Challenging Myself on the Gravel Bike

For many years, I've been an avid cyclist, using my bike as my primary mode of transportation for daily commutes over the past 15 years. I often go for leisurely rides, but until recently, I never pushed myself to cover significant distances. Last year, 20-25 miles was a solid ride for me, especially considering that much of my cycling involves tackling challenging downland terrain.

My cycling journey began with a mountain bike, which was perfect for navigating the rugged downs and winding through the woods. When it came time to replace it, I opted for a hybrid bike, more suited for road cycling. This opened up a whole new world, allowing me to achieve speeds that were impossible on my mountain bike. 

Eventually, I chose a gravel bike, which struck the perfect balance between a road bike and a mountain bike. It offered the speed I enjoyed on paved roads and the comfort needed for off-road adventures. Over the past 16 months, I've clocked 3,000 miles on this bike, and it’s undoubtedly the best purchase I've ever made.

The other weekend, I challenged myself with a 45-mile ride and learned some valuable lessons from my mistakes. I have a bad habit of not pacing myself, often going all in without taking adequate rests. That day, I started off on the wrong foot by skipping a good breakfast and neglecting to stretch my muscles. I also failed to bring any energy snacks, relying instead on a sugary lunch that gave me a brief boost followed by an inevitable crash.

By the time I reached 30 miles, I was struggling. At 35 miles, I could feel the cramps starting to twitch in my legs. By 40 miles, I was completely drained of energy. I had to stop for something sweet just to muster the strength for the last 5 miles home. When I finally made it back, I was hit with intense cramps and felt utterly exhausted for the rest of the day.

Learning from my previous ride, I planned a 40-mile route this time, still featuring some challenging climbs and downland sections. I started the day with a better breakfast and made sure to stop every 10 miles to stretch my legs and eat an energy bar. This strategy made a significant difference—I felt much better throughout the ride.

At 35 miles, I faced a decision: head home to complete a 40-mile ride or take a different route to reach nearly 45 to 50 miles. I felt strong enough to go the extra distance, but my bike computer had started flashing a low battery warning, and an annoying clicking noise, possibly from the bottom bracket or crank arm, made me reconsider. Not wanting to push my luck, I opted to head back.

I arrived home feeling great—no cramps and plenty of energy left to enjoy the rest of the day.

The ride took me through the beautiful town of Lewes and up onto the downs, joining part of the South Downs Way. From there, I headed down into Peacehaven, then cycled into the port town of Newhaven, and stopped in Seaford for lunch. After lunch, I continued over Seaford Head, enjoying the stunning views of the Seven Sisters cliffs. From there, I took a woodland route through Friston before heading back home.

Can't beat a beautiful view on a sunny day

The Seven Sisters, cuckmere haven.

See my ride on Kamoot