Vatternrundan

NWLondoner

I must be mad but I have set myself the challenge of trying to take part in next years Vatternrundan

Now the furthest I have rode is 80km and I am going to seriously try to vastly increase this over the next few months.

What i need in order to prepare both body and mind is more info on the actual route. Has anyone here who has taken part got any GPS/GPX files of the actual route as well as average speeds etc.

I'm not too great on hills but i understand that hills are not too bad so it would be better to train for distance.


Any other info/links etc. would be GREATLY appreciated.

My plan would be to fly in by BA (using a hard bike case) then train it down to Motala.

GeorgeShaw

PM'd you re the GPX.

I did the Vattern last year, very pleased with a 10hours 8 time as I was 54 and only in my second year riding, and I'm dropped regularly by club mates on longer rides. That time might sound impressive, but actually it hides quite a few things. That ride was my second fastest average speed over any distance. The reason - big groups. If you have the basic fitness to get into a fast group - and there are many of them - then you can sit in and get a good tow for a large proportion of the ride. For the first quarter of the ride, it was more like a road race than a long distance ride. Short sharp efforts to keep a wheel. The middle third was a breeze - in a big group (>100 people) doing 35-40 kph with little effort. The last quarter was comparatively purgatory. No groups, headwind, very tired - maybe partially bonked - just about survival.

For preparation, I was doing a 100km+ ride every other weekend, of those two were 250km rides (over generally flat terrain, there's few hills on the Vattern), and also included the White Horse and one day of the Tour of Wessex sportives.

Good luck!!!

NWLondoner

Thanks for the PM i have sent a reply.