GOT Fitness LOG

[sbbefc]

Done a fair bit of cycling recently, few weeks ago hit the Lakes and did most of the famous climbs there. Hardknott pass is ridiculous.

Last weekend did a hilly 200km in north Wales.

Just got back from the dales today, great place to ride, so many climbs in such a small area, hit 2000m of climbing in just 80km.

Need a new challenge now, not too sure what to go for.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Done a fair bit of cycling recently, few weeks ago hit the Lakes and did most of the famous climbs there. Hardknott pass is ridiculous.

Last weekend did a hilly 200km in north Wales.

Just got back from the dales today, great place to ride, so many climbs in such a small area, hit 2000m of climbing in just 80km.

Need a new challenge now, not too sure what to go for.

Oof, 200km is a long way. How long did that take?

Have you tried many of the continental sportives?

 

[sbbefc]

Oof, 200km is a long way. How long did that take?

Have you tried many of the continental sportives?

7:35 moving time, 8:20 in total, happy enough with that, didn't take on as much food as I should have really, but I find it difficult to eat while im riding.

Re sportives, been thinking about it, maybe the Marmotte, but there's a whole lot of hassle involved. Might just go another time of the year and ride the course, but then again I've cycled that area already.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

7:35 moving time, 8:20 in total, happy enough with that, didn't take on as much food as I should have really, but I find it difficult to eat while im riding.

Re sportives, been thinking about it, maybe the Marmotte, but there's a whole lot of hassle involved. Might just go another time of the year and ride the course, but then again I've cycled that area already.

That's an impressive amount of time in the saddle.

Re the rides, I can recommend the Maratona. I wouldn't say the route itself is enormously challenging (not akin to the Marmotte), but the region is awesome with some great climbs, plus the event itself is incredibly well run. Hopefully be back for my third attempt at it next year. We usually spend a week out there and enjoy the area.

If you want something a bit different, one on my bucket list is the Juris na Vrsic in Slovenia. It's basically a hill time trial up the 13km, 8.1% climb (albeit all going up at once!), but it looks interesting for a couple of reasons.

Firstly it's stunningly beautiful, and the climb itself is largely cobbled, so that's kind of cool. The second interesting thing about the climb is that legend has it, it was the inspiration for the numbered hairpins on Alpe d'Huez.

The mountain is right in the corner of Slovenia with Italy to the west and Austria to the north, so not that far away.

 

[sbbefc]

That's an impressive amount of time in the saddle.

Re the rides, I can recommend the Maratona. I wouldn't say the route itself is enormously challenging (not akin to the Marmotte), but the region is awesome with some great climbs, plus the event itself is incredibly well run. Hopefully be back for my third attempt at it next year. We usually spend a week out there and enjoy the area.

If you want something a bit different, one on my bucket list is the Juris na Vrsic in Slovenia. It's basically a hill time trial up the 13km, 8.1% climb (albeit all going up at once!), but it looks interesting for a couple of reasons.

Firstly it's stunningly beautiful, and the climb itself is largely cobbled, so that's kind of cool. The second interesting thing about the climb is that legend has it, it was the inspiration for the numbered hairpins on Alpe d'Huez.

The mountain is right in the corner of Slovenia with Italy to the west and Austria to the north, so not that far away.

Some great suggestions there Bruce.

Italy and slovenia are both places I want to ride. Slovenia is probably my favourite country unfortunetly I didnt do any riding when I was there. I take it youve read Mountain Higher, beatuiful book!

With the matatona is there a waiting list? Whats accommodation, bike hire etc like? After flying with my bike to the Pyrennes id rather just hire.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Some great suggestions there Bruce.

Italy and slovenia are both places I want to ride. Slovenia is probably my favourite country unfortunetly I didnt do any riding when I was there. I take it youve read Mountain Higher, beatuiful book!

With the matatona is there a waiting list? Whats accommodation, bike hire etc like? After flying with my bike to the Pyrennes id rather just hire.

Aye, Mountain Higher is an incredible bit of mountain porn. Superb stuff.

Re the Maratona, there is a ballot, much like the one for the Ride London (minus the charity overload), but I think most Brits do it via Cycling Weekly, who have a bunch of guaranteed spots. You pay a bit extra for that, but it gives you a bit of peace of mind and you can book accommodation safe in the knowledge that you're in. Ian Parr is the guy that looks after it all. He sent round emails the other week for next year, so I think it may be a bit late to get onto the list (he was saying it was oversubscribed as it is), but I'm happy to forward on his email if you want to try and squeeze in.

Regarding the accommodation, we usually book an appartment, so we can do our own cooking and all that. We tend to drive down so have the bikes in the back along with some UK essentials (porridge etc.). There are a number of bike shops in Corvara, which is where the finish is (we usually book a place at the foot of the Campalongo, which is maybe 200m from the finish, you also go past it twice on the ride so it can be handy for supplies etc. if you want to be self-sufficient), but I have no idea about renting bikes there. I didn't get the impression it was akin to Bourg D'Oisan or anything like that, but you might be able to get something.

The other thing of course is that you'd need to get from the airport. It's doable, but for the hassle involved, we tend to just drive down as it's a bit easier, and you can take track pumps and various other handy bits and bobs with you, and of course you can drive out to climbs a bit further afield if you don't fancy mammoth days.

 

[sbbefc]

Aye, Mountain Higher is an incredible bit of mountain porn. Superb stuff.

Re the Maratona, there is a ballot, much like the one for the Ride London (minus the charity overload), but I think most Brits do it via Cycling Weekly, who have a bunch of guaranteed spots. You pay a bit extra for that, but it gives you a bit of peace of mind and you can book accommodation safe in the knowledge that you're in. Ian Parr is the guy that looks after it all. He sent round emails the other week for next year, so I think it may be a bit late to get onto the list (he was saying it was oversubscribed as it is), but I'm happy to forward on his email if you want to try and squeeze in.

Regarding the accommodation, we usually book an appartment, so we can do our own cooking and all that. We tend to drive down so have the bikes in the back along with some UK essentials (porridge etc.). There are a number of bike shops in Corvara, which is where the finish is (we usually book a place at the foot of the Campalongo, which is maybe 200m from the finish, you also go past it twice on the ride so it can be handy for supplies etc. if you want to be self-sufficient), but I have no idea about renting bikes there. I didn't get the impression it was akin to Bourg D'Oisan or anything like that, but you might be able to get something.

The other thing of course is that you'd need to get from the airport. It's doable, but for the hassle involved, we tend to just drive down as it's a bit easier, and you can take track pumps and various other handy bits and bobs with you, and of course you can drive out to climbs a bit further afield if you don't fancy mammoth days.

Thanks for the info. It'll be something I'll be trying to convince my mates to do so might take a bit of time to get organised so im guessing the guaranteed spots will be gone by then. With the ballot do you apply individually or can do it as a group? Obviously I wouldn't want to be the only person in our group to get a spot.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Thanks for the info. It'll be something I'll be trying to convince my mates to do so might take a bit of time to get organised so im guessing the guaranteed spots will be gone by then. With the ballot do you apply individually or can do it as a group? Obviously I wouldn't want to be the only person in our group to get a spot.

I'm not sure is the honest answer as we've always gone with CW. Maybe it would be one to look at for 2016? There are a few events that are less well known so a bit easier to get into, yet still very good.

We did the Dreilander Giro this year in Austria, and you can book into that without too many problems. Another that was a real challenge was the Granfondo Pantani (as was, I think it's called the GF Giordana now). That starts and finishes in Aprica and goes over the Gavia first, followed by the Mortirolo, then the Santa Cristina to finish up in Aprica.

http://www.gsalpi.com/it/gf-giordana.html

Tough route, and the Mortirolo in the mid-day sun was blooming horrible (as a 57kg guy that likes climbing). Very tough. As a ride, that was probably the toughest I've ever done. The Gavia was beautiful though. Lovely climb.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

http://www.granfondoguide.com/Events/Index/541/gran-fondo-giordana has a bit more about it (in English). As you can see, €40 to enter. Puts many of the overpriced tosh we get here to shame

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Start in Aprica

On the Gavia

 

[Bruce Wayne]

One I'd forgotten about is the Oetztaler RadMaraton. Mountains Higher suggests it's the toughest sportive in Europe. Not one I've done yet, although did give the Passo Rombo a try this summer. Tough climb.

Starts and finishes in Solden, Austria - http://www.oetztaler-radmarathon.com/en - and covers 238km and 5,500m of climbing.

Not on the race route, but mentioned starting from Solden (mentioned in Mountain Higher too) is the Rettenbach, which has to be the hardest climb in Europe I should think. >10km at >10% and you start it over 1500m up.

 

[evilwebby]

Ran the Bacchus half-marathon on Sunday, and the sunday before did both the Copenhagen Inline (skating) half and full marathons. Both events were lots of fun.

The training miles are in the bank... now tapering for Berlin double.
I'm in rediculously good condition compared to the squidge that I was when I signed up 10 months ago and decided this year I was going to be serious about training and racing. It's not just about health and fitness - you really do change as a person and apply the lessons you learn to many other areas of your life. Would recommend it to anyone..

 

[blue4eva77]

Ran the Bacchus half-marathon on Sunday, and the sunday before did both the Copenhagen Inline (skating) half and full marathons. Both events were lots of fun.

The training miles are in the bank... now tapering for Berlin double.
I'm in rediculously good condition compared to the squidge that I was when I signed up 10 months ago and decided this year I was going to be serious about training and racing. It's not just about health and fitness - you really do change as a person and apply the lessons you learn to many other areas of your life. Would recommend it to anyone..

100% total agreement.

Its amazing how focused you become from self discipline. This bolded part right here is one of the best things i've read in this thread.

 

[Baines' left foot]

Not been to the gym for about 4 weeks now and it feels horrible. Fortunately though, eating healthily has slowed down the rate of muscle loss, or so it seems.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Ran the Bacchus half-marathon on Sunday, and the sunday before did both the Copenhagen Inline (skating) half and full marathons. Both events were lots of fun.

The training miles are in the bank... now tapering for Berlin double.
I'm in rediculously good condition compared to the squidge that I was when I signed up 10 months ago and decided this year I was going to be serious about training and racing. It's not just about health and fitness - you really do change as a person and apply the lessons you learn to many other areas of your life. Would recommend it to anyone..

Yes, you certainly do have a discipline that is hard to lose. It's great in so many ways, but it can make you stand out rather.

Doing some training at the moment for hill climb season, so a fair few 3-4 minute all out efforts. A very different kind of training, and rather tiring. A lot of work on at the moment too, so am a bit zonked. Am getting better though. Just under a month to go until the races.