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Originally Posted by vdublover
Make sure your bike is the right size, your seat is the best money can buy and you have a couple pairs of good riding shorts (with a$$ pads). The reason most bikers drop out of long distance rides is because of sunburn ON THE EARS (according to my Sports Nutrition class at UCSB oh so many years ago). So make sure you have plenty of sunblock and a comfy hat that will block UV from some of your face and ears!
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I agree with a few things, but disagree with others.
Right size bike, is very important, but on top of that, make sure your seat height, handlebar height and pedal stroke are correct. One thing I notice all the time since I've learned to size bikes and how people sit on them is A LOT of people ride where their knees are kicking up way too high. They are losing a lot of power out of their pedal stroke, or for a long distance ride, wasting energy.
Best bike seat money can buy, not necessarily, try out your bike seat, is it comfy, or after 10 miles would you rather have a butt plug in your ass? Try your seat out, you don't have to spend hundreds on a seat, and more padding on the seat DOES NOT mean more comfortable (it may be comfortable the first 5-10 miles, it might kill you after that).
Sunblock is key! After a week of biking I didn't have to worry about my arms so much, but I would still lather up my legs, face, EARS, neck at the beginning of the day, during lunch, and sometimes on snack breaks.
The hat to block the sun? I feel every cyclist should be wearing a helmet, I just saw a cyclist today ride into the rear-end of a car merging onto the road. Cars don't see you, if you're mountain biking, you're bike might catch a rock or branch and flip on you, keep your noggin' in a secure bucket, and no bucket I know of is designed to keep sun off your ears or face so sunscreen it is.