From Cycle Touring to Ultra Endurance Performer: My London Edinburgh London 2025 Journey
"If you do what you have always done - you will always get what you always got."
It was volunteering at the London Edinburgh London (LEL) 1500km long distance cycle ride, audax, in 2022 that spurred me to seek a coach. As a hobby cyclist who liked to tour occasionally and considered a 100km to be a big day out I was inspired by the event. Could I do that? No way! However I was impressed with the spirit of adventure in the riders. Most had never done anything so big before either so why couldn’t I? What was stopping me? Two things: physical fitness and fear of failure. I needed help.
Building a Long-Distance Cycling Foundation with Professional Coaching
John listened carefully to my broad cycling plans - get fitter, cycle further. and shaped a programme to help me do that. Through the EBR online club I was introduced to other ‘athletes’ (apparently I was one too!) whose conversations normalised the thought of cycling all day and into the night.
I began to build up my riding time and realised soon that long distance cycling to a time limit - audaxing - was a multi faceted problem to be solved. It was more than a decent FTP. Fitness mattered of course but so did food as fuel, shaping mindset, shaping a season and sleeping tactics. These were all topics discussed with expert input and great contribution from other members of the club.
Audax Success: Progressing from 200km to 600km Events
My confidence grew and I was able to complete a 200 a 300 and a 400km within a season. Crucially at this stage I learnt so much through the coaching process not least that I needed to rest more before long rides and then rest more after, often for longer than I wanted. By trying too hard I was slowing recovery. I learnt a lot about recovery.
Because John was shaping my programme I began to trust the process and take rest and recovery as seriously as I did cycling. I adjusted my cycling goals and began to perform better. I began strength training and stretching too.
Eight months before LEL I shaped my year's cycling with John to enable me to perform well at two staging post events before LEL and then be in great shape for the August adventure. By this stage I had taken part in one ultra and completed an SR series* of rides culminating in a 600km in 38 hours. This was my new normal! However mentally I was unconvinced I could scale this up to LEL
*Super Randonneur, also known as Brevet des Randonneurs Mondiaux is a series of rides to be completed in 1 year consisting of 200, 300, 400 and 600km rides.
Mental Resilience: The Key to Ultra-Endurance Cycling Performance
When I sought reassurance from John and listened carefully to his answers it was clear to me that I needed to shift my mindset from believing I could ‘solve’ the problem of LEL to one where I had to acknowledge that all I could do was control the controllables and accept there were no guarantees in completing it as I wanted.
It was such a big challenge that it was naive to think I could prevent any mishaps; rather I needed to believe my experience would enable me to solve most issues that presented themselves. It would be a challenge that would come with some discomfort but it would not last forever and it would be worth it in the end.
Adapting to Challenges: When LEL 2025 Met Storm Floris
This spirit of curiosity about what might happen and how I might respond was exactly what I needed as the ride was shortened for all riders due to Storm Floris and I only completed 950km in 4 days!
Whilst many were deflated by the shortened LEL and threw the bike metaphorically into the shed after a break I was disappointed yet not disheartened. No doubt because I had been practising my new mindset.
Fundamentally I feel my approach to uncertainty in the rest of my life has changed for the better too. This has come from cycling and working with John.
Future Ultra Distance Goals
Now I am already considering the next challenge: next year's goal is a 1200km Audax through Norway and Sweden passing through the Arctic Circle. And the year after? Paris Brest Paris - the ultimate Audax.
The Value of Cycling Coaching
Working with John and the team at Endurance Bike and Run has broadened my understanding of endurance riding. It has made it more rewarding and I have enjoyed more success. As I enter my 60th year I am fitter than I have ever been mentally and physically.
So why choose a coach? Well if you don’t know what you don’t know how will you know how to improve?
Phil completed the shortened LEL 2025 despite the challenges of Storm Floris. His journey from hobby cyclist to ultra-distance rider showcases the transformative power of structured coaching. If you would like to find out more about our coaching services why not book a chat with one of our coaches using the link below?
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