How To Prepare For An Ultra Endurance Ride - What I Did And Why

Published at : 23 Dec 2025

Preparing for an ultra-endurance event is about more than just logging miles. It's a deep dive into optimising every single detail of your bike, equipment, nutrition, and personal physiology. In this ultimate guide, Ollie breaks down every choice he made in his attempt to break an ultra-endurance record.
We'll cover the big decisions like choosing a road bike over a TT bike, and the nerdy marginal gains like waxed chains, custom comms, and the exact data fields you need on your head unit. Ollie also shares the crucial strategies for nutrition, hydration (and why you need a sweat test), and his secret weapon for performing in extreme conditions: heat training. This is the complete blueprint for anyone looking to take their long-distance riding to the next level.

Check out the record attempt 👉 https://youtu.be/cv4EasNs4s0
Chapters ⏱️

00:00 - Introduction: The Ultra-Endurance Blueprint
00:27 - The "Reverse Engineering" Strategy
01:10 - Bike Choice: Why A Road Bike Over A TT Bike?
03:14 - The Need For Speed: Wheels & Aero
04:32 - The Nerdy Details: Tyres & Pressure
05:55 - Drivetrain: The Endurance Wax Setup
07:15 - Cockpit Part 1: Navigation & Data Fields
08:25 - The Most Important Data Field For Ultras
08:59 - The Unseen Hours of Route Planning
11:12 - Cockpit Part 2: Safety Tech (Radar Light)
12:07 - The Communication Game-Changer
14:28 - The Engine Part 1: Nutrition Introduction
15:06 - Why Hydration Is Key (Sweat Tests)
16:14 - Pre-Loading With Electrolytes
17:27 - The Carb Loading & Fuelling Plan (90g/hr)
20:26 - The Engine Part 2: The Secret Weapon (Heat Training)
22:01 - The Final Details: Kit & Clothing
24:37 - Why Mitts Are Essential For Long Rides
25:33 - Helmet Choice: Cooling vs. Aero
26:56 - Aero Shoes vs Aero Socks: The Verdict
27:55 - The Training Plan: Building The Ultra Engine
30:11 - The Importance of "Dress Rehearsal" Rides
31:29 - Conclusion

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We hope this detailed breakdown gives you some ideas and confidence for your own endurance goals. What's the next big ultra-event or long-distance challenge on your calendar? Let us know 👇

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