6 weeks to prepare for the 2015 Etape du Tour.

[Kawasicki]

So, did it yesterday.

No problems, finished in the high 3,000s, from 15,000 starters.

Thanks for all the advice and encouragement.

[johnxjsc1985]

Kawasicki said:

So, did it yesterday.

No problems, finished in the high 3,000s, from 15,000 starters.

Thanks for all the advice and encouragement.

Very well done mate that is such a great effort

[Kawasicki]

johnxjsc1985 said:

Very well done mate that is such a great effort

Thanks!

[johnxjsc1985]

Kawasicki said:

Thanks!

Think I have done well over 175k miles but I have never done what you have just done I am almost motivated to get back on the bike but thankfully that moment has gone.

[Kawasicki]

johnxjsc1985 said:

Think I have done well over 175k miles but I have never done what you have just done I am almost motivated to get back on the bike but thankfully that moment has gone.

Do it. With a bit of grit and determination, some good quality training and the right gearing you can do it.

[47p2]

Well done

[Pachydermus]

Kawasicki said:

No problems, finished in the high 3,000s, from 15,000 starters.

Chapeau! If you can do that with minimal training I imagine if you keep going you'll be able to join the real race next year.

[Kawasicki]

47p2 said:

Well done

Thanks

[Kawasicki]

Pachydermus said:

Chapeau! If you can do that with minimal training I imagine if you keep going you'll be able to join the real race next year.

Thanks. I agree with you, but I would also say that the finishing position had a lot to do with not voluntarily stopping for more than 2 minutes in total the whole day. Also...I overtook thousands on the descents. Heart rate climbing was around 160 bpm, descending was 10 bpm higher. That was the only bit I really enjoyed.

[outnumbered]

That's a hell of an effort on six weeks training. Well done!

[johnxjsc1985]

Kawasicki said:

Thanks. I agree with you, but I would also say that the finishing position had a lot to do with not voluntarily stopping for more than 2 minutes in total the whole day. Also...I overtook thousands on the descents. Heart rate climbing was around 160 bpm, descending was 10 bpm higher. That was the only bit I really enjoyed.

when i was TT'ing at age 45 I was still banging out at 185bpm at 160bpm when climbing you must havebeen coasting

[richardxjr]

Kawa, fantastic well done! Looks like 1/3 of the starters DNF. A lot got caught the wrong side of delays caused by bad descent accidents apparently, then got swept up as ran out of time.

[Kawasicki]

johnxjsc1985 said:

when i was TT'ing at age 45 I was still banging out at 185bpm at 160bpm when climbing you must havebeen coasting

Holy crap.

I was bricking it that something would go wrong if I pushed any harder, I wasn't intentionally going easy. I knew I could sustain 175bpm for a couple of hours and that I could stay riding for 9 hours....that was the extent of my knowledge. If I do the event next year, I will give it all I've got. In the mean time, I'm going to keep training. I'll back off the duration for the sake of the family, but to keep me focused I'll also do some beginner level local bike racing.

[Kawasicki]

outnumbered said:

That's a hell of an effort on six weeks training. Well done!

Thanks. A colleague at work who has been doing tough alpine sportives for 25 years gave me a ton of good advice. And I trained hard in the 6 weeks.

[Kawasicki]

richardxjr said:

Kawa, fantastic well done! Looks like 1/3 of the starters DNF. A lot got caught the wrong side of delays caused by bad descent accidents apparently, then got swept up as ran out of time.

I started in pen 13, I was held up for 45 minutes on an early descent too. There was a gigantic stream of cyclists all walking downhill to a concrete bridge with an "interesting" transition to the asphalt road.

[velocgee]

richardxjr said:

Kawa, fantastic well done! Looks like 1/3 of the starters DNF. A lot got caught the wrong side of delays caused by bad descent accidents apparently, then got swept up as ran out of time.

i think many didn't finish because it was utterly, utterly brutal. really. searing heat and 4 mountains (mollard was more than a big hill!)

i did last years (rain and near freezing cold on the tourmalet) and this one made that seem easy.

Edited by velocgee on Tuesday 21st July 08:10

[johnxjsc1985]

velocgee said:

i think many didn't finish because it was utterly, utterly brutal. really. searing heat and 4 mountains (mollard was more than a big hill!)

i did last years (rain and near freezing cold on the tourmalet) and this one made that easy.

Bravo mate it must be a fantastic experience

[velocgee]

johnxjsc1985 said:

velocgee said:

i think many didn't finish because it was utterly, utterly brutal. really. searing heat and 4 mountains (mollard was more than a big hill!)

i did last years (rain and near freezing cold on the tourmalet) and this one made that easy.

Bravo mate it must be a fantastic experience

cheers! an experience, yes. fantastic.....erm......well....

[velocgee]

johnxjsc1985 said:

velocgee said:

i think many didn't finish because it was utterly, utterly brutal. really. searing heat and 4 mountains (mollard was more than a big hill!)

i did last years (rain and near freezing cold on the tourmalet) and this one made that easy.

Bravo mate it must be a fantastic experience

cheers! an experience, yes. fantastic.....erm......well....

[velocgee]

what will add was some of the scenery was absolutely stunning and the descents awesome.

oh, v.well done OP. i know some really committed riders who struggled with this one.