Etape 2009
Comments
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popette wrote:Can I ask about pumps - I have a mini pump which is crap. I'm going to change - either going for a bigger one or co2 (not used before). What do you carry? What happens if you have more than 2 punctures and only have 2 co2? start begging?
CO2 is much better. Much faster to inflate. I carry 3 cartridges in my saddle bag and they don't take up much room. That should be plenty unless you have a puncture and don't find the cause, resulting in another one. Or two. And you can top off your tires at the next rest stop or when a Mavic car goes by. Last year there were lots of those.0 -
shipperz wrote:Might not be appropriate to bring up next years event just as everyone is getting excited about 2009 but I was wondering if there is a mailing list you can subscribe to for information on when entries are open. Did you guys manage to get an entry only place or where you stung by having to buy one of the holiday packages?
I went for entry only with cyclomundo. You can register with them beforehand.
The beginning of this thread may have quite a bit about the different companies offering Etape packages.
Good luck0 -
I think I'm gonna take a couple of gas things (haven't ever used them before, but will practise before the day!) and just as a back up my very small (and not fantastic) mini pump, which I like to call my 'mascara pump' (looks like a mascara).
Bry0 -
Did the (short) dragon as a social ride last weekend.
my mate was using a 8 year old halfords bike (unwashed since day one so covered in what was really old scummy oil but smelt like rancid bacon fat) with dodgy tyres - he punctured after 10 miles. Ho hum....
We were having trouble until a Mavic guy on a motorbike went past and sorted it. I explained in my schoolboy french why the 100 euro vieux velo de mon ami was covered in merde and that he was too mean with the argent to get something bon. he did a great job but was less than impressed with the heap of greasy steel shite on two wheels.
We got around eventually in eight hours! (including hanging around on summits (fitness de mon ami) and at the bottom of hills (crap brakes de mon ami avec les dodgy pneus)
I have a different game plan for the etape (not least leaving mon ami in le pays de galles) - but am worried about punctures and sag wagon....0 -
popette wrote:I went for entry only with cyclomundo. You can register with them beforehand.
The beginning of this thread may have quite a bit about the different companies offering Etape packages.
Good luck
Thanks for the tip Popette, I'll pre-register with them as soon as you guys have flown over Ventoux!
Just had a look earlier in the thread too thanks (lots of questions but I won't retrace old ground.)0 -
Just noticed this on the French bit of the official site.
http://www.letapedutour.com/2009/ETDT/p ... de_web.pdf0 -
popette wrote:Just noticed this on the French bit of the official site.
http://www.letapedutour.com/2009/ETDT/p ... de_web.pdf
You should receive a copy of this along with your official number entry form which you need on the day you register0 -
Hi!
I already have accommodation organised. If anyone knows of anyone who can't ride for whatever reason who maybe interested in passing on a number, I'd be interested to know.
Thank you!
E0 -
A couple of my mates aren't going to take up their numbers so we may be able to sort something out.0
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jhop
Thankyou! Please let me know. I'm not surid there may be a
Question at registration and waiting for feedback from friend who's done it before. But brill otherwise!0 -
Yes you do need passport of entrant. When we have done this before we collect number register etc then meet up with 'substitute rider' and make the deal!!! I0
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LOL! Sounds cool! I'm stating in bedoin and have villa with pool to myself friday so if anyone is stck for accom or is far out...my friends are showing up Sunday for a week training before tour goes thru...0
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Does anyone know time you need to get for gold/silver etc? Would be interesting to know.0
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You had better do the the distance with at least an aproximation to the gradient at least 4 times before you go increasing the distance from what you are used to at 10% per week0
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popette wrote:Does anyone know time you need to get for gold/silver etc? Would be interesting to know.
These are last years, expect them to be similar, at least in terms of average speeds
Catégories Distance Temps Médaille "Or" Médaille"Argent"
A 169,2 05:50:00 06:30:00
B 169,2 06:05:00 06:45:00
C 169,2 06:15:00 07:05:00
D 169,2 06:30:00 07:10:00
E 169,2 07:05:00 08:10:00
F 169,2 07:05:00 08:30:00
G 169,2 07:15:00 08:50:00
These were pretty immaterial to me, I was never going to threaten any of these times.0 -
Thanks Clive - Just worked out the averages. Fllippin eck! I have no chance of making those times either
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ah, forgot I was dealing in kmph not mph(durrrr)! Outside chance of silver going on past sportive averages then 8)
God, that would be good.0 -
Low end of Gold / high silver on UK Sportives equates to Bronze/survival for me in the etape.0
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jhop wrote:Low end of Gold / high silver on UK Sportives equates to Bronze/survival for me in the etape.
Most likely that will be the case for me as well - my goal really is to finish the thing in one piece. However, for my category, to get Silver last year you needed to average 12.4mph. I would hope to get somewhere near that - Ventoux is going to drag the average right down though isn't it? I think I'll be around 5mph up that. Certainly something to aim for as a dream goal for the day.0 -
Hi Popette
If you bank on 5mph up Ventoux (call it 15 miles, so 3 hours) then you'll need to average 16.4 mph over the other 92 miles to get to 12.4mph for the whole ride. Good luck to you! Wave when you go past me - I've rebased my expectations and am now looking forward to just finishing. Hope I've got the maths right!0 -
I think you have your maths right skiingsimon. I know, it's a tall order and very unlikely for me to actually do it - but I always write out my dream goal for an event and getting silver is my dream. The dream goal is usually something which I think is slightly out of reach but something to aim for nonetheless. I've missed a few of my dream goals on sportives this year but I've also made a couple of them so who knows.....
Like you, my successful outcome will just be getting round I'll be absolutely ecstatic with that 0 -
Popette/Skiingsimon,
I can bring that target speed down a little....!
In reverse order;
13.2m at 5mph up Ventoux = 2hrs 38mins
17.1m at 30mph down NDdA = 34mins
8hrs 30mins - 2hrs 38mins - 34mins = 5hrs 18mins for the "other" 75.5m
=> average speed required for first 75.5miles = 14.25mph
You'll need to add time for any stops of course. You might wish to take in the scent of the wildflowers, to capture for posterity a beautiful vista with your camera, or to lie crying for mummy in a ditch by the side of the road when the heat and unrelenting gradient combine cruelly to destroy your self-esteem...0 -
ah ha - like it Ian Trcp
Also, the 8hrs30 was for a shorter course of 2008 - if the average speed is the same for us but the distance is increased, I think that means we get a bit longer to finish it. 8hrs 42mins?
so, that means - 5hrs 30 for 75.5 m = 13.72mph!
Still a huge, huge challenge to make that - I'm just hoping to get a massive benefit from riding in the biggest peleton ever.
The mens times are really, really tough!0 -
Popette / IanTrcp
Really sorry to have to put that target time up again ... the descent from NDdA is to Villes sur Auzon, from where it's 12km of flat / gentle inclines to Bedoin; if you can cover this stretch at 30 mph you should be going for Gold!0 -
VilanovaRider wrote:put that target time up again ...
That'll be target speed ... doh0 -
AlunP wrote:Number 8346 calling - behind all of you!
This is my first etape - am really worried about sag waggon. Are there fixed elimination points or is it a devil takes the hindmost business? am particularly worried about early puncture sending months of preparation down drain.
(I did a 170K 3K ascent sportive last weekend in 7.20 is this fast enough?)
No offense but with times like that my recommendation is to sell your bike and join a knitting circle. Seriously folks - there's too much talk of broom wagons - you're all head-f£$king each other like stressed out high-yield bond traders. If you're *really* worried about la VdB do yourselves a favour and stay at home. If you're just "managing expectations" then fine.
Why do people get so uptight about this one crappy ride?
I declare a fatwa on any more broom wagon talk - man up and grow a pair, get out training, lose 2 more kgs and PLEASE stop obsessing about failure. Don't wish for it.When a cyclist has a disagreement with a car; it's not who's right, it's who's left.0 -
Fran Jacques - this is the Etape 2009 thread and many people on here seem to be doing their first one. Seems like a reasonable place to ask the questions that have annoyed you so much.
Maybe you should start an Etape thread for people like yourself who eat red meat for breakfast, drink pepsi max and no doubt roar at yourself in the mirror?
As for your snooty comments on that persons time - what gives you the right to tell them to give up cycling? Or should it be means tested and reserved for the exclusive pleasures of those who can get from A to B in a given time?0 -
Nice comments steerpike. How about a fatwa on FransJacques commenting on this thread instead.0
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Agree as well. It's not much of a person who feels better by trying to tear others down. The Etape is damn hard, no matter who you are, and those who are going after it deserve our respect. Failing that, our silence.0
