Schaye still puts in 60-hour weeks.
On August 18, Schaye plans to climb onto his bike in the small French town of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines and, from the 10 PM starting time onward, pedal around the clock. Schaye will have to pedal 250 miles daily for three consecutive days, on a minimal amount of rest and sleep. To meet certain checkpoints, most riders go without sleep for the first 36 hours. Schaye's goal, like that of most riders, is to complete the ride within the time limit. Is he worried about a bumpy road ahead? "I don't even let the thought creep into my mind," he says. "If I do, I'm done."
If it sounds as if you have to be a super talent to take on such a ride, Schaye insists that the only difference between him and the next guy is the sheer will to go the distance. "If a guy like me can do this, with a full-time job, heck, anybody can. Why not?" He pauses, smiling. "You have to be a little off to do this. I know that I'm a little off, but I think it's off in a good way."
A self-proclaimed gearhead, Paul Schaye recommends his favorite bike stuff.
The wheel deal Schaye swears by his titanium, four-year-old Litespeed Classic -- "my boy," he calls it. He opted for the Classic because its frame is more about comfort than about high-speed performance. (Visit www.litespeed.com. Price, including custom-made enhancements: about $7,000.)
Get a grip You've got to hand it to the Swiss-made Pros summer gloves by Assos. Padding where you want it at a hands-down good deal. (Visit www.assos.com. Price: $44.95.)
Hot seat For a kick-butt performance, try Assos's FI.13 cycling shorts. They provide the right amount of cushion in the right place. (Price: $219.95.) And for a smooth ride between you and your shorts, pack on the Chamois Butt'r butt balm. (Visit www.pacelineproducts.com. Price: $11.95.)
Fuel speed ahead "I'm constantly eating and drinking," Schaye says. "It's a veritable feast." He eats one-quarter of a Balance Bar (www.balance.com) every 15 minutes or half hour. He cuts the bars into bite-sized pieces and stores them in a bike lunch pack called a Bento Box. (Visit www.tniusa.com. Price: under $20.) He washes them down with Accelerade (www.accelerade.com), which he stores in a 64-ounce CamelBak pack. (Visit www.camelbak.com. Price: $30 to $90.)
Take heart Monitor your heart rate with the Polar S-210. A simple but smart device, it will help you stay on track. (Visit www.polar-heartrate-monitors.com. Price: $162.)
Christine Canabou is a Fast Company staff writer.
Email
Digg
StumbleUpon
Facebook
Buzz Up!
LinkedIn
