Leading The Tour

Porkyboy

Hi

If anyone is interested in seeing whether a 50+ rider can ride the entire route of the Tour de France riding all the stages as the pros will but three days ahead of the peloton now is you chance to see how I get on trying!

Been planning this for some while and will be setting off for Rotterdam on Tuesday for my own not-so-grand depart!

I figured the only way to find out whether I could do it was to give it a go so here I go, follow my progress if you are interested, my "live" GPS tracker will be updated every 30 minutes during each stage and will be running on the map at the foot of the blog which also contains all my training records. My effort is being generously supported by SKINS, the compression clothing people, whose riding and recovery clothing I use.

Follow on my weblog here: http://pedalbiker.blogspot.com
Follow me on Twitter here: http://twitter.com/VeloTraining

It's gonna be great! - I hope ;-)

Q

Flasheart

That sounds like a lot of work (fun) ahead of you 8) .

Hope it all goes well matey

dg74

Cracking stuff and good luck!

Porkyboy

Thanks for the good wishes guys, I'll be posting a stage map and preview on the blog at 05:00 each day then a summary of the agony of the day in the evening, that's the plan anyway. I'm assuming of course that I'll still be able to write by the evening! :?

Q

ratsbeyfus

What a great adventure - good luck to you. I hope your three day head start is enough to keep you ahead of them.

deptfordmarmoset

As a 50+ rider who'd probably need to start 3 months earlier in order not to be overtaken, best of luck and loads of respect. Bonne route!

Porkyboy

Thanks again, IF I make it the best bit will be watching the pros come in down the Champs Elysees and asking myself what took them so long

Now that would be a moment to treasure.

Scrumple

What bike - kit - etc...

the blog mentions tyres but no idea what you ride etc... video too small on my pc!

hopper1

Excellent project, mate... I wish you well.
As long as you're in reasonable nick, you should complete it without problems, just take a little longer per day than the pro's.
Anyway, don't worry about the finish, just enjoy the ride...

Porkyboy

Scrumple, can't help you with your PC I'm afraid! ;-) Michelin tyres, Krylium Carbon, for the first part including the pave, then Pro3 Grips for the rest I think, will see how it goes. What specific kit are you asking about as a list of everything would be very long, ktchen sink etc.

Scrumple

i did say bike - what frame/groupset/ratio/ etc...

Porkyboy

hopper1 wrote:

Excellent project, mate... I wish you well. As long as you're in reasonable nick, you should complete it without problems, just take a little longer per day than the pro's.
Anyway, don't worry about the finish, just enjoy the ride...

Hopper1, my sentiments exactly. My plan has been to train at a generally higher intensity than I intend to ride at which should stand me in reasonable stead, time, and the blog, will tell whether this is correct!

Porkyboy

Scrumple wrote:

i did say bike - what frame/groupset/ratio/ etc...

Trek 5500, Dura Ace G/S, 34/50 Compact with 12-27 block.

Q

Bunneh

Looks awesome! Wishing you all the luck in the world. Oh and you don't look anywhere near 50

Scrumple

... he will do soon.

Good luck. Enjoy the views, and hope it all goes well.

Porkyboy

Bunneh wrote:

Looks awesome! Wishing you all the luck in the world. Oh and you don't look anywhere near 50

Nicest thing anyone has said in a long time, apart from close relatives!

Q

Porkyboy

Scrumple wrote:

... he will do soon.

Good luck. Enjoy the views, and hope it all goes well.

I strongly suspect that you are very close to the truth there!

deptfordmarmoset

Porkyboy wrote:

Bunneh wrote:

Looks awesome! Wishing you all the luck in the world. Oh and you don't look anywhere near 50

Nicest thing anyone has said in a long time, apart from close relatives!

Q

Quentin, Bunneh didn't actually say you looked younger....

Seriously though, best of luck!

Cleat Eastwood

wow, fantastic, good luck old bean.

Porkyboy

deptfordmarmoset wrote:

Porkyboy wrote:

Bunneh wrote:

Looks awesome! Wishing you all the luck in the world. Oh and you don't look anywhere near 50

Nicest thing anyone has said in a long time, apart from close relatives!

Q

Quentin, Bunneh didn't actually say you looked younger....

Seriously though, best of luck!

Hmm, see what you mean. I guess I was just born optimistic!

Q

AndyD2574

Brilliant

All the best mate.

Pross

Good luck - a real challenge and slight insight into what the pros go through!

Porkyboy

Hi

Just dropping by from La Belle France! 5 stages down, 15 to go! Great to watch the pros riding the stages I've just done, hope they enjoy the pave as much as I did yesterday!

Longest stage of the tour tomorrow, best get some sleep.

Still posting updates each day if anyone fancies a browse:

http://pedalbiker.blogspot.com/

Cheers to all!

Q

Porkyboy

Hi

Just a line to round this one off. I successfully completed the entire 2010 TdF route starting 3 days ahead of the pros and finishing 3 days ahead of them. I rode each stage as they did (but slower!) and took the 2 rest days at the same relative points in the race that they did.

Suffice to say that I'm delighted :-)

Using my experience from 2010 I'm now thinking of selecting and training a team of 6-10 riders to repeat the process in 2012 when I think the TdF will be starting in Liege. The plan is to ride it collaboratively as a team event and to train all riders up to a target power to weight ratio (PWR) @ FTP to make keeping a group together easier and make the ride 100% a team effort. The plan is to have the team in serious training from this winter which will give us 18 months to have everyone at around the required PWR @ FTP for July 2012.

Should be fab!

Cheers,

Q