Riding one hundred kilometers on a bike can be impressive the first time, but we often don't prepare much. Just some food in our pockets, a water bottle, and we're off. With longer rides, we need to plan for days of preparation, and sometimes even stress. But it can be managed.
As distances get longer, it takes more and more time to prepare for a long bike ride. If preparing the night before is enough for packing for a 100 or 200 km ride, above that, it takes time and reflection.
Let's start with the 200 km ride.
The 200 km ride
On this distance, we do not know what weather we will encounter, and there is a risk of rain. Regarding food, we need to start planning: either we bring it with us or buy it along the way. Ideally, we have eaten pasta the day before and even two days before.
For liquid, we can have enough with two large bottles; if it is hot, we need to take more and with less sugar to improve hydration. All of this needs to be prepared the night before. Maybe the alarm clock will ring earlier than other days of the week. A little stress builds up.
The 300 km ride
The 300 km ride is a particular challenge, as it is half of the 600 km and a quarter of the 1,200 km, providing a reference point for longer distances and travel times. In addition to what we have prepared for the 200 km ride, the 300 km ride will probably require planning for lighting.
Regarding food, it is certain that we will need more than three times what we eat on a 100 km ride. If some cyclists function only with electrolytes, the 300 km ride seems to be a limit because if we spend 12 to 13 hours on the bike (23 to 25 km/h on average), we need to eat solid food. Bananas with a certain potassium content are welcome from this distance (to take with us if we are not sure to find them along the way).
The pockets of the cycling jersey are not sufficient, and a saddlebag can allow us to bring food or clothing items. In addition to what we bring, we must not forget what we have stored in our bodies: ideally, we have started eating pasta not only the day before, as for a 100 km ride, but also a few days before.
Preparing for a 300 km ride requires equipment preparation. Preparing the bike and the cyclist can take a good part of the day before the ride, and therefore, it needs to be considered during the week.
The 400 km ride
The 400 km ride can start early in the morning or in the afternoon, depending on the organizer. Given that part of the 400 km will take place at night, preparation becomes serious. In addition to lights, we need to think about a reflective jacket for safety. Perhaps a front bag, in addition to the rear one.
Regarding food and drink, we need to think about stopping to shop, eat, or even sleep.
From this distance, we need to think about having good cycling shorts, or even protecting areas of friction with an appropriate cream, or both.
With the idea of spending a portion of the night on the bike, the amount of stress for the 400 km ride begins not the day before, but a few days in advance. Part of the stress will be eliminated by daily consumption of pasta during the last 10 days.
The 600 km ride
For a 600 km ride, one is certain to spend a full night on the bike and may have to pedal in the rain. If shorter distances allow one to understand how they perform on a 400 km ride, it is important to remember that there are an additional 200 km. The stress related to the distance may take more than the week leading up to the ride, but it allows for proper planning of what to bring (similar to a 400 km ride). Questions such as whether to complete the 600 km in one go or to stop and sleep should be considered in order to avoid unexpected surprises and unnecessary stress. There is no best choice, but making one's own choice allows for perspective and understanding of where one is going. Beyond the 600 km ride is the 1,000 km ride and paradoxically, it is easier.
The 1,000 km ride
Stress or over-motivation, the 1,000 km ride is alluring and seems less frightening than a 600 km ride. With a 600 km ride, one knows they will complete it in one go or mentally in two stages of 300 km. With a 1,000 km ride, it is necessary to divide the ride into stages. The kilometers can serve as markers to divide the 1,000 km ride, and using nights can be a better way to divide it. The most difficult division is, in my opinion, using checkpoints as stages, as it cuts the rhythm too much and unnecessarily multiplies non-productive moments (one must keep moving forward!).
The weather is important, as it may be useful to equip oneself for rain, or be mentally strong enough to pretend that it is not raining. Stress will spill over into the week leading up to the event.
The 1,200 km ride
Once one has cycled a the clock, they know what they need. Therefore, they can cycle a the clock several times, and the 1,200 km ride helps with this idea. Paris-Brest-Paris is the queen of such events in France for this distance, but it is not the only one. One can do it, but with limits. Just as with running, where it takes a few years of experience at a good level to appreciate the marathon, the 1,200 km ride also requires years of practice in order to know oneself well enough to dive into the deep end. The risk is not great, but dropping out is a disappointment, and as Paris-Brest-Paris leaves a lasting impression, it is best to make it a positive one with success in the four years that follow.
Here, the stress will certainly take over the month leading up to the event and mix with the euphoria of such a distance to put the cyclist on cloud nine (especially after the 1,200 km). To go further, see here how to manage the 1,200 km of Paris-Brest-Paris
Stress is present on almost all distances to a greater or lesser degree. However, it does bring something good: it is a sign that one is motivated, that they know where they are going, or at least that they are seeking to know where they are going, and in any case, that they are taking things seriously so as not to be disappointed. After that, it's just a matter of pedaling, and there is no stress, just a smile in search of freedom.
