Gran Fondo La Leggeendaria Chalry Gaul. Am I mad?
Discussion
La Leggendaria Charly Gaul
Am I mad for even thinking about this? Riding in the SE, I haven't done any real climbing yet. 1,200m over 130km is the most ascent on any of my rides to date. I didn't particularly notice the climbing on that but this would be whole different proposition. 4,000m over 140km, with not one but two ascents of Monte Bondone.
Co-incidentally it's another round of the UWCT but my interest is because I've a real yearning to ride an Italian Gran Fondo, I've got a window in July, I've got hotel loyalty points to use before they expire, the tunnel would be subsidised by vouchers, and I'd turn the drive down into a 700 mile D-road blast.
I'm just struggling to comprehend just how hard all that climbing would be. Impossible or just very hard indeed? I don't mind the prospect of being passed by the broom wagon, that's a given, I just don't want to have to climb off without getting up at least the first of the two ascents.
Maybe I could go do some hill repeats here to simulate but a quick calculation indicates it'd be something like 90 reps of Highgate's Swains Lane. That can't be right, surely!
Am I mad for even thinking about this? Riding in the SE, I haven't done any real climbing yet. 1,200m over 130km is the most ascent on any of my rides to date. I didn't particularly notice the climbing on that but this would be whole different proposition. 4,000m over 140km, with not one but two ascents of Monte Bondone.
Co-incidentally it's another round of the UWCT but my interest is because I've a real yearning to ride an Italian Gran Fondo, I've got a window in July, I've got hotel loyalty points to use before they expire, the tunnel would be subsidised by vouchers, and I'd turn the drive down into a 700 mile D-road blast.
I'm just struggling to comprehend just how hard all that climbing would be. Impossible or just very hard indeed? I don't mind the prospect of being passed by the broom wagon, that's a given, I just don't want to have to climb off without getting up at least the first of the two ascents.
Maybe I could go do some hill repeats here to simulate but a quick calculation indicates it'd be something like 90 reps of Highgate's Swains Lane. That can't be right, surely!
Edited by SixPotBelly on Wednesday 17th June 21:18
2.5% climbing over the whole route is a punchy little ratio. Try and get a few rides in that also hit 2.5% average and see how you feel. It would certainly be a challenge but that's the point. Gear correctly, keep the food and water coming and you'll crack it.
You can't concede defeat to the broom wagon now though, that's a self-fulfilling prophecy. Having ridden with you I'm confident you'll make the cut off. Go get it ridden!
You can't concede defeat to the broom wagon now though, that's a self-fulfilling prophecy. Having ridden with you I'm confident you'll make the cut off. Go get it ridden!
Unfortunately we don't have any climbs in the UK that will replicate that sort of assent so you just have to know how much effort you can sustain without blowing up etc. In Simple terms, I would keep your heart rate below a level where you know you can ride that sort of distance (so maybe 80% - 85%) and don't get carried away. Yes its a lot of climbing but if you ride it within a relatively comfortable level without making any hard efforts then you'll be fine.
Defo a ride for a compact and a 28 or poss 30 on the back I'd say!
Defo a ride for a compact and a 28 or poss 30 on the back I'd say!
Thanks, all 
This is all the encouragement I need! Travel plans now afoot...
I definitely need to address my fuelling on long tempo runs. That's something I can rehearse over the coming weeks.
Climb to heart rate and I'll be OK sounds an excellent suggestion. I'm a believer in pacing myself by riding to heart rate on the flat already, so doing the same whilst climbing is the obvious extension. Daft as it sounds, it hadn't occurred to me.
Gearing at least is on my side. They put a diddy little 30 ring next to my 39 small ring, and the big 11-28 cassette it came with can go back on. The cage will even take a 32 but my triple's 30/28 would equate to a compact's 34/32, so I'll (probably) stop there. 30/32 would just be unusefully low, I'm guessing, even for the Dolomites.
One thing's certain, with only four weeks to go I'd better get started on the hill reps sharpish!
This is all the encouragement I need! Travel plans now afoot...I definitely need to address my fuelling on long tempo runs. That's something I can rehearse over the coming weeks.
Climb to heart rate and I'll be OK sounds an excellent suggestion. I'm a believer in pacing myself by riding to heart rate on the flat already, so doing the same whilst climbing is the obvious extension. Daft as it sounds, it hadn't occurred to me.
Gearing at least is on my side. They put a diddy little 30 ring next to my 39 small ring, and the big 11-28 cassette it came with can go back on. The cage will even take a 32 but my triple's 30/28 would equate to a compact's 34/32, so I'll (probably) stop there. 30/32 would just be unusefully low, I'm guessing, even for the Dolomites.
One thing's certain, with only four weeks to go I'd better get started on the hill reps sharpish!
Edited by SixPotBelly on Monday 15th June 19:19
Well, I booked my crossing & accommodation and got my entry in yesterday, and today I thought I should go out and see if I liked riding uphill. It's important to do these things in the right order.
The Chilterns aren't far, so plotted a route taking in as many climbs there as I could. Turned out to be only 1,500m in 85km though it felt like more. I won't pretend it was easy but I will pretend I enjoyed it
I'll do that twice a week for three weeks then taper down the week before. Not as good as a trip to Snowdonia or the Peak District, but with the time available it will have to do. Looking forward to going!
The Chilterns aren't far, so plotted a route taking in as many climbs there as I could. Turned out to be only 1,500m in 85km though it felt like more. I won't pretend it was easy but I will pretend I enjoyed it
I'll do that twice a week for three weeks then taper down the week before. Not as good as a trip to Snowdonia or the Peak District, but with the time available it will have to do. Looking forward to going!
Well done. The hardest part is now behind you.
You could also supplement the hills with some long threshold rides to try and simulate 1-2 hour climbs. My main focus would be on learning what you were capable of sustaining (or making the number more accurate) so that you can make sure you're not dipping into the red when you're on those climbs.
You could also supplement the hills with some long threshold rides to try and simulate 1-2 hour climbs. My main focus would be on learning what you were capable of sustaining (or making the number more accurate) so that you can make sure you're not dipping into the red when you're on those climbs.
Gruffy said:
You could also supplement the hills with some long threshold rides to try and simulate 1-2 hour climbs. My main focus would be on learning what you were capable of sustaining (or making the number more accurate) so that you can make sure you're not dipping into the red when you're on those climbs.
That sounds an excellent suggestion. Thank you! I'll do that as well.Also, I've been trying to understand exactly what went wrong with my attempted refuelling during Tour of Cambs, so that it doesn't happen again in Italy. I'd put my gastric distress - and consequent bonk - down to trying a new brand of gels, but today I found an article by BC that indicates it might have just been poor pacing. Specifically, trying to eat with too high a heart rate, when the leg muscles are taking too much of the blood the stomach needs to digest.
https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/insightzone/feat...
It certainly describes exactly how I felt. It also explains why I'd struggled to eat the energy bar earlier on, despite being able to eat those quite happily on other rides. Certainly I was able to eat normally on yesterday's four hour ride though, now I think about it, I pulled over each time to do so. I think I need to practice eating on the move on different intensity rides to see if, and at what sort of heart rate, the problem recurs. I find I need to slow to zone 2 to eat then fine, so be it.
I'm learning there's so much to learn about cycling that isn't about cycling
https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/insightzone/feat...
It certainly describes exactly how I felt. It also explains why I'd struggled to eat the energy bar earlier on, despite being able to eat those quite happily on other rides. Certainly I was able to eat normally on yesterday's four hour ride though, now I think about it, I pulled over each time to do so. I think I need to practice eating on the move on different intensity rides to see if, and at what sort of heart rate, the problem recurs. I find I need to slow to zone 2 to eat then fine, so be it.
I'm learning there's so much to learn about cycling that isn't about cycling
SixPotBelly said:
Good news.. My cast came off this morning so I'm leaving for the Tunnel at dawn...
So you're not too broken, after all! Excellent news.Enjoy it. I've been on 'electronic silence' most of the past week, so missed out on all the excitement of the Dynamo. Really pleased that you are able to travel after all. Best of luck out there!
yellowjack said:
So you're not too broken, after all! Excellent news.I'm supposed to wear a splint for the next fortnight then go back for another check, but I think that's just in case rather than because there's actually anything wrong with me. I'm sure I'll be fine, but I'll stick some paracetamol and ibuprofen in my saddle pouch as insurance.
I'm even looking forward to registration, I'm that excited!
king well jealous you b
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