim to do about 100 miles a day

HTH

[Ray Young]

Aim to do about 100 miles a day

HTH

[NewRetroTom]

Are you sharing your route or keeping it to yourself?

If you're sharing I'd be very interested to have a look. Keen on doing a big bikepacking ride in the borders....

My strategy for big days is try to eat something every hour. Keep looking at the time and if it's over an hour or nearly an hour since you last ate have something to eat!

[Ray Young]

I will be sharing the route after I have ridden it with anyone who asks for it. Hoping to set it up as an annual ITT on a set date at some point.

[ScotRoutes]

Is he back yet?

[Cheeky Monkey]

Has he given up yet*




* I really hope not, Go Ray!!!

[Ray Young]

I haven't started yet. Start on Sunday. Hope my protein bars turn up in the post before then or I'll have to buy them full price from a shop .

[Ray Young]

I haven't started yet. Start on Sunday. Hope my protein bars turn up in the post before then or I'll have to buy them full price from a shop .

No sooner had I posted when a knock was heard at the door - bars 001 by youngray50, on Flickr

SiS energy bar bundle for £7.99 x 2 plus 6 free energy gels .

[Bearbonesnorm]

SiS energy bar bundle for £7.99 x 2 plus 6 free energy gels

I assume they're paying you £7.99 to actually eat the things plus some kind of bonus for each gel?

[Pyro]

bars 001 by youngray50, on Flickr

There's two possible endings there: Either you're going to sh*t like a short granny on prunes, or you're going to end up bunged up like a turkey at Christmas.

[Zippy]

Good luck consuming those

[Ray Young]

Good luck consuming those

Err, not taking them all.

[composite]

When I said eat loads I meant food.

[Ray Young]

Sitting here eating a cooked breakfast. Pre ride nerves have meant only six hours sleep. Still aiming for 8am start. I'm sure I can do the distance but can I do it in the time I have in my head ?

[gairym]

Good luck fella!

Enjoy.

[Mike]

Well ray day1 should nearly be over, hope it was a good one!

[Ray Young]

I managed 150 miles over one day and ten hours before scratching and it's a good job I stopped when I did. Whilst waiting for my wife to pick me up I started to suffer from the effects of heat stroke and I am still lying in bed feeling very sorry for myself. The route needs work doing on one part as a forest road that should have taken me over into the next valley just disappears into a tumble of trees and undergrowth. It may have been passable at one time but not any longer. Full write up when I feel better.

[Gari]

Good effort Ray. Know how you feel, I rode over the Braemar thru Glen Feshie a few weeks ago for work. It was sunny but overcast a little, and hot; with just enough breeze to not notice the heat etc So after the HAB through the middle section sans cap/hat I got pretty sunburnt and heat/sun stroke. Of course managed to ride into Braemar feeling ok if a little hot and bothered, next 4 days were awful.
Sounds a good route and worth chipping away at to get it to work. Fluids and lots of tunes should sort the next few days. Look forward to the write up.