Go hard or go home!

kom14
kom14 Posts: 31
edited February 2014 in Training, fitness and health
Channel 4 Monday night at 8pm. Series on regular members of the public taking on extreme endurance challenges with only 12 wks training. First episode is 4 doctors taking on a 127 mile Pyrenees cycling challenge. Might be interesting.
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Comments

  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    3 months training for a 127 miles of mountains? Ouch. Depends if they get people who have really done no exercise or cycling before that.

    tbh I think if you had three months off work and a structured daily plan, then it's doable.
  • bernithebiker
    bernithebiker Posts: 4,148
    Nice one, thanks for the heads up, should be interesting.

    P.S. Will they be writing out medical certificates for themselves or each other?
  • buckles
    buckles Posts: 694
    markhewitt1978 wrote:
    3 months training for a 127 miles of mountains? Ouch. Depends if they get people who have really done no exercise or cycling before that.

    tbh I think if you had three months off work and a structured daily plan, then it's doable.
    Why?
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  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    Because; obviously it'll require less training for someone who already rides 50 miles a week than it would for someone who does zero.
  • buckles
    buckles Posts: 694
    What I mean is, past cycling experience or lack thereof doesn't seem to be part of the criteria of choosing participants.

    Even for a non cyclist it would be doable, just more difficult. Taking three months off work (or any time whatsoever in fact) would be absolutely unnecessary
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  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    I doubt they'll get three months off work to do the training. It does seem unnecessary.

    (if they DO get the time off work - then put me down for the next series !)
  • moscowflyer
    moscowflyer Posts: 540
    edited January 2014
    Am I missing something?

    Monday at 8 on C4 - Dogs: Their secret lives.

    Edit: It's ok, just seen it's on C5 not C4.
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    It's actually Ch 5.
  • kom14
    kom14 Posts: 31
    Yeah Sorry channel 5 at 8 pm
  • marcusjb
    marcusjb Posts: 2,412
    The route profile for the ride - 3 main climbs. Col du Portalet is a tough climb (though I have only done it Spain->France whereas this is the other way around and actually looks harder that way around).

    perfil_qh.png?1369335752

    Depending on where they start from in terms of fitness, that's a tough ask in 3 months for sure - though mental fortitude will get you through much worse. Sounds good viewing.
    Stuff about riding a bike a long way
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    Depends of course on the pacing etc. e.g. I did some tough climbs in Mallorca early last year when I wasn't very fit at all. But because I was on my own I just stopped to rest every half mile! Got there in the end. One would imagine these recruits would be expected not to just stop at random like I did ;)
  • Mikey23
    Mikey23 Posts: 5,306
    Ok got it... Thanks for the shout
  • bernithebiker
    bernithebiker Posts: 4,148
    By the first ad break I had ten quid on at least 2 of them not making it.

    Kudos to the 2 that did though, especially the old bloke (even if he did take a short cut!)

    Not sure I would want them as my doctor dispensing health and lifestyle advice though.......!
  • imposter2.0
    imposter2.0 Posts: 12,028
    MoscowFlyer wrote:
    Am I missing something?

    Monday at 8 on C4 - Dogs: Their secret lives.

    Edit: It's ok, just seen it's on C5 not C4.

    The dog programme would probably be less infuriating, tbh...
  • caledonian1
    caledonian1 Posts: 62
    Never much chance of the two who had to quit ever getting close to half way round and the older guy, who did well and had a good attitude, did need to swick to make it on time (by avoiding one of the climbs and taking a short cut. One guy did finish in just under 12 hours but he was up 'til a recent accident a cycling commuter so had a chance of making it.
    Wouldn't call this "Europes toughest cycle" although not to be taken lightly.

    What i found confusing was the build up and progress reports on their training....the guy who couldnt ride a bike was getting intensive lessons and it kept stating "just 8 weeks to go" then "just 7 weeks to go" yet it still seemed to be winter and not even buds on the trees...surely in early/ mid May in the south of England leaves would be out?

    Sort of glad the success rate wasnt great...anything else would belittle the efforts of those who train hard,,,and over a longer period..to compete and finsh such events.
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    I was actually pleasantly surprised by the programme, even thought they referred to it as a 'race' but I'll forgive them that.

    It was easy to laugh at the guy who couldn't ride a bike - but then we've all been there, but his self motivational shouting was hilarious.

    Most impressed by the old guy who had a fantastic attitude that he wasn't just going to complete the course but he was going to beat everyone else too! I know he came last but that's not the point :D

    The wife didn't have any sympathy for the woman who had to withdraw at the top of the climb, says she was a drama queen putting it on :D. Although the programme had a surprising effect, my wife, who's eyes glaze over at a single mention of cycling said that she wouldn't mind getting a bike any having a bit of a ride, not on the road (of course!)
  • farrina
    farrina Posts: 360
    Whilst I was very impressed with the 65 years old chap making it around the course (even with a few diversions) I must confess my feeling in watching the program was one of concern throughout.

    Far to much to soon - the chap who could not ride a bike, all over what appeared to be a busy UK road. The lady who seemed incapable of stopping without falling over. Even the youngish chap (29?) who successfully completed the full course, at one stage on the event, rather than pulling over to the side just stopped in the middle of the road.

    Personally, whilst not wishing to take anything away from the participants, I thought they were lucky they did not make the headlines for the wrong reasons.

    If anyone can bear to watch it - its here http://www.channel5.com/shows/go-hard-or-go-home

    <Shudder>

    Alan
    Regards
    Alan
  • kom14
    kom14 Posts: 31
    I also experienced the same phenomenon as markhewitt1978. My girlfriend who isn't that interested whenever I mention cycling decided half way through the programme that she was going to have a look at her works cycle to work scheme as she thought she'd like to start cycling! I thought I was hearing things at first and had to check that she'd actually said what I thought she had said.

    Amazing
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    I guess hardcore cyclists aren't the target market for these kind of programs.
  • kom14
    kom14 Posts: 31
    Cougie agreed and also agree with imposter that it was a pretty frustrating programme for someone really into cycling, but if it has the effect of getting people out on their bikes and exercising it can't be a bad thing.

    Although frustrating I did find it quite entertaining, better than some of the dross served up regularly on TV.
  • littledove44
    littledove44 Posts: 871
    Well I am really into cycling, although still a newbie and as I am planning to do that event I enjoyed it as it gave me a bit of an idea what to expect.

    Must find myself a similar trainer.

    It was frustrating to see a complete absence of any real advice about riding, bike setup etc. but that's "reality" TV for you - dumbed down to the lowest level of understanding.
  • kom14
    kom14 Posts: 31
    Looked a really good event, some fantastic landscapes. Good luck with the training littledove, hope it goes well.
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    Eurosport did something similar - took two cyclists and one got to ride up Ventoux with Froome and one somewhere with Kelly. Wasnt that interesting in reality - they were both racing cyclists already so their 'journey' wasnt really that exciting.

    Far better to take Joe Public and get them doing stuff - and clearly it inspires them. And from the looks of the field - even the novices weren't completely off the back.

    Next week we take two beginners on the average club run. They'd be abandoned in half a mile.... :-)
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    littledove44 wrote:
    Well I am really into cycling, although still a newbie and as I am planning to do that event I enjoyed it as it gave me a bit of an idea what to expect.

    Must find myself a similar trainer.

    It was frustrating to see a complete absence of any real advice about riding, bike setup etc. but that's "reality" TV for you - dumbed down to the lowest level of understanding.

    I guess that's not what the programme was about; it was about how they coped with the training personally, rather than being about the training per se.

    I would have liked to have seen a bit more of their progression, they said some of them did a 100 mile flat sportive before that but that's about all.
  • GGBiker
    GGBiker Posts: 450
    Agree it was too much too soon, they would have been better to ride a uk sportive which often have different distances for different abilities and less climbing, it would have been more satisfying for the participants and encouraged them and the viewer into cycling. Even a seasoned cyclist would have regarded that event as a hard day on the bike, to attempt it at 4 months from inactivity is stupid and potentially dangerous.

    Also noticed how they all seemed to be poorly equipped clothing wise and mostly dreadful set up on the bike, can't have helped them.
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    Well the person 'training' them is was a rower; not exactly cycle specific.
  • marcusjb
    marcusjb Posts: 2,412
    markhewitt1978 wrote:
    Well the person 'training' them is was a rower; not exactly cycle specific.

    The presenter? She's a sailor.

    Anyway - a program on in-depth training methodologies would have people reaching for the remote fairly quickly.

    It is what it is - a bit of light fluffy entertainment; but it did manage to convey the message that you can do amazing things if you get off your arse and apply yourself.
    Stuff about riding a bike a long way
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    marcusjb wrote:
    It is what it is - a bit of light fluffy entertainment; but it did manage to convey the message that you can do amazing things if you get off your ars* and apply yourself.

    Indeed; in fact I'd been pondering doing a 100 mile sportive myself wondering if I could do it or not and the programme resolved me to just do it. :)
  • mattbabs
    mattbabs Posts: 86
    I think if you are already doing some cycling it might inspire you to do something more challenging. If you are thinking about starting cycling it could put you off! The guy who was weaving all over the hill with a queue of traffic tooting him before he fell off wouldn't seem to be a good way to make people think "I want to do that".

    The training programme seemed non-existent - ride your bike more, go to a spinning class then do a sportive in Norfolk. I've heard that Chris Froome is considering Norfolk instead of Tenerife when training for the Pyrenees. He's also going to the TdF with a GoPro, a Camelbak and loads of equipment stuck to his bike with duct tape.
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    Well the programme has had some results, made my wife think about fitness a little bit more and we did a 12 mile walk at the weekend, and we've just booked a holiday in the North York Moors where they do MTB hire and she's intending on having a go :)

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