Seize The Whole Day

Spending a whole day in the saddle requires not only bloody-minded determination but also deep reserves of endurance and smart planning. Chris Marshall-Bell gets an all-day masterclass from some of the UK’s all-time greatest long-distance specialists

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Every weekend, a small but significant contingent of the cycling community ride for hours on end. Whether accomplishing a personal distance goal, taking part in a sportive, long-distance time trial or an ultra-endurance ride with friends, these hardened cyclists think nothing of staying in the saddle all day long. Some of them are targeting long distance records, others simply love the epic challenge of pushing to the limits of their endurance. But what is the appeal to the rest of us — how can we all get better at riding for longer?

Alice Lethbridge, who in 2017 broke Beryl Burton’s 50-year-old 12-hour time trial record and then last year set a new benchmark of 290.08 miles, started spending most of each weekend in the saddle six years ago. “It’s about getting on your bike and exploring,” she says. “You go to places that you would never go in a car or on foot; you see places you wouldn’t normally see. I pick a route and sometimes get lost, and that’s part of the fun. Having fun is important and I love riding my bike.”

Lethbridge’s first long ride was a mission in overcoming her own fears. “I remember doing my first 50 miles and being absolutely terrified that I was unable to make it that far on my own. I rode the same four-mile stretch of road, going back and forth until I reached 50 miles — I was that unsure whether I could ride it on my own.”