As some of you will already know, our Managing Director Andy is partial to a bit of a long explore on two wheels. From completing the TransAtlanticWay (TAW) in Ireland last summer – a 1500 mile self-supported ride traversing Ireland’s westernmost counties. To his recent bikepacking trip exploring some of Cycling UK’s King Alfred’s Way route (click here to watch the video on Instagram), and most recently taking on Chase The Sun’s 200 mile sunrise to sunset ride across the north of the UK. If there’s an adventure to be had on two wheels, Andy will usually be up for it!
We caught up with Andy to find out what it is about endurance riding that keeps him coming back for more, and to get his insights on how the Chase The Sun ride unfolded. Read on to find out if he made it to the finish before sunset…
Discovering a love of endurance riding: “There’s something magical about leaving one place and arriving somewhere else purely under your own steam…”
When I was first introduced to cycling, what I found fascinating really early on was this idea of finding out just how far you can go. There’s something magical about leaving one place and arriving somewhere else purely under your own steam – transporting yourself these fairly long distances, in your own time and your own space.
That fascination with long distance riding was there from the start. But then for quite a few years I mostly just did commuting or shorter distance riding and racing where my focus was on getting faster. But ultimately I found myself missing the good old days of bike touring – setting off on an old steel bike with panniers on it, filled with all sorts of stuff – ready for whatever adventures the ride might throw at you.
The endurance events and bikepacking trips I tend to be drawn to now are a combination of these two desires: one is to head out on two wheels to see how far I can get and explore new places. The other is the performance part: how far can I push myself? How fit can I get? How much can my body endure? Events like Chase the Sun give you this opportunity to put the two together: yes let’s get from A to B but let’s make it a really long distance and do it all in one day… and see what happens. I suppose ultimately what draws me to events like Chase the Sun is this notion of testing your physical limits, while getting to experience the sense of freedom that comes with travelling a long way purely on your own power.
“Physical limits are much less than I originally thought… the human body is very well adapted to these endurance events.”
Over time, heading off on these long distance adventures and taking part in endurance-based events has helped me to discover that physical limits are much less than I originally thought.
I remember when I first got into road riding, on one of those early rides I had to stop on a hill because I was exhausted. It was disheartening for me and I’ve seen lots of people over the years losing confidence when they think they have hit their limit and not having another go. I can totally understand why, but it feels like such a shame. In my case, I managed to carry on and the first time I made it past that point where I’d had to stop before, it really made an impression on me. I’d surpassed my previous limit. It firmly fixed this idea into my head that you can go further, so long as you keep coming back and trying.
I think the same thing is true for a lot of people. They are capable – they just need to have the confidence and the desire to keep trying and taking those small steps forward. Overcoming that hurdle or barrier is tough, but if you can push through it you’ll eventually get to have this really cool moment where you realise that your body doesn’t have the limitations you thought it did.
I think people might have this preconceived perception that with an event such as Chase the Sun, that it’s only for people who are almost ‘elite’ athletes and in peak physical shape. But in reality, it’s more achievable than you might think. You get on that start line and you look around and sure, there’s the super fit people who’ll go racing off at an incredulous pace. But in abundance, there’s regular, everyday people who just enjoy riding their bikes. People of all shapes, sizes, abilities and experience levels… and they’re about to tackle Chase the Sun. They’ve kept showing up, they’ve put in the miles and kept pushing their limits, bit by bit. And now – as long as they take their time and do it at their own pace – they’re going to complete a 200 mile ride.
What I think this shows is that as long as you take your time and you don’t let those hurdles you encounter stop you from trying: the human body is capable of doing more than we might give it credit for. Particularly with longer endurance events, we’re actually very well adapted!
The importance of filling your mental filing cabinet: “The mental barriers are probably the hardest thing to get past… having the fortitude to say: ‘I can keep going’. But once you tick off one milestone, it makes that next one feel that much more achievable.”
The first time I ever rode 200 miles in one go wasn’t actually that long ago. I’d signed up to do the TransAtlanticWay last summer (2022), which was a one and a half thousand mile multi-day trip. My plan for that adventure was to ride 200 miles a day… a plan I created having never actually cycled 200 miles in a day. In the run up to that event, I didn’t do a huge number of long rides but I wanted to have that knowledge in my ‘mental filing cabinet’ that I could get through a 200 mile ride, so I did specifically plan a few 200 milers into my training. That meant going into the TAW, I knew what riding 200 miles in a day felt like so, psychologically, when it was time to set off on that big adventure I had that little nudge of confidence because I knew I could get through that kind of mileage.
This mentality side of things is almost as important, if not more important, than the physical fitness element when it comes to taking on a big challenge. Physically, barring injury or anything like that, as long as you pace yourself well, stay fuelled and manage your energy levels – you can get through it. It’s actually the mental barriers that are probably the hardest thing to get past, and that’s the thing that can stop people from being able to complete their challenge. In the early stages of an event, you’re fresh and you’re excited. But once you’ve been on your saddle for 15 hours and you’re starting to feel jaded, it’s at that point that you really need to have the fortitude to say: ‘I can keep going’.
Going into Chase The Sun, I hadn’t done a huge amount of training or even spent that much time on the bike during the first part of this year, if I’m honest. But having that knowledge in my mental filing cabinet from TAW meant I knew I was capable of getting through 200 miles, so it made it less daunting.
Knowing – and trusting – that ‘you can’ is really quite powerful. And that rings true whether we’re talking about a 200 mile ride or a 20 mile ride, because everyone’s challenges are different. Once you tick one milestone off, it makes the next one feel so much more achievable. Going from 20 miles to 200 miles seems like a huge leap. But getting from 20 miles to 50 miles doesn’t feel so unattainable. And once you know you can do that, you’ll find yourself thinking ‘I managed that, so now I can just push my limit that tiny bit further and see how that feels’. I think that’s probably how some of us end up on this slightly mad journey, doing longer and longer rides. Because once you’ve achieved something, it opens up that self-belief that you can then push yourself and aim for the next one. Each time you surpass a milestone, it makes the next one feel more achievable. That’s pretty cool.
Chasing The Sun: Tales from the 2023 North ride
[photo: Andy (right) with Brand Ambassador, Luke (left), waiting to start the Chase The Sun North ride]
“Turning around on the start line and seeing all these people lined up, all waiting to take on the same adventure at the same time was pretty special.”
Lining up to start at sunrise on the morning of Chase The Sun, I actually felt quite relaxed. Partly because of that knowledge from previous rides that – barring any incidents – I’d be able to complete the ride. And also because I had a plan for the day and I knew my bike set-up was solid.
This meant that instead of worrying about my own situation, I had a chance to look around and take in the moment. To see all the other people who were there and just observe really. I remember turning around on the start line and seeing all these people lined up, all waiting to take on the same adventure at the same time. That was pretty special.
Overall the atmosphere was pretty relaxed – no one really looked particularly panicked or nervous. I think everyone was just happy and excited to be spending a day on the bike! You spend the night before so busy getting your bike ready and preparing everything, so once you get to the start line you’re just excited and eager to get riding. I was fortunate to be joined by our Brand Ambassador Luke, and his brother Mark who were both riding too. We had different plans when it came to how we’d approach the day, and they were soon off up the road. But it was nice to have their company at the start of the day.
“The route was incredible, and really cycle friendly. At times, you felt like you’d escaped away from the rest of the world.”
Travelling on two wheels is a beautiful way of seeing the country at a speed where you’ve got the chance to appreciate it a little bit more. You set off in Tynemouth, but fairly rapidly you’re out in to the Northumberland countryside. The weather was misty and grey, so while it was beautiful it did feel a bit like we weren’t seeing it at it’s very best!
Eventually you cross the border over into Scotland. I’ve always thought Scotland is a beautiful place, and it didn’t disappoint. The route itself was incredible too. Firstly, it’s almost exactly 200 miles which in itself is quite an achievement for the organisers. But also I was really surprised at how few main roads we came cross. It was really cycle friendly. We probably only hit a major road once or twice during the route, that I can remember, and it was only for very short sections. For the rest of it you’re just riding on these country lanes, and you have the views from the hills or these lovely tree-lined sections. At times, you felt like you’d escaped away from the rest of the world.
“Doing an event like Chase The Sun is very different to a self-supported adventure. You get those snippets of company from other riders on the road, and that camaraderie helps to keep you feeling positive.”
I was quite fortunate that, on this ride, I didn’t really find myself going to any dark places or massively feeling like I was struggling. I think that was down to a combination of having various groups to ride with and chat to, the weather being pretty solid and having a plan – which I stuck to.
I hadn’t done huge amounts of training prior to the event, but my experiences from previous endurance events meant I knew it was important to manage my energy and make sure I didn’t burn out. You’d see people pushing the pace a bit or attacking the hills, but for me I knew that I needed to just stick to my plan, take my time and conserve my energy so that I’d be able to keep pedalling through the day. The route has a fair bit of elevation, but the hills are gradual rather than any super sharp, steep climbs which I think is where you can do the damage.
So physically, by managing my effort I didn’t really have to go too deep into the suffer zone. And mentally, I think the company really helped. I had a smile on my face pretty much the whole ride! Even though you can end up fairly spread out on the roads because everyone’s riding at their own pace, you’ll find that you bump into the same people at the feed stops or you’ll spend a certain amount of time riding alongside someone else.
Those little moments of company make Chase The Sun very different to a long, solo, self-supported adventure. You get those snippets of company from other riders on the road, and because you’ve got that sense of camaraderie – someone else going through the same thing and chatting to you – it helps you to stay positive and keeps you away from those darker places you might find yourself going into on a tough solo ride.
It probably also helped that I took advantage of the stops… every time I had an opportunity to put some food in my face or have a drink, I took it! I was on that kind of journey and just enjoying the process. Riding well-fuelled is definitely key to enjoying yourself a bit more.
“Crossing the finish line, I put my arms up in the air and imagined I’d just won a big race… more for the entertainment of the onlookers than anything else!”
There was a chap I met during the latter parts of the ride who’d been dropped by his group, so he basically sat on my wheel for quite a long section and that helped him to catch back up to his group. By that point we had about 40-50km to go, so I rode on and off with the group for a while but I’d definitely reached the point where – while I was still enjoying the ride – I was also very much looking forward to reaching the finish line.
Knowing there were no more food stops, and the only thing between me and a finish line beer was about 20km, I got my head down and started to push a little harder towards the end. Getting to the finish line was a great feeling. As I approached I had that “I’ve done it” moment of realisation, and I’d completed the ride in a time I was pretty happy with too. I crossed the line imagining I’d just won a Tour de France stage or something, putting my hands up in the air… more for the purpose of entertaining the onlookers than anything else! You might not expect there’d be much of an atmosphere at an event which is so long, finishes fairly late in the evening, and finishes 200 miles away from where it started. But it was great because there were a fair number of people around cheering as riders came over the line, so you did get that sense of having really completed something.
I managed to finish before sunset – so that was mission complete: I’d chased the sun, and caught it! I’d set off in the morning thinking I should be able to finish somewhere close to sunset, so it was great to complete the ride slightly faster than I expected. I was handed a nice alcohol-free beer (which you can’t argue with really as a sensible choice, given that we’d all just spent several hours pedalling!) and sat by the sea, watching other riders coming in. It was a great day, and definitely an event I’d do again.
Top tips for completing a Chase The Sun ride
“The first thing is to believe in yourself.”
For anyone who’s interested in participating in one of the Chase The Sun rides next year, my first top tip – and this is applicable to all sorts of other rides too – is to believe in yourself. Have faith, and take that step and sign up for a challenge that puts you out of your comfort zone. Hitting that ‘enter now’ button can be the scariest part. But with any sort of endurance challenge, if you try it and it doesn’t work out – you can still hold your head up high because you were brave enough to try in the first place. And, of course, there’s the very strong likelihood that you’ll try it and you’ll complete it. In which case, you’ll have an immense sense of achievement which gives you confidence and self-belief far beyond the challenge itself. So really, tip 1 is: trust that ‘you can’. Believe in yourself, trust the process… and just keep pedalling.
“The biggest mistake you can make is to under-fuel.”
The second tip, specifically for an all-day endurance event like Chase The Sun, is to fuel yourself. Take advantage of all the food stops and make sure that you’re eating and drinking enough. What you’ll need specifically comes down to a number of factors – different weather conditions, different riding intensities, different people – we’re all going to require different things. But the fundamental point is to make sure you’re taking on adequate fuel. The biggest mistake you can make for these types of events is to under-fuel. You’re going to be burning through a lot of energy, and especially in the later stages you’re going to need plenty of reserves in the tank to keep you moving. The food stops on the Chase The Sun route also give you those key moments of interaction with other people that will help to keep you mentally in a good place. I remember on the ride pulling up to this village hall which they open up as a stop on the route every year. There’s all these lovely local volunteers, and for a small donation you can get tea, coffee and biscuits. A welcome treat in the middle of a big ride! They’re genuinely happy to see you and that’s a moment of joy that you just shouldn’t pass up. You’re getting fuel back in your system and you’re having a positive interaction, which can be just what you need if you find that you’re getting into your own head out on the road.
“Ride your own ride.”
Tip 3 would be to ride your own ride, and manage your effort. It can be easy to get swept up in the moment and end up riding along at someone else’s pace – and they might be aiming to do the ride way faster than you are, which means a few miles down the road you’ll have put yourself into a bit of a hole. Ride at your own pace – the pace and the effort level that you know you can manage. It’s your day, your challenge so don’t worry about what others are doing. Have a plan for your pacing and try to stick to it – but also know that if on the day, for whatever reason, you can’t hit that pace or push that power, that’s okay. Let it go, embrace the change and just go along at what feels manageable. Don’t let what other people are doing dictate your day. Manage your effort, go at your pace and you’ll get to the end. Oh, and don’t forget that it’s not a signposted route with arrows at every turn – so be prepared to self-navigate! The organisers provide the route as a GPX file in advance, so it’s easy enough to have that programmed into your bike computer.
Those are probably my main three tips for anyone looking to take part in Chase The Sun next year – and I really would highly recommend that you do consider giving it a go! The organisation was really good, and while it’s not a fully supported route, everyone involved with running the event was very friendly, helpful and encouraging. My entry package also included a meal at lunchtime and then a dinner at the end of the event, which was really nice because it meant I got to sit down with all these new-found friends I’d met out on the road and have a catch up.
It was a brilliant day and the organisers did a great job of keeping an eye on all of us out on the road and making sure everyone was looked after. So a big thank you to Chase The Sun for giving me the opportunity to come and take part, and to Luke, Mark and all the other riders for their brilliant company out on the road. As for the rest of The Herd: hopefully I might see some of you Goats on a Chase The Sun ride in the future!
COMMEMORATE YOUR 2023 CHASE THE SUN RIDE
Stolen Goat are delighted to have been the official cycling kit provider for the Chase The Sun events in 2022 and 2023… and the good news is we’ll be back with a brand new design for the 2024 rides! For now though, if you want to commemorate your 2023 ride (or if you just love this year’s design) you’ll need to hit that ‘add to cart’ button pretty sharpish. What’s in stock on the site right now is physically in stock – meaning no pre-order window or lead times – but also, once it’s gone it’s gone. So get your hooves on it before it disappears!
Want to learn more about Chase The Sun and how this coast-to-coast adventure started in the first place? Check out our interview with founder, Olly Moore.