So much for planning....

OK, this isn't set in stone, but a teammate heard from the organizers that the stages are going to be 150 to 200 km long. In previous years, the stages were 100 km max, with one or two hills/mountain climbs that could be up to 30 min. long. That's what I was preparing for....

I started VO2 max intervals last night. Good first workout, 4X4 min. at 110% (took them conservatively to start). I had thought about doing a 20 afterwards, but the legs were shocked and weren't having any of that. I just rode tempo for 30 min.

But after getting the news about the increased distance of the stages today, I'm thinking it might be better to just up the SST/L4 and get CTL as high as I can on that to be ready for these long stages. What intensity I will get will be from the racing I mentioned.

Any opinions on skipping the dedicated VO2 work and just focusing on SST/L4 to get enough fitness for this thing?

(weird to post about all these quick developments, but that's how racing is over here...conditions can change in an instant....)

Bailsibub said:

What intensity I will get will be from the racing I mentioned.

Any opinions on skipping the dedicated VO2 work and just focusing on SST/L4 to get enough fitness for this thing?

I think that's a reasonable thing to do under the circumstances.

Longer hard endurance rides too and practice eating on the bike.

Sweet ride.

Like you said, everyone is in pretty much the same boat. Climbs that are 20 to 30 minutes long... where's that drool emoticon when you need it? I know I used to go better on the hills if I trained on the hills, mainly through getting used to riding out the saddle for a while I guess. If you have the opportunity to do so, maybe doing your L4 efforts on something similar with the rests on the way down and getting used to drinking during those efforts, especially on 200km stages.

Good luck. Post the bike [censored]. Bonus points if you can get some of the cute local ladies to pose too. 😉

Alex Simmons said:

I think that's a reasonable thing to do under the circumstances.

Longer hard endurance rides too and practice eating on the bike.

I have a similar question (sorry if this is a thread highjack of sorts). I have a 330km ride with ~5700 m of climbing on April 18. I am in better shape than last year (not saying much, I am afraid) and my PT is being serviced, so I am doing rides where the rough TSS is known.

My focus has been getting as much SST climbing as I can, so 5-6 days with a total of 4000-6000 m of climbing in 150-250 km for the week.

That has me at a CTL of roughly 60. I am hoping to get in some longer rides for saddle time/eating on the bike training (and dropping a few kgs) and doing some 2x20s at 100% FTP as opposed to 95%. I am afraid that any VO2 work will just force me to drop the volume too much. I am hoping for a CTL of 80+ to make it through.

Any thoughts would be most appreciated.

duplicate post ... sorry

Watoni said:

I have a similar question (sorry if this is a thread highjack of sorts). I have a 330km ride with ~5700 m of climbing on April 18. I am in better shape than last year (not saying much, I am afraid) and my PT is being serviced, so I am doing rides where the rough TSS is known.

My focus has been getting as much SST climbing as I can, so 5-6 days with a total of 4000-6000 m of climbing in 150-250 km for the week.

That has me at a CTL of roughly 60. I am hoping to get in some longer rides for saddle time/eating on the bike training (and dropping a few kgs) and doing some 2x20s at 100% FTP as opposed to 95%. I am afraid that any VO2 work will just force me to drop the volume too much. I am hoping for a CTL of 80+ to make it through.

Any thoughts would be most appreciated.

Devil Mountain Double, perchance?

How many rides similar to this have you done?

Bailsibub said:

Serious Bike [censored] about to Follow 😄

Dude,

Start with the bike [censored] before JTE starts posting shemale pictures again in another part of this forum...

swampy1970 said:

Devil Mountain Double, perchance?

How many rides similar to this have you done?

Yep.

When I was thinner/crazier I did DMD in 2002-2005. I bailed last year due to insufficient fitness and not wanting to ride all night after Sierra Road at mile 160 (promised my wife/kids it would be over one way or another before 8 pm).

I have also done three Terrible Twos (2003/2004/2007), and two Central Coast Doubles (2003/2007). Honestly my biggest challenge in the past few years has been foot issues (these killed me in the TT, with much foot soaking after lunch).

Last year I rode Knoxville and did the lion's share of Mt. Tam before meeting my mom for a birthday dinner (rotten family 🙂 ).

Getting in shape won't hurt, though

swampy1970 said:

Bonus points if you can get some of the cute local ladies to pose too. [img]cyclingforums.comwink.gifOpen ↗[/img]

Oh Swampy, don't get me started on the local talent. But for your viewing pleasure, here a couple decent specimens.

I picked these pictures because of the Korean signage, of course....

Some bad news about the bike. I was using it on the weekend training rides, but during the week (when I'm on the trainer), they were using it as a store model (I ride for Storck here). This past weekend I took my own bike out on the team ride and just crushed. Noticeable difference in my riding and speed, even though my bike is heavier. It's just more comfortable because I've adapted to it over a few years. So I've decided to race my bike... Racing starts this weekend (Sat and Sun), and I just don't have enough time to get comfortable. I think this will be especially important given our stages are going to be 150-200 k next month.

Yes, not normal that not everyone on our team will be on the company bike, but then again, those bikes cost a pretty penny.

Watoni, definitely stick to the SST/L4 work to raise that CTL. With a CTL that low, I just don't think there's enough base for VO2. You'll have a hard time recovering, and that'll compromise your ability to focus on consistently raising that CTL with quality. I don't know much about that ride, but wouldn't want to take on a 330 km ride with a CTL of 60. 80+ sounds better, but it will still be challenging.

Bailsibub pulls through with the shots....

They could "love me long time"... dayum.

Bailsibub said:

Watoni, definitely stick to the SST/L4 work to raise that CTL. With a CTL that low, I just don't think there's enough base for VO2. You'll have a hard time recovering, and that'll compromise your ability to focus on consistently raising that CTL with quality. I don't know much about that ride, but wouldn't want to take on a 330 km ride with a CTL of 60. 80+ sounds better, but it will still be challenging.

Thanks.

Yep. I think my CTL was around 50 just prior to the Knoxville double century in September, which is not as tough as this upcoming ride so I do want to get it up in the 80 range at least. This ride is a good bit tougher than Knoxville, with 18,500 feet of climbing, including Sierra Road, Patterson Pass and Mt. Hamilton (from recent Tour of California editions) and Mt. Diablo, among other pesky climbs. Sounds like time to up the SST, but that's tough with two small kids 🙄 ...

Your race sounds awesome, and go with the bike that feels right. You will be in the saddle long enough!