Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 11,182
Bikes: 1961 Ideor, 1966 Perfekt 3 Speed AB Hub, 1994 Bridgestone MB-6, 2006 Airnimal Joey, 2009 Thorn Sherpa, 2013 Thorn Nomad MkII, 2015 VO Pass Hunter, 2017 Lynskey Backroad, 2017 Raleigh Gran Prix, 1980s Bianchi Mixte on a trainer. Others are now gone.
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Everything here was good.
But your mental attitude is important too. Set several individual goals. I never think about how far it is to the end point, that can be too overwhelming. On a brevet, I only think about how far to the next control. You might set several individual goals for where you will stop and take a short break, could be a wayside rest, could be a convenience store that sells junk food.
A saddle can feel very comfortable for an hour or two, but hours later it might feel like a torture device. Try to get some longer rides in to make sure your saddle works for you.
Plan to adjust clothing as you ride, if you have too many layers on and sweat more, that is more hydration you need. If you shed layers, how will they be carried?
Plan for how often you add sunscreen.
Do you have a plan for rain? If your plan for rain is to delay your ride, that is in fact a plan. But if you do not have a plan for adverse weather, it likely will be adverse.