Hi, just a little feedback. I'm riding 50km every 2 days now without stopping (I had a hard time drinking on the bike without stopping because of my lack of technique
).
A few things that helped significantly:
- using a lighter and more ventilated helmet ( I feel less and less neck pain)
- wearing sport glasses (sounds weird but I didn't realize how much of a difference it could make not to feel the wind in my eyes)
- drink a little but regularly (trying to figure out which hydration solution is the best between a camelback and bottles or both)
- focus on making efforts without going as far as feeling pain or difficulties to breathe normally (again it sounds obvious but I have a natural tendency to "push" myself as I'm used to sports demanding more intensity and less endurance)
- focus on my comfort and calm down mentally, which again isn't natural for me
- eat while riding (fruit paste)
- breathe deeply and slowly and open my mouth a bit wider than what I'm used to
What I improved on the bike:
-> saddle bag to carry all the stuff to repair an eventual tire puncture
-> bigger bottle (1L)
-> frame bag for my waterproof jacket + tire pump
-> tire pressure: 6.4 in the front and 6.6 in the rear is almost perfect for me
What's to come:
-> new brake pads (swissstop BXP), which have become an absolute necessity
-> latex inner tubes?
-> larger tires for winter riding, especially on the wet (25mm slick tires don't feel especially safe on wet leaves..)
-> GPS
-> bike fit?
All in all I feel comfort is the essential factor to ride for a long time. I still have a little pain in these areas: back of the neck, lower part of my back, bum..