While I am very much not an ultracyclist or ultramarathoner, I appreciated this snippet:
“If you feel bad, eat something. If you feel good, slow down.”
I'd be interested to know your take on this second point Emily - better to make hay while the sun shines, or to avoid burning all your matches too early?
I have a much more woolly version of that, which is based on having been advised, very early on, that when you're going through a bad patch, it won't last - but when you're going through a good patch, that won't last either.
So I remind myself, when I suddenly start to feel like Mathieu van Der Poel, that this is great, and I should make the most of it, and use the opportunity to make some progress - but also, that I shouldn't overdo it, because that might make the next bad patch even harder.
When I have bad patches, I gently coax myself to just keep on cycling, no matter how weakly, because slow progress is better than no progress.
(And of course, apply the checklist of: am I hungry? am I thirsty? am I too hot or cold? am I, perchance, sleep-deprived? do I need to go to the toilet?)
I am very much not an ultracyclist, but eating in the last 30 minutes is a tip I think I'll try when out walking, as I'm always a useless mess as soon as I get home and it would be nice to be less of one. Thanks!
This one also stood out for me. Also not an ultra cyclist but I do some long rides, and always seem to forget how long doing the bike/clothing/person clean-up takes at the end of the day before I can finally sit down with my cup of tea and snack!
My tip is that riding through a city is made worse by needing to pee, and knowing it might be a while before there’s an opportunity! Make sure to have a wild wee whilst still on the outskirts/in the countryside 😅
Wonderful advice, Emily - I will bear it in mind for London Edinburgh London in August! (Especially the packing tips - always my weak spot.) Key tip I have read is don’t abandon too cheaply. If you can, sleep on it, eat well, and then decide. Things often seem very different and more positive then. Also, take the adventure in bite sized chunks. If you’re going through a low, thinking ‘just 50km to the next control’ is much better for morale than ‘I still have another 1,000km to the finish’.
A friend and I rode from Turkey back to the UK last year (you can read my friends blog on our journey on the Mason Cycles website) and we always made sure we did our ‘admin’ at the end of each day. My tip would be: when you see a place where there’s food or drink or both stop and don’t think there will be another one a few miles or half an hour down the road.
Emily thank you. Last year we volunteered at CP4 of the TCR and then rode back home. It was an unforgettable life changing journey. This year we are volunteering at CP1 in Picos de Europa and afterwards we’ll cycle back again to the UK. It’s a great formula this volunteering on an ultra and then cycling home again after volunteering has finished 🥰.
Best advice I heard but forgot to heed until too late, (sploosh!) take your waterproof socks off before carrying your bike through a stream/River as its often deeper than you think especially in the dark!
I recently enjoyed this piece by Brendan Leonard aka Semi-Rad:
https://semi-rad.com/2025/05/a-regular-persons-guide-to-surviving-an-ultramarathon/
While I am very much not an ultracyclist or ultramarathoner, I appreciated this snippet:
“If you feel bad, eat something. If you feel good, slow down.”
I'd be interested to know your take on this second point Emily - better to make hay while the sun shines, or to avoid burning all your matches too early?
Oh that's brilliant - he's so good.
I have a much more woolly version of that, which is based on having been advised, very early on, that when you're going through a bad patch, it won't last - but when you're going through a good patch, that won't last either.
So I remind myself, when I suddenly start to feel like Mathieu van Der Poel, that this is great, and I should make the most of it, and use the opportunity to make some progress - but also, that I shouldn't overdo it, because that might make the next bad patch even harder.
When I have bad patches, I gently coax myself to just keep on cycling, no matter how weakly, because slow progress is better than no progress.
(And of course, apply the checklist of: am I hungry? am I thirsty? am I too hot or cold? am I, perchance, sleep-deprived? do I need to go to the toilet?)
I am very much not an ultracyclist, but eating in the last 30 minutes is a tip I think I'll try when out walking, as I'm always a useless mess as soon as I get home and it would be nice to be less of one. Thanks!
Oh good. It's one of my more recent hacks, and it really does make a difference.
This one also stood out for me. Also not an ultra cyclist but I do some long rides, and always seem to forget how long doing the bike/clothing/person clean-up takes at the end of the day before I can finally sit down with my cup of tea and snack!
My tip is that riding through a city is made worse by needing to pee, and knowing it might be a while before there’s an opportunity! Make sure to have a wild wee whilst still on the outskirts/in the countryside 😅
Oh yes - I do this too! Good tip.
Hi Emily, thank you for this post, I thought it had so much really great advice in, and written so compassionately too. Will read again and again.
Thank you!
making me want to get out and do another ride
Wonderful advice, Emily - I will bear it in mind for London Edinburgh London in August! (Especially the packing tips - always my weak spot.) Key tip I have read is don’t abandon too cheaply. If you can, sleep on it, eat well, and then decide. Things often seem very different and more positive then. Also, take the adventure in bite sized chunks. If you’re going through a low, thinking ‘just 50km to the next control’ is much better for morale than ‘I still have another 1,000km to the finish’.
This is all excellent advice, thank you.
I'll be volunteering on LEL (at two of the Scottish checkpoints), so perhaps I'll see you there!
That’s brilliant news, Emily. I’ll look out for you, assuming I’m still capable of this at that stage of LEL!
Love this Emily thank you! Particularly for making it free - will share far and wide 🧡
A friend and I rode from Turkey back to the UK last year (you can read my friends blog on our journey on the Mason Cycles website) and we always made sure we did our ‘admin’ at the end of each day. My tip would be: when you see a place where there’s food or drink or both stop and don’t think there will be another one a few miles or half an hour down the road.
Ah, that's good advice - and sounds like it comes from bitter experience! Congratulations on your ride. :)
Emily thank you. Last year we volunteered at CP4 of the TCR and then rode back home. It was an unforgettable life changing journey. This year we are volunteering at CP1 in Picos de Europa and afterwards we’ll cycle back again to the UK. It’s a great formula this volunteering on an ultra and then cycling home again after volunteering has finished 🥰.
Oh, that does sound like an excellent thing to do. And northern Spain is AMAZING for cycling.
All brilliant advice. Particularly agree about enjoying the ride. The pre-ride fear can often stop me from even getting to the start line.
Best advice I heard but forgot to heed until too late, (sploosh!) take your waterproof socks off before carrying your bike through a stream/River as its often deeper than you think especially in the dark!
Oh yes, this is a good one.