Should I do the Trossachs Ton..?

[mrmacmusic]

OK, so last year I lost weight, got on a bike, bought a hybrid and started commuting (but you might know that already if you've read any of my earlier posts!)...

Although I've notched up a whisker shy of 2,000 miles so far on my Ridgeback Flight since last August, I still consider myself a bit of a cycling newbie. I quite fancy the challenge of doing the 'Ton' and raising a bit of money into the process, but before I sign up, I'd welcome the advice of you more experienced riders and seasoned sportive veterans!

Having never taken part in the event before (or anything similar at all, ever), I'm wondering if I'm going to feel like a square peg bedecked in LIDL's gear riding a hybrid... is there usually a mixed bag of people, fitness levels and gear? Despite the fact that I would of course be taking part for fun, the experience/challenge and to raise money rather than to break any speed records, I don't want to be so out of my depth that I can't complete the course or finish last.

I've not resumed 5-day a week commuting yet, but hopefully it'll only be a few weeks or so before I'm back into the swing of things doing my 28.5 miles round trip weekdays, slotting in the odd Sunday morning ride too.... Come June, could I realistically commute every day and slot in 100km on Sunday, then commute again on the Monday?

Over the Christmas break I did a few longer rides of 27 miles (short for you lot, I guess!), but that's the furthest I've done. I felt OK afterwards – tighter in the legs though, which I don't normally feel after the 14.2 mile journey to work. I certainly didn't feel like I could do another 40 or so.... What sort of training should I do? Is it just a case of increasing the miles on the Sunday ride?

I tend not to push too hard when commuting and manage to average around 15mph (less if it's windy or the panniers are full!), but there's no big climbs involved and I have concerns over the Duke's Pass section of the Ton... Assuming I've got myself prepared, would a change of rear cassette be advisable to get my bike prepared? I've got a triple up front (32/42/52) and 12-25 at the back if I remember correctly, and a cassette would be less expensive than N+1 (although I've got my eye on a Whyte Charing Cross come upgrade time LOL!)

Perhaps I'm over-thinking this, and I should just go for it...

 

[zizou]

Do it 2000 since August isn't too bad, i know people who did it last year who would have had less miles in their legs than that.

There will be others hybrids so you wont be out of place.

You could do the commute every day and building up to a 100 km ride on a sunday. When the lighter nights arrive you could always do a ride in the evening or even just take the long way home after work.

btw a good option to track your progress before the Trossachs Ton is pick another shorter event before June (for example the Evans Ride It from Callander which is in April is shorter and the route takes in the Dukes Pass -although i think it goes up the other side). You might find it easier building up towards that event over the next 2 or 3 months - then afterwards the Trossachs Ton will seem alot more achievable that is may do now. Personally i find it a bit hard to keep focus on events that are far off, so like to plan for different smaller goals along the way before the main one.

 

[mrmacmusic]

Cheers zizou

I didn't know about the Callandar event and it looks interesting too! I wonder if the 30 mile route option incorporates the Duke's Pass, as that certainly would give me a taster for the Ton?

Thinking about preparing for the Duke's Pass element and the potential suitability (or not) of my gearing, Evans' site says that it's 500ft of climb in 2 miles... is that correct? Using Runkeeper I've established that I have a local taster by way of a 500ft climb in only 1 mile from Logie Kirk heading up to Sheriffmuir (near Stirling University), whilst continuing right up to the Sheriffmuir Inn would be 850ft in about 3.5 miles (!)

I guess I could try that climb the next time it's not freezing and see how I get on. That might put me right off

 

[Seamab]

MrMac, the Sheriffmuir climb is much harder than the Dukes Pass and is probably the hardest climb in the vicinity apart from Castle Campbell in Dollar. If you can get up to Sheriffmuir without walking the Dukes Pass will be a breeze.
IIRC the max gradient on Dukes pass is 12% (and only for a very short section at the first hairpin near the start) whereas Sheriffmuir has several 25% sections in the first half of the climb. The fun starts at the first hairpin after Logie Kirk. The road surface is so much better now - it used to be very poor with a lot of gravel which resulted in back wheelspin when you stood out of the saddle.
You could maybe try it from the Dunblane side first? This is much more akin to the Dukes Pass and fairly challenging.

With regard to doing the T Ton, you've got plenty of time to get ready and increase your endurance before the event, so why not? Doing it on a hybrid might not be a bad idea as a lot of the road surfaces are pretty poor.

You could also try riding the A91 from Tilly up to the Yetts of Muckhart which is a long steady if easy climb but good for building endurance. Loads of climbing round Dollar as well (Law Hill?). Plenty of local loops to get you going!

 

[thnurg]

I did the Ton last year. It was really hard but I managed it. I had more rest breaks than I would like and walked part of Crow Road, but I managed it. I got my first road bike in April after being an occasional mountain bike commuter for years previously. My training was mostly the 5.5 mile commute between Alva and Stirling Uni plus a couple of 40-50 mile Saturday mornings.
It sounds to me that you are a lot fitter than I am and do more cycling. I reckon you could do the Ton no trouble. I'm hoping to do it again this year. I'm using my mountain bike until March when I'll be digging out the road bike. PM me if you fancy meeting up for an early Saturday or Sunday ride. It may help us both prepare for it.

 

[HLaB]

Perhaps I'm over-thinking this, and I should just go for it...

You are getting plenty of miles in go for it. As for training you are right it is just a case of getting more miles in, preferably hilly A long way off but in the week prior to the event you may want to ease off on your commute, you don't have to cut back on the distance, just the intensity and rest from any other training. As for Dukes Pass its long but not too steep and like Seamab says there are lots of local climbs that are harder. Another gentle training hill is Yetts O Muckhart to Hill End (or Knock Hill) a loop to there and back from Tillicoultry would only be around 20 miles. If you wanted a slightly longer harder of ride, Niving Craigs (Cleish Hill) would be around 30miles or a loop to Dunning would be around 35miles. I would do them and perhaps Law Hill first before building up to Logie Kirk (Sherriffmuir). Good Luck

 

[mrmacmusic]

Hey, thanks Seamab - appreciate the local contextualisation

I used to pootle about the Ochils and was up Sheriffmuir many times as a teenager on my rigid mountain bike. In fact, the last time I was up Sheriffmuir it was when I was 16 (nearly 22 years ago... eek!) and I climbed from the Dunblane side. I never made it back down though as I misjudged the 90deg bend to the wee bridge and crashed over the parapet. Lessons were learned that day.

Been thinking about a loop through Muckhart as suggested. The 27 miles I did last weekend was Dollar, Dollarbeg, Ramshorn, Forestmill, Alloa, Cambus, Manor Powis, Causewayhead, Macrobert Centre and back home via Hillfoots road. It would be easy to extend this loop on the Dollar side via Muckhart, and/or to incorporate a mini Sheriffmuir climb from Bridge of Allan to Logie Kirk... I ought to investigate Glendevon/Crieff too?

Regarding my hybrid, it's really a flat-bar road bike (I'm told) - 25c tyres, Sora groupset etc - and it can be bone shaking on poor surfaces. What's up with the road surface on the Ton, and is it any worse than the standard roughly finished occasionally potholed local fare? Dollarbeg and outside Witches Craig are notably teeth rattling!

 

[HLaB]

Hey, thanks Seamab - appreciate the local contextualisation

Regarding my hybrid, it's really a flat-bar road bike (I'm told) - 25c tyres, Sora groupset etc - and it can be bone shaking on poor surfaces. What's up with the road surface on the Ton, and is it any worse than the standard roughly finished occasionally potholed local fare? Dollarbeg and outside Witches Craig are notably teeth rattling!

From the gearing it certainly sounds like it is. The road surface is good around the course until you get to the Carron Valley and back into Stirling its a bit of a bone shaker on the descent, a wee bit worse than Dollarbeg.

 

[mrmacmusic]

Thanks for more local input Hlab - I need to investigate those local routes... clearly there's a wealth of great runs in the area that I need to investigate! Still, this will be my first Spring cycling, and I'm looking forward to racking up the miles.

Good advice too about easing up on the intensity of the commute in the week before, thanks. No doubt after (yes, after) I sign up, I'm sure I'll have lots more advice requests!!

 

[mrmacmusic]

From the gearing it certainly sounds like it is. The road surface is good around the course until you get to the Carron Valley and back into Stirling its a bit of a bone shaker on the descent, a wee bit worse than Dollarbeg.

Cheers

 

[thnurg]

+1 on Witches Craig. It's a pig. I don't know which route they are doing this year as they changed it last year due to poor road conditions Stronachlacher to Aberfoyle. The only bit of road that I really didn't like was heading south out of Aberfoyle down the A81.

 

[Seamab]

Thanks for more local input Hlab - I need to investigate those local routes... clearly there's a wealth of great runs in the area that I need to investigate! Still, this will be my first Spring cycling, and I'm looking forward to racking up the miles.

Good advice too about easing up on the intensity of the commute in the week before, thanks. No doubt after (yes, after) I sign up, I'm sure I'll have lots more advice requests!!

Basically you should be trying to gradually build up endurance over the period so that you will be able to cycle continously for 6+ hours. Note "gradually"! There is an old rule of thumb that suggests adding no more than 10% onto your route/time in saddle each week. You could possibly try upping the intensity of your commute a couple of times per week. Occasionally, have an easy week if you feel tired.
On the T Ton you face 2 major climbs (Dukes Pass at about 20 miles in) then (Crow Rd at about 65/70 ish). The final bit from Fintry is pretty rolling and can be hard going on tired legs. It's about getting round the route so pacing is key - don't start too hard and don't thrash up the hills or you'll pay for it later. You'll also need to think about eating/drinking on the bike and experiment with bars/energy drinks as your rides get longer to see what suits you best.
As Hlab has pointed out there are plenty of hilly routes round here so plenty of options.

I'm not sure if the road surfaces are any better than when i did it the first year it was held. Somehow i doubt it. I remember losing a water bottle which jumped out the bottle cage coming down the hill back into Stirling.

Once the spring comes maybe we could organise a Clackmannanshire ride out over the Dukes Pass?

Good luck with your training.

 

[Tomba]

mrmac, there are a couple of events in April, zizou mentioned the Evans Ride It from Callander, thats got a few different distances 30, 60, 100 I think so do the 60. Then two weeks later you have the Scottish Bike Show Sportive, 65 or 100.

edit: meant to say you could use them to gauge your progress.

 

[mrmacmusic]

Basically you should be trying to gradually build up endurance over the period so that you will be able to cycle continously for 6+ hours. Note "gradually"! There is an old rule of thumb that suggests adding no more than 10% onto your route/time in saddle each week. You could possibly try upping the intensity of your commute a couple of times per week. Occasionally, have an easy week if you feel tired.
On the T Ton you face 2 major climbs (Dukes Pass at about 20 miles in) then (Crow Rd at about 65/70 ish). The final bit from Fintry is pretty rolling and can be hard going on tired legs. It's about getting round the route so pacing is key - don't start too hard and don't thrash up the hills or you'll pay for it later. You'll also need to think about eating/drinking on the bike and experiment with bars/energy drinks as your rides get longer to see what suits you best.
As Hlab has pointed out there are plenty of hilly routes round here so plenty of options.

"Gradually"... got it

I wasn't planning on entering the 100 miles, rather "just" the 100km – so I guess I wouldn't have 2 major climbs. Unless of course I man up and go for the imperial ton

I think once I start doing some longer weekend routes, I'll get the hang of pacing myself. Hopefully. Good advice about fuel too – I usually only take water on my commute, and I've never been near an energy drink! When I did my 27 miles (1hr 45) I deliberately stopped about 50 minutes in for a cereal bar, but I'm not sure it was really necessary. As I up the distances to 30, 40, 50 miles I know I will need to think seriously about topping up whilst riding (and stopping for cake too ), but there's probably 1001 threads about that already... I'm aware that even the 100km could burn up a serious amount of calories, so it's something that I'll definitely be thinking about, and doubtless asking more questions here too!

I'm not sure if the road surfaces are any better than when i did it the first year it was held. Somehow i doubt it. I remember losing a water bottle which jumped out the bottle cage coming down the hill back into Stirling.

Really?!

Once the spring comes maybe we could organise a Clackmannanshire ride out over the Dukes Pass?

Sounds like a great idea – I've always cycled solo, so a spot of company (or even a wee group ride) once the weather warms up might be good preparation!

 

[mrmacmusic]

mrmac, there are a couple of events in April, zizou mentioned the Evans Ride It from Callander, thats got a few different distances 30, 60, 100 I think so do the 60. Then two weeks later you have the Scottish Bike Show Sportive, 65 or 100.

edit: meant to say you could use them to gauge your progress.

Cheers Tomba – as it happens, I stumbled across the SBS Sportive. I think I'd only do one in April though, so now I have options!

What is a "Sportive" anyway? Should amateur just-for-fun-and-to-save-money-on-the-commute cyclists be entering such events?