Ride Reports

itboffin

Made my day, thanks

greg66_tri_v2.0

As I lie here, 24 hours before the off, with legs that will have trouble getting down the stairs, I find that to be scant consolation.

You git.

il_principe

Well have fun! I'm sure all those training rides will see you through...

greg66_tri_v2.0

Yeah. That was my thought too. Snort!

Checked the bike's geo out here. Saddle too high by a fraction, not sure it is far enough back, saddle angle wrong...

So I've made a load of fairly major adjustments to it. Will test them out tomorrow.

That should be ok, right? I mean, what could possibly go wrong there?

Mikey41

Finally a chance for a longer distance ride again, so took to my local short loop and did 2 laps, which totals up to be about 13 miles. I would have done it non-stop, but there is a Strava segment on it, so (as you do) I really went for it on the first lap and had to take a short breather.

I know this is small fry in the grand scheme of things, but at my early stage and with the bike I have, I'm really pleased with how I did 8)

http://app.strava.com/rides/21223684

Looks like the weather will be nasty to me for the next few days now

itboffin

2nd ride with my new wheel set today and basically they made more noisy than a tin can full of nails' not flipping happy although they are stupidly light and quick climbing, not so good on rough descents, that's practically everywhere around here.

Come on Gregg did you make it or was it in the back of the broom wagon?

adam0bmx0

Had an awesome ride from Elephant and Castle to Brighton yesterday. Was about 70 odd miles, furthest i'd been and did it in 3h 40.

Damn that hill as you get to Brighton was a toughy, managed it though.

Also hit 50mph too at one point.

itboffin

Forced my 7 year old daughter to ride the 8% climb up to the village wind mill she was not happy

Gussio

Richmond to Kingston and back along the tow path with the 5yr old on his Islabike. He is now hooked on Strava 8)

itboffin

I have it on good authority that Gregg66 was killed or something perhaps by a bear, very kindly he's left me bike 1 & 2 seeing as I practically own them anyway after so skillfully removing his Alpine scalp.

We will miss him ....for a bit

greg66_tri_v2.0

Executive summary: for those who like to skip to the last page, I did the Vancouver to Whistler GranfFondo; 122km and 5000' of vertical (it sounds better to mix imperial and metric here); it was tough but less tough than I expected, and I beat my target time by a couple of minutes.

Prologue: I used to watch a series of online videos which included the briefings given to a professional cycling team before stages of the Tour de France. It was always the same (delivered in a Belgium accent): "ve ride hard, ve put X near ze front ov ze peloton, and at 20 key-low-met-trrs to go, ve all kom to the front and give it full gas, and deliver ze stage to X". This rarely worked, for various reasons, but I was always struck by the idea that you ride hard for 140+ "key-low-met-trrs" and *then* give it "full gas". What on earth had you been doing whilst you were supposed to be riding hard?

Chapter 1: "The general who wins the battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. The general who loses makes but few calculations beforehand": Sun Tzu, The Art Of War.

The race route has two halves. The first is undulating. I think that the civil engineers in British Columbia would do well to purchase a spirit level. The second is almost all uphill. I had only ridden a very small fraction of the race route previously. So I decided that on the Thursday before the race, I would ride the second half of the course, downhill first, then uphill according to the race route back to Whistler.

This was a disaster. I had intended to ride a reconnaissance ride. Instead I did my usual trick of riding as hard as I could and seeing what happened. The answer was that I blew up spectacularly with about 20km to go. According to any profile you can pull off the internet, the last 20km back to Whistler should not be too bad. The profiles lie. There is a succession of sort steep climbs that will kill the legs of the unsuspecting, in particular when the unsuspecting have already worked their legs silly.

In these 20km, I encountered adductor problems in my legs that had me unwilling to sit on the bike saddle and unable to stand up and pedal. I could either show you where the upper heads of the adductor are, or point them out to you. Either way, I would be arrested. I suggest that if you are curious, you use Google.

I was left on Friday morning very sore, very humbled, very depressed, and very anxious.

Mercifully, I have the services of a truly excellent massage therapist in Whistler, who was able (whilst I bit down hard on a piece of wood) to get the knots out of my adductors and give me hope that my legs would last longer than 5 minutes. However, I really didn't know whether my legs were fixed, or just dormant. I decided to throw the dice and make some adjustments to my bike. Either this would eliminate the adductor problem, or it would make it a lot worse. I had no idea which, but only one alternative was worth contemplating.

Chapter 2: Showtime.

"He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot will be victorious", Sun Tzu, The Art Of War.

It's rare that you can wander outside at 6.15am in shirtsleeves, but Vancouver offered us that. I made the short ride from my hotel to the race start in good time, and joined my "corral" of riders who had estimated their start time in the same band as I had. I looked around and wondered who would be quick, and who I might be able to use for pacing. Completely futile.

At 6.45 "Oh Canada" struck up. I have a soft spot for this; Canadians do national pride without self consciousness or jingoism very well. Some specks of dust may have got caught in my eyes.

Ten minutes later, we were off. In the first km a few riders came flying by me as if shot from a cannon. Adrenaline was evidently running high. The first few km took us thought Stanley Park (the location for numerous episodes of The X Files, and countless other tv series), over the Lions Gate Bridge and then up a short sharp climb to the Upper Narrows. The Upper Narrows is the highway to Whistler; the next turn I would have to make would be at Whistler. The highway rises above the city, giving a view of container ships waiting for a berth in Vancouver's port and of Vancouver Island, and then guides us along Howe Sound, which would provide our scenery to the left for the next 60km.

I had intended to ride the first half of the course relatively easily, and save myself for the harder second half. Fat lot of good that plan was. The Upper Narrows was a race track. I found myself, time and time again, sitting in a long snake of riders drafting off some superhuman at the front. I would be 20 or so places from the front (20th wheel, in the lingo), wondering whether I was falling off the back of the line. Then I would peek back to see another 40-60 riders in the snake. Don't fall back; don't make a mistake.

At 47 km we hit the first proper climb. I knew that tearing up it was a sure-fire way to kill my legs. When you cycle, your legs are a lot like a car engine. If the engine has a red line at 6500rpm, then driving for 5 minutes at 6800 rpm will give you a dead engine that cannot be repaired at the side of the road. Drive for an hour at 6300 rpm, and you will be fine. The trick (obviously) is to find your personal redline. It's not that easy though.

So I watched the lean riders pull out their leads, and I think I passed some slower riders. It's an odd thing, climbing in a group. You only really notice the riders that ride away from you, not those you ride away from. A sharp descent, where my superior mass came into play, a longer, steeper climb and a final descent, and we were back at sea level, at the head of Howe Sound at Squamish, the half way point. Now I had a choice.

Beyond the head of Howe Sound is a flat river plain. Plain = flat; I like flat. Squamish gave us about 8km of pure flat that even BC's civil engineers couldn't ruin. This was potentially a chance to get my head down, ride hard, and gain some time. However, I knew from my recon ride that the other side of Squamish was where the road tilted upwards, and save for a couple of short descents, stayed that way for the next 60km or so. Should I burn energy on the flat, and risk time losses on the climbs, or should I play safe?

When I saw how the pace picked up on the flat, temptation got the better of me. I joined a pace line that was pulling a pretty good speed, then after a few minutes decided it was not good enough. I pulled put and rode off the front to join the next pace line up the road; at least I thought that's what I did; in fact I towed the first pace line up to the second, then the first pace line blasted past and I had to jump back on board that one. Well, at least the speed was now more to my liking.

Chapter 3: the business end.

The ride out of Squamish will keep you busy for 35 minutes before you can drawn breath properly. It starts with a very long drag at 5%, then a false flat before a nasty 10% pitch, then another false flat before a longer nastier 10% pitch. Very definitely a case of save your best to last.

I had forgotten to eat during the Squamish team time trial, and had a slight hunger pang. This I know from experience to be bad, so I started scoffing a triple ration of food on the climb. This went badly: I was panting hard, and oatmeal bars break into small particles quickly. Inhaling one of these particles by accident when you're panting will get your attention fast.

Somehow, though, I was picking off far more riders on this climb than were picking me off. Short stints out of the saddle had me cautiously optimistic that my legs might just be a bit stronger than I had hoped. I had no adductor pain, and no signs of cramp. This was good.

And so it went on. Keeping the legs spinning as fast as possible in a comfortable gear, set my sights on the next rider up the road, close him or her down, pass, and repeat. By now the field was spread out, and there were no big groups ahead or behind me that I could see. But as we approached 95km, I spied a big group ahead that would break and reform as the gradient changed. Dig deep, head down, and 5km later I was in that group. Time to sit in and gather myself.

Around 100km I knew that there was a section as close to flat as you'd get in the second half of the course - 1-2% or so. I also knew that the last 20km were deceptively difficult, with a couple of medium length 9% climbs where all you really want is a gentle run to home. The pace of this group suggested to me that they weren't budgeting for the last 20km being hard. Fine - I stayed tucked in and let them drag me along.

Sure enough, when we hit the climbs again the group broke apart. Surprising myself, I found that I was moving away with the leaders. Short stints out of the saddle told me that my legs were now starting to feel it, but there was still something in them to give. Crucially, this was where my adductors had gone haywire two days previously, but today they were fine.

When we came off the top of the last big climb, my group was down to about 20, with some stragglers from another group further up the road. We were now about 10, maybe 12km from home, with a couple of short nasty rollers in the final 7km. For the time being though, the road was relatively flat, and the pace picked up sharply. This group was now racing for the line.

I found myself (unwisely) doing a huge pull on the front as we approached Function Junction, which marks the very outer edge of Whistler. However, my pull thinned the bunch out quite nicely. Then there were 6 of us moving at a far lick, sweeping past quite a few riders who looked well and truly done for and were turning the pedals over in survival mode.

We came through Whistler Creek, home of the Alpine downhill events at the Olympics, all out of the saddle stamping on the pedals for the little roller that takes you out of the Creek. I had my cross hairs on two of the group who looked especially strong - I had spotted another of our group motioning to his friend to grab their wheels. My plan was to stay close to the strong riders and then outsprint them right at the death. Well, you can learn something from watching the Tour de France on tv.

As we approached the sharp right turn from the highway into the village, we were passing other riders at real pace. This was genuinely exciting to be in - there was no doubt that all of us knew exactly what we were playing at. I managed to get second wheel going into that corner, and blasted out of it. It still took me 100m or so to get past the leader. By now I was out of the saddle, stamping the pedals, rocking the bike side to side under me, heart pumping furiously. I now completely understand how you can ride hard and still give it full gas. They are not the same. Not the same at all.

One more corner to go - get the inside line, settle into it, don't come off - out of the corner and stamp back on the pedals, 40m, 30m, 20m, 10m, BANG! I'm over the line. And won the mini race. Right then, the 1000 or so riders who finished ahead of me really didn't matter. Quick look to the sky, say "hi" to my Dad, and suddenly those specks are back in my eyes again.

Epilogue. All in all a really good ride; both in the sense of the event itself, the organisation and the scenery, and how I felt I performed. 4h 25mins according to my watch, against a target of 4h 27mins. If anything, in retrospect, I felt I probably rode a little too conservatively for the first three-quarters of the course, and might have been able to go sub 4h 20mins. But hindsight is a wonderful thing, and blowing up is a one way ticket to your personal Hell, so I'll take the result as it was.

Oh, and that Sun Tzu bloke? I reckon he'd make a pretty good DS.

woodnut

Greg66 wrote:

An epic tale

I enjoyed that!

il_principe

Chapeau.

So are you going to treat yourself to a reward?

DrLex

woodnut wrote:

Greg66 wrote:

An epic tale

I enjoyed that!

Ditto. Having driven that route, chapeau for riding it at a decent pace. Whilst the improvements for the Olympics made it safer, it didn't really change the vertical elements. Now you can go and injure yourself properly on the MTB trails.

Kieran_Burns

I did my 100Km loop out again yesterday (two weekends in a row which is unheard of)

I think it will be the swansong for the Tricross but worn out as she is, she did me proud. I kind of messed up the food again but actually felt stronger at the end than I have done for a while.

The highlight though was the foreign lass with the epic arse who I was chatting to at Parlsey Hay; a proper roadie with a truly stunning figure. I don't think her boyfriend was too impressed, especially at the amount of interest she showed in my camera.

Some prawn has resurfaced the trail south of Hartington with this tar spray stuff and made it a nightmare to cycle on :evil: but it's only for a couple of miles tops so it's soon over with. Oh, and for the first time I forgot to pack my mini-toolkit and someone needed an alllen key... bugger :oops:

Speaking of needing a toolkit... the amount of blokes I saw out on fully blinged up expensive MTBs in full kit that you could HEAR before you could SEE. The state their chains were in, God it was embarrassing.

All in all a great ride, with the second highlight being me tearing past some full on MTB type (maintained bike) at over 25mph on the Tissington Trail. I think he got a little upset at me 'tinging' my bell at him

greg66_tri_v2.0

DrLex wrote:

woodnut wrote:

Greg66 wrote:

An epic tale

I enjoyed that!

Ditto. Having driven that route, chapeau for riding it at a decent pace. Whilst the improvements for the Olympics made it safer, it didn't really change the vertical elements. Now you can go and injure yourself properly on the MTB trails.

Cheers! I haven't done a lot of MTB'ing, but the next morning I went out just before 8 and did almost an hour on one on the trails around Lost Lake. Absolutely beautiful. After the first 20 mins the legs felt surprisingly good, but the solitude and terrain and gearing was just what I needed. May try some more (even if I did feel a bit dirty doing it).

Il Principe wrote:

Chapeau.

So are you going to treat yourself to a reward?

Think I might. The 46s though. Few days to go yet...

itboffin

Hold on just a man now g66 on a MTB ???

I'm pretty sure that's one of the signs for the end of the world

greg66_tri_v2.0

itboffin wrote:

Hold on just a man now g66 on a MTB ???

I'm pretty sure that's one of the signs for the end of the world

Yeah, true.

But you can relax. It's only a hard tail. Not a full susser.

I reckon we've got a few weeks yet.

Kieran_Burns

Greg66 wrote:

itboffin wrote:

Hold on just a man now g66 on a MTB ???

I'm pretty sure that's one of the signs for the end of the world

Yeah, true.

But you can relax. It's only a hard tail. Not a full susser.

I reckon we've got a few weeks yet.

No. You're dead to us now.

cjcp

DrLex wrote:

woodnut wrote:

Greg66 wrote:

An epic tale

I enjoyed that!

Ditto. Having driven that route, chapeau for riding it at a decent pace. Whilst the improvements for the Olympics made it safer, it didn't really change the vertical elements. Now you can go and injure yourself properly on the MTB trails.

Ditto. Great read. I doff my cap.

itboffin

I'll reserve my judgement until is see garmin and or strava data else this DID NOT HAPPEN

Torvid

itboffin wrote:

I'll reserve my judgement until is see garmin and or strava data else this DID NOT HAPPEN

What the epic but unbelievable tale of Greg on a MTB or his sight seeing ride?

clarkey cat

glorious out there this morning, bright, slightly chilly. A quick 30 miles around Chobham and now off to the pub.

chadders81

60 miles from Clapham through Putney, Richmond Park and onto Box Hill.

Great weather. Not the fastest I've ever ridden in parts but I tore it up at times and dropped my mate. I bloody well enjoyed it.

Just invested in a stack of winter kit so hopefully there'll be nothing to stop me doing the same in future weeks.

iPete

Made the round trip to box hill today, only my 2nd time there, as above, was lovely wasn't it!

Smashed the time set on my last trip up the the zig zags, 15.1 mph avg. Was worried 51x17 was going to really hurt, loving the fixie.
http://app.strava.com/rides/22019296

woodnut

After hemming and hawing all morning (road or MTB), I eventually made the wrong decision. Packed a lot of climbing into a short distance and really enjoyed myself, even on the technical descents. (I'm not the bravest).
http://app.strava.com/rides/22016469.
Was quite pleased, knew I'd ridden as hard as I could up the hills.
Half a mile from home disaster struck, front wheel hit something and I went from 18mph to nowt, instantly.
Went to minor injuries unit where they kindly told me I'll be very sore, for a while. Severe gravel rash to one arm and mucho bruising of ribs. :shock:
Wish I'd took the road bike.

Yukirin

surrey legs of steel this morning. http://www.fulontri.com/legs-of-steel
found out my legs were indeed not made of steel, but instead some kind of fibre that cramps if I push too hard up too many hills. Lovely morning for it though and the lanes and views were superb, and I've never done a loop that goes that far south, normally crocknorth is as far as I go. This was my first sportive, I found it all well organised and have no complaints (Except for the local drivers and their impatience)
anyway, I left off too hard and excitable and then got destroyed trying to push a 42/26 gearing up winterfold's 21% climb. I didnt get off, though! However, each hill got harder, my legs got tighter and I was trying to take it easy so my legs wouldnt give up until crocknorth when both thighs and my right calf contracted into dried prunes. A munch and a drink later and I was on my way again for a 3hour 45 ish finish. 51 miles and 5200ft of climbing.

SimonAH

Given my failure to hit the club ride on Sunday due to the grape harvest and the need to work off the weekend's near fatal levels of booze consumption I took the day off today and rode to Cardiff bay for a burger.

43 mile loop in gorgeous weather, legs felt great. 40.1mph max, 17.2 avg

The burger however was disappointing until I noticed that the sign now reads Eddies American Diner as opposed the Ed's Easy Diner..... I was conned.

Kieran_Burns

SimonAH wrote:

Given my failure to hit the club ride on Sunday due to the grape harvest and the need to work off the weekend's near fatal levels of booze consumption I took the day off today and rode to Cardiff bay for a burger.

43 mile loop in gorgeous weather, legs felt great. 40.1mph max, 17.2 avg

The burger however was disappointing until I noticed that the sign now reads Eddies American Diner as opposed the Ed's Easy Diner..... I was conned.

I can imagine it must hard to sit when harvesting grapes...

itboffin

Just fettled the SS to within an inch of its life, suited up in head to toe Rapha and headed out to my local BIG hills :twisted:

At the loop halfway point I decided to add some more hills :twisted: wooohahahaha ended up being 20.7 miles alas no Garmin so I couldnt see how fast I did the last two long drags home but I know from many previous efforts they were at least 20 mph each, that and my heart trying to escape from my mouth :?

Not hugely warm but nice and sunny and NO WIND for a change, plus I left everything at home, gears, food, tookit, pump, spares etc etc

Much fun was had - now for beerZ