Etape du Dales

Anyone else in for this? Did it last year and loved it - best sportive I've done so far - so have just signed up again. This year, it's going clockwise, so will be nice to have done the route both ways 
Really is a cracker. 1300 riders, deathly quiet roads and beautiful surroundings. Great feeds as well...
https://www.etapedudales.org/

Really is a cracker. 1300 riders, deathly quiet roads and beautiful surroundings. Great feeds as well...
https://www.etapedudales.org/
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With 90 miles in the legs
I’ve done the Dragon before so know what to expect, however this ride...errr....sounds brutal.
Much harder than the Dragon ride in my opinion. Steeper gradients and the relentless nature of the Dales topography makes it one of the toughest days out there, possibly the hardest among the <200 km events.
Just to give you an idea, my best time is a good 15 minutes slower than my Fred's best time... and they are equal in distance.
Ouch!
Sounds like it’s gonna be a great day of pain. :?
34 / 28 ratio fine?
Hard to say, because this year it is run clockwise, I've always done it anticlockwise, so the Coal Road was very steep that way (>20%).
It also depends on your fitness and pedalling style. The first time I've done it I had a 36 x 34, the second a 36 x 32. Neither of them was really needed except for the Coal Road, the steep top of Fleet Moss and the bottom of Turf Moor.
Going the other way, I'd say the bottom part of the Coal Road, Buttertubs and Fleet Moss should be the hardest... none of them over 20%, but consistently over 15%. I suspect even Pen-Y-Ghent (first climb) will be pretty steep that way... it certainly felt steep going down...
Thanks for the heads up.
\heads off in the direction of his turbo.
This is my Strava file from last year, climbing is more like 2,900-3,000 metres, as the Garmin 200 under reads by about 15-20%, obviously you have to look at it backwards, all descents will become climbs for you and viceversa
https://www.strava.com/activities/986064726
Thanks pal.
The Coal road is pretty brutal from the Cowgill side, so is Buttertubs and Fleet Moss. If you imagine a door wedge, this is like going up the steepest side and having a longer shallower descent, so you'll get the height in less distance than from the other side, but they are leg shredders. Nateby Fell is also quite tough as well. Not done Pen y Ghent from that side, but been the other way and it's a fast descent, so must be a toughie as well.
I'm really talking myself out of this!
Yeah, probably best to wait 2019 and do this one instead...
https://pendle600audax.com/
The small matter of 10 km of climbing with all your favourites...
That's just effin insane. :shock:
Probably... I'm thinking about it though. It's the logical step up if I manage to finish the Bryan Chapman in May this year.
It's not even the 10Km of climbing that worry me... it's the sheer number of 20-30% climbs and descents that is insane
https://www.strava.com/activities/1075143364
I've wintered fairly well and am stronger and lighter than I was then but being in Norfolk where we only have short hills<6% I have little to base my climbing ability on other than zwift.
Velothon was a mass ride, designed to be challenging but doable by beginners as well as more seasoned cyclists. The EdD was put together as a spillover of the Fred Whitton, basically those who could not enter the Fred, could do the Etape instead. The challenge is similar and it is aimed at more experienced cyclists...
you should... it is one of the best sportives in the land and it's even well catered for. You see, at the Fred you get two feeding zones, which aren't enough for most folks... a couple of sandwiches and a banana over 8-9 hours? Really?
At the EdD you get 4 feeding zones, so plenty of food on offer and you don't have to stuff your pockets with gels
Forecast seems OK and your plan is sound. I don't think you will be cold
It's a tough day on the bike, IMO harder than the Fred Whitton... I wouldn't go there with the idea of going round in under 7 hours if you've never done anything this hilly... If you feel good by the time you get to Tan Hill control, then you can probably try and let go. Looks like light wind, which is usual the main struggle