Sidwells - Best 100-Mile Bike Routes

A top-end road race bike like this, using technology such as an aerodynamically shaped frame and wheels, performs well over all distances. But its built for speed as well as endurance, and for riding in a fast-moving bunch. A bike like this can feel harsh over 100 miles, unless your body is well conditioned to riding it.

One hundred miles has a very special status in cycling. We use 100 miles as a fundamental unit of long distance. Its a good drive or a long train ride, which makes travelling 100 miles using your own power extra special but very achievable on a bike. Bikes were made to travel long distances, they support our bodies and transfer our power efficiently, but of all the distances you can ride why is 100 miles such a prize for cyclists?

Its partly the shape of the number, partly the way it looks and trips off the tongue. Plus, in our heads its much more than one mile further than 99. Cyclists pride themselves on riding 100 miles and always have. I have a friend in his 70s who rides 100 miles every Sunday. If he returns home and his computer says 99, hell ride around the streets until 100 pops up. Hes always done it, and he always will for as long as he can ride a bike.

One hundred miles is a prize, its a badge to be worn, something cyclists do because they can. But more than doing it for its own sake Ive used 100 miles as a device in this book. Its a look at the best places in Britain to ride, delivered in 100-mile units. I hope it encourages you to experience the roads, views, hills, forests, towns, villages, lakes, rivers and sea of this beautiful island, and to discover them all from the unique perspective of riding a bike. I think its a great way of meeting the enduring challenge of riding 100 miles in a day.

Bikes are wonderful machines. Any well-maintained bike can travel 100 miles if you provide the power, but some bikes make the experience easier and better. Road bikes are the most suited to travelling long distances on metalled surfaces, but mountain bikes, hybrids or cyclo-cross bikes will get you there so long as you swap their knobbly tyres for slick ones.

The main thing is to enjoy the experience of riding 100 miles, and for that you need comfort. Unless you are used to riding one, or you are an experienced racer, out and out race bikes probably arent the best. They are built for speed and tend to be very stiff so all your energy gets transferred into the back wheel, but that means they can be quite harsh to ride. If you are buying a new bike with regular 100-mile rides in mind then the best place to look is in the cyclosportive category of your favourite bike manufacturers range.

Cyclosportive bikes have lower gear ratios than race bikes, and they are more comfortable, something achieved by the shock absorbency of the materials they are made from and by their design.

A cyclosportive bike is a much better option for long-distance riding, especially if youre doing it alone or in a small group. This bike has a bag for spares attached under the saddle, and thin, easily fitted mudguards to keep the rider dry and comfortable.

There are some extras you need in order to ride 100 miles. An under-the-saddle bag is the best way to carry spare inner tubes, a multi-tool device, tyre levers and some money. You also need cycling-specific drinks bottles to carry in special cages that fit on your bike frame. And you need a good, reliable pump in case of punctures. Front and rear lights are a must if there is any chance of the ride starting or ending during the hours of darkness, and having small, flashing front and rear LED lights on your bike helps increase your visibility to other road users. Mudguards make riding in wet conditions much more comfortable. They dont have to be permanent fixtures on your bike there are some very good ones that can be attached and detached in seconds. A cycle computer keeps you in touch with how many miles youve done, and a GPS device allows you to enter the ride route before you start, which is a big help. You should also build up a good wardrobe of cycling-specific clothing, with items that suit all weather and riding conditions, before attempting to ride 100 miles.

Its bad news when your bike lets you down, but it can be avoided by maintaining it. Do it yourself or let a bike shop do it, but regular servicing, prompt replacement of worn parts, and cleaning and lubricating your bike all ensure its dependability, but they also make riding it a pleasure.

Check your tyres for wear and cuts in the tread before every ride, and check that everything fastened to your bike, like bags, lights and a pump, is secure. Check the frame for cracks and dents, and if your transmission and/or brakes arent in tip-top condition, get them fixed. Regular cleaning and lubrication are important, too. Clean and lubricate your bike after any wet ride, and if you dont have time to clean it all, at least clean and lubricate the chain and gears. Otherwise clean, inspect and lubricate once a week if possible, but not less than once a fortnight.

Low gears are crucial, and not just for coping with hills. They are one of the secrets that make riding 100 miles achievable and enjoyable. Gearing down spreads the load on your legs over more pedal revolutions. Think of it this way: it causes less strain to lift 100 kilograms in ten 10-kilogram lots than it does to do it all in one go, but in both cases you still lift 100 kilograms. By pedalling a low gear quickly you can apply the same power as pedalling a high gear slowly, but the strain on your legs is less.

The ideal line through any bend is to start out in the road a bit, cut into the bend and end it slightly out. Of course, this depends on whether there are any other road users around you and that the line doesnt take you through a bad or loosely surfaced part of the road.

Cyclists call this fast pedalling style spinning, and spinning is a good word to keep in mind to reinforce the need for it while riding. It feels strange at first but with practice spinning becomes second nature. Watch the top guys in races like the Tour de France to give you a feel for what it looks like. Dont force your pedals around spin them.

Spreading food and drink intake over the whole distance is crucial, too. Eat and drink little and often, and start doing it early. If you wait until you are hungry or thirsty you compromise the ride, and certainly compromise enjoying it. If you have a cycle computer or stopwatch with an alarm, set it to bleep every half hour to remind you to eat and drink. And theres nothing wrong with stopping once, twice or as many times as you like on a ride for a sit-down eat and a cuppa in a cafe. Doing it just makes cycling better.