Legs of Steel tomorrow
Discussion
Weather forecast is dry, bright, little wind but cold. No excuses there for me!
It's 81 km with 1600 m of climbing; gold standard is 3 hours 10, I need to average 15.9 mph. I've missed it in the last two years by 6 mins and 3 mins respectively; I am hoping a no stop strategy will be enough. If the event had been a month ago, when I felt superhuman, I would be a lot more confident.
Anyone else doing it?
It's 81 km with 1600 m of climbing; gold standard is 3 hours 10, I need to average 15.9 mph. I've missed it in the last two years by 6 mins and 3 mins respectively; I am hoping a no stop strategy will be enough. If the event had been a month ago, when I felt superhuman, I would be a lot more confident.
Anyone else doing it?
It is a really nice event, quite small by the standards of a lot of them.
The standards are well judged too, 3 hours and a bit is a long time to push hard but not totally beyond most of us.
I turned 50 in January so theoretically I have another 15 minutes in my pocket but am still aiming for 3.10. Last time out I got in a small bunch of 5 younger lads who looked like they knew what they were doing; I thought I'd do my bit and led them up the first hill, Ranmore Common. I had impressed myself with my powers, but as we rolled over the top, they got on the gas proper and I couldn't even hang on the back!
The standards are well judged too, 3 hours and a bit is a long time to push hard but not totally beyond most of us.
I turned 50 in January so theoretically I have another 15 minutes in my pocket but am still aiming for 3.10. Last time out I got in a small bunch of 5 younger lads who looked like they knew what they were doing; I thought I'd do my bit and led them up the first hill, Ranmore Common. I had impressed myself with my powers, but as we rolled over the top, they got on the gas proper and I couldn't even hang on the back!
I want to start early too, a queue builds quite quickly and you can spend quite a lot of time waiting. Not sure what to wear either!
The road surfaces can be very dodgy and there are a couple of sharp junctions, though they are usually well-martialed.
I've got a red Giant Propel and will probably wear a white Everesting top, say hi if you see me!
The road surfaces can be very dodgy and there are a couple of sharp junctions, though they are usually well-martialed.
I've got a red Giant Propel and will probably wear a white Everesting top, say hi if you see me!
+1!
So, my official time was 3.20.50. I thought I was on for it with time to spare, but that shows you can't think straight 2 and a bit hours into a tough event. It was cold and misty/foggy all morning, I got held up at a level crossing and both times going over the A24 but not 10 minutes worth. I can feel a goal for 2016 coming on...
So, my official time was 3.20.50. I thought I was on for it with time to spare, but that shows you can't think straight 2 and a bit hours into a tough event. It was cold and misty/foggy all morning, I got held up at a level crossing and both times going over the A24 but not 10 minutes worth. I can feel a goal for 2016 coming on...
Daddy cool, thanks for the comments. I've done the event 3 years running, the first two times I was 40-49 so the target was 3.10. I don't feel any older, and if anything thought I was a little stronger this year, so really thought I had a chance of 3.09.55. I definitely rode it more solo this year, so that gives me a bit of a boost.
Six Pot Belly, there's definitely something about the distance/height/route of this ride, plus the standards are pretty challenging. On longer rides, I feel I have to keep something in reserve, so I don't go too hard too early. I also notice on longer rides I loose interest in the middle third, and start to think when is this over, even if I am enjoying it.
I also like the fact you don't get many "fun runners" doing it - people don't wake up on the morning and get a 15 year old Halfords mountain bike at the shed to have a go at it. There are a lot seriously quick guys and girls doing this ride. It does mean for people like me, you get overtaken more than you overtake
Well done on the KOM, will have to look that up. I'd say with the standards of the people involved that is no small achievement!
Integra Type R, hope your friend is ok. I think I know that corner, right hander after a left turn junction? Barhatch is a bugger isn't it? It seemed longer to me this year. At the bottom I was averaging 16.2, which would have given me gold; at the top it was 15.2.
So all, how do you train for this? I think my problem is all round my average is too slow. This year I tried not to waste myself on the climbs, and hoped to keep the average up on the flats. I had a horrible crash on a descent in June so I am willing to give up some of the "free" time on descents these days. My rough plan is to keep riding through the winter and then in April to start focusing on intervals. I have a target of 18 mph average on a 3 hour normal ride in my head, but doubt I have that in me.
Six Pot Belly, there's definitely something about the distance/height/route of this ride, plus the standards are pretty challenging. On longer rides, I feel I have to keep something in reserve, so I don't go too hard too early. I also notice on longer rides I loose interest in the middle third, and start to think when is this over, even if I am enjoying it.
I also like the fact you don't get many "fun runners" doing it - people don't wake up on the morning and get a 15 year old Halfords mountain bike at the shed to have a go at it. There are a lot seriously quick guys and girls doing this ride. It does mean for people like me, you get overtaken more than you overtake
Well done on the KOM, will have to look that up. I'd say with the standards of the people involved that is no small achievement!
Integra Type R, hope your friend is ok. I think I know that corner, right hander after a left turn junction? Barhatch is a bugger isn't it? It seemed longer to me this year. At the bottom I was averaging 16.2, which would have given me gold; at the top it was 15.2.
So all, how do you train for this? I think my problem is all round my average is too slow. This year I tried not to waste myself on the climbs, and hoped to keep the average up on the flats. I had a horrible crash on a descent in June so I am willing to give up some of the "free" time on descents these days. My rough plan is to keep riding through the winter and then in April to start focusing on intervals. I have a target of 18 mph average on a 3 hour normal ride in my head, but doubt I have that in me.
upsidedownmark said:
IMHO that's kinda the opposite of what you need for LoS. This one's all about the climbs, and none of them are long (well, not alpine long anyhow). Being fast is all about smashing the hills so they don't take too much off your average, and recover in between. Exact opposite of how I normally ride / like to ride.
Oh, and weighing very little would help too
Interesting, after my first year I thought if I could shave a minute off 4 or 5 of the 8 climbs that would make the difference, but I then blew it all on the first hill. Will probably ride the route a few times early next year to get a feel of where I can go for it.Oh, and weighing very little would help too
Sixpotbelly, how come you manage to look good in the pic?! I've been on loads of rides now where they have official photography, and in every picture I look like a right dick. This is about the only good one, ever.
I had a hill repeat programme in the Garmin for Everest training, 11 mins in Z4 or higher, then 4 mins in z2 or lower. It's very tough, not least because the Garmin is bleeping at you constantly to work harder when you're in the 11 minutes (as soon as you get it in the zone, you back off, so it beeps, and if you go downhill it is nigh on impossible to keep it high enough) and then in the 4 mins it isn't long enough to get the HR down again! Will be doing more of that early next year, maybe lose a couple of kgs, work on holding a better position. There's a 9km segment from Coldharbour to Leith Hill that I took over 25 minutes on this year. I haven't got any events in the calendar for next year so the temptation to focus on this is huge.
I had a hill repeat programme in the Garmin for Everest training, 11 mins in Z4 or higher, then 4 mins in z2 or lower. It's very tough, not least because the Garmin is bleeping at you constantly to work harder when you're in the 11 minutes (as soon as you get it in the zone, you back off, so it beeps, and if you go downhill it is nigh on impossible to keep it high enough) and then in the 4 mins it isn't long enough to get the HR down again! Will be doing more of that early next year, maybe lose a couple of kgs, work on holding a better position. There's a 9km segment from Coldharbour to Leith Hill that I took over 25 minutes on this year. I haven't got any events in the calendar for next year so the temptation to focus on this is huge.
Here's my Strava file from last year - this year's goes a bit mad after 2 hours as my Garmin battery is on its last legs. Ignore after 80km, I was making it up to a 100km ride.
https://www.strava.com/activities/199993499
There are 8 climbs they advertise but there must be 5-6 other lesser climbs. These on their own wouldn't be too much of an issue, but in amongst the rest of it they have an impact too. I'm 50, 79kg on a good day and ride a lot but don't train systematically.
Thanks for all the help and advice so far, hoovering it up!
https://www.strava.com/activities/199993499
There are 8 climbs they advertise but there must be 5-6 other lesser climbs. These on their own wouldn't be too much of an issue, but in amongst the rest of it they have an impact too. I'm 50, 79kg on a good day and ride a lot but don't train systematically.
Thanks for all the help and advice so far, hoovering it up!
Edited by Daveyraveygravey on Tuesday 6th October 17:49
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