Advice Ahead of 104 Mile Sportive

[Hip Priest]

You should take the opportunity to get out in the wet too. You can't pick the weather on the day of your event... Having some rain time will benefit you should it be a typical British weather day. Good luck, have fun and keep us posted.

Don't get me wrong, I'm alright with a bit of rain, but I'd have been bottom-bracket-deep in floodwater if I'd gone out today!

 

[Hip Priest]

I would say........... just get out on your bike and log as many miles as you can (within reason). When you feel tired and fatigued (so long as it is not too bad, a bit subjective I know, what I mean is, don't pussy out if you ache a bit and feel tired), not to worry, keep riding lots. Do this for 3-4 weeks, then slowly back down the volume but maintain the intensity in the week before your ride.

Take in a few hills to benefit your mojo!

It's a bit close to get all technical about it and I suspect you will do just fine regardless, just need to be busying yourself to convince yourself!

Cheers for the advice. I'm currently averaging about 100 miles p/w, though 50 miles of that is commuting. I think I'll aim to do 100k every Saturday before the event, with a shorter fast-paced ride on Thursdays after work.

The steepest climb on the event is only 15-20 miles from home, so I've no excuse for not going and facing it.

 

[Norry1]

Get an 11-28 cassette.

Also practice cycling slower on tough hills. I found I used to blow out until I learned to do this. I can now get up the hardest hills the Uk has to offer.

 

[Hip Priest]

Get an 11-28 cassette.

Also practice cycling slower on tough hills. I found I used to blow out until I learned to do this. I can now get up the hardest hills the Uk has to offer.

Good stuff. That advice has actually worked for me before. I did a recce of the 100k route a week before last year's event. On a long 8-10% climb, I had to stop and catch my breath twice, which left me feeling pathetic.

But on the day, I kept pace with others around me, and found it very comfortable, and was even able to get out the saddle and sprint over the top! I guess I'd been trying to 'get it over with' too quickly on my previous attempt. It's a tendency I have on climbs.

 

[Hip Priest]

Based on the above advice from Rob, I've come up with a training plan for the next four weeks.

Tues & Thurs PM - 20-25 miles at fast pace (18-20mph)
Saturday AM - 100k, at least 3000ft of climbing at endurance pace (15-16mph)
Mon-Fri - 10 mile round commute at gentle, recovery pace

 

[mip]

You'll be fine on the hills. Pray for good weather. I did the Wooler Wheel 160km a few weeks ago and it felt like I was riding into a constant head wind. Painful.

 

[e-rider]

you can do an awful lot of training in 5 weeks if you are motivated - get cycling now!

if you want to conserve as much energy as possible for the 104 miles, then you would need to really take it easy on the climbs - this would almost certainly mean getting dropped from most groups, or your mates having to wait for you - the reward being that you'll be able to cycle further without bonking i.e. complete the course. You would need to be very disciplined in the early stages to keep a lid on it!

 

[carolonabike]

I guess its the Ryals you're talking about, just take them slowly and you'll be fine. I did it last year on my beloved Cube with a granny ring (30-28) I'm not saying it wasn't hard but I got to the top, I didn't walk and I didn't fall off. I reckon as long as you get to there it doesn't matter how you get there, or how long it takes. Same goes for Billsmoor and the Gibbet, don't panic and keep going.