Was Festive 500, now it's 8 Cols in 8 Days Challenge

124

Comments

  • N0bodyOfTheGoat
    N0bodyOfTheGoat Posts: 6,057
    I forgot to mention when this thread started, but messing with the slope difficulty setting in Rouvy completely screws up the physics.

    I started https://www.strava.com/activities/6421918687 yesterday morning with 100% slope difficulty and when we hit the start of the Alpe Du Zwift climb, my lowest gear (34/32) sent me well into red, so I had to lower the slope difficulty to ~40% to have a gear option around 175W... The days of doing the whole ADZ averaging 261W seem a distant memory right now.
    ================
    2020 Voodoo Marasa
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  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    N0bodyOfTheGoat said:

    I forgot to mention when this thread started, but messing with the slope difficulty setting in Rouvy completely screws up the physics.

    I started https://www.strava.com/activities/6421918687 yesterday morning with 100% slope difficulty and when we hit the start of the Alpe Du Zwift climb, my lowest gear (34/32) sent me well into red, so I had to lower the slope difficulty to ~40% to have a gear option around 175W... The days of doing the whole ADZ averaging 261W seem a distant memory right now.

    It’s set at 100% :)

    left the forum March 2023
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    Tomorrow's homework, Tourmalet from Luz

    December 26th Day 3 Col du Tourmalet 1400 mt of climbing
    https://my.rouvy.com/virtual-routes/detail/18936
    left the forum March 2023
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,342
    I always have slope setting at 100%. That way I know my gearing will be adequate should I go for real.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,342
    Just go Ugo.
    Elevated heart rate following yesterday’s excesses.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,342
    edited December 2021
    Another near miss at 1:32:02. Still, a good result at 55th place on a bad day.
    Good ride for the 1st half.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    pblakeney said:

    Just go Ugo.
    Elevated heart rate following yesterday’s excesses.

    I was wondering… I thought you had internet issues…. Beautiful views at the top, but the lower mid section was riddled with errors… probably due to poor GPS recordings…

    left the forum March 2023
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,342
    I had to get off to get my phone and post in the hope you’d get the message. Glad you cracked on whatever the reason.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    Who’s doing the Aubisque tomorrow?
    I’ll probably be there around 9 again
    left the forum March 2023
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,342
    I will probably start before 9:00 so you can use me as the carrot, catch and pass, as I'll be sticking to 2.5-3.0 w/kg since I'll be doing the Ballon as well.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • i.bhamra
    i.bhamra Posts: 304
    edited December 2021
    Did the Ballon and Tourmalet yesterday to make up for missing Christmas day. Managed to maintain 3w/kg but will save the Aubisque for this evening when hopefully my legs feel less heavy...
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    i.bhamra said:

    Did the Ballon and Tourmalet yesterday to make up for missing Christmas day. Managed to maintain 3w/kg but will save the Aubisque for this evening when hopefully my legs feel less heavy...

    I know what you mean…

    left the forum March 2023
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    pblakeney said:

    I will probably start before 9:00 so you can use me as the carrot, catch and pass, as I'll be sticking to 2.5-3.0 w/kg since I'll be doing the Ballon as well.

    What was about that Hagen guy climbing at 25W/kg? :o

    left the forum March 2023
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,342
    ugo.santalucia said:

    pblakeney said:

    I will probably start before 9:00 so you can use me as the carrot, catch and pass, as I'll be sticking to 2.5-3.0 w/kg since I'll be doing the Ballon as well.

    What was about that Hagen guy climbing at 25W/kg? :o

    Never saw that bit but he’s was constantly between 5 & 7.
    Should check what pro team he is on. 🤨
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,342
    Hardest day (due to catch up) done.
    Col du Aubisque in 1:21:28 at 2.95 average w/kg.
    Petit Ballon in 51:09 at 3.06 average w/kg. 1979m climbing total so happy with that.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    pblakeney said:

    Hardest day (due to catch up) done.
    Col du Aubisque in 1:21:28 at 2.95 average w/kg.
    Petit Ballon in 51:09 at 3.06 average w/kg. 1979m climbing total so happy with that.

    Big day… I did like the Ballon, lots of woodland, reminds me of the climbs back home in Italy

    Maybe in January we do a group ride up to Oropa, my local

    left the forum March 2023
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,342
    ugo.santalucia said:

    pblakeney said:

    Hardest day (due to catch up) done.
    Col du Aubisque in 1:21:28 at 2.95 average w/kg.
    Petit Ballon in 51:09 at 3.06 average w/kg. 1979m climbing total so happy with that.

    Big day… I did like the Ballon, lots of woodland, reminds me of the climbs back home in Italy

    Maybe in January we do a group ride up to Oropa, my local

    Possibly...
    Today was actually an easy day compared with what I have planned in July. A tour of the Dolomites, Stelvio and Mortirolo. 626 kms and 18,540m climbing over 6 days.
    Although, full days, not just a few hours in the morning.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    Galibier tomorrow, easier version, without the Telegraphe
    left the forum March 2023
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,342
    A word to the wise if you've not done the Galibier before.
    Keep something in your legs for the last km.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    I found it quite easy… obviously at 2600 mt is going to be a different story
    left the forum March 2023
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,342
    edited December 2021
    ugo.santalucia said:

    I found it quite easy… obviously at 2600 mt is going to be a different story

    Yeah. I remember it being much harder.
    I would have sworn there was a 14% section after the left turn.
    Looking back, my Garmin recorded 12.4% then add on altitude.

    1:19:51 at 3.03 w/kg average.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    Izoard tomorrow, should have nice views… and then it’s all downhill, so to speak… Peyresourde is easy and the Alpe is a Mamil climb… ;)
    left the forum March 2023
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    This challenge has been a godsend… well done me. The weather has been the worst I remember over the Christmas break. It has rained every single day… either drizzle and fog or proper downpours… looks like on Saturday we might have a decent day, perfect for a ride outdoors at the end of this
    left the forum March 2023
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,342
    I'm having an early start for an early finish today.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    pblakeney said:

    I'm having an early start for an early finish today.

    Not early enough… ;)

    left the forum March 2023
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,342
    edited December 2021
    I was indeed surprised!

    Col d'Izoard done in 1:14:58 (phew! 😉) @ average 3.03 w/kg. "Downhill" from here...
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    I did the first half very slow… I thought I’d have to stop and get some food as I was feeling weak, but then I felt better and swiftly made it to the top.
    Tomorrow should be easy… I have signed up for a race at lunchtime too, if I feel it… today I even managed to go out for an hour around lunchtime, it was rather nice, for a change.
    left the forum March 2023
  • i.bhamra
    i.bhamra Posts: 304
    I'm done. Can't ride from this afternoon until Sunday so doubled up yesterday (Peyresourde and the Alpe) and did Izoard this morning. Will post up some numbers when I get time but most rides done at 3 w/kg, notable blips on Gallibier and Izoard where I averaged 2.7. Thanks for organising Ugo, a very different challenge to the Festive 500, but definitely a challenge!
  • wallace_and_gromit
    wallace_and_gromit Posts: 3,638
    Not having Zwift etc. I've gone for watching films over the festive period on my WattBike. So far I've bagged:

    - Love Actually
    - A Time to Kill
    - 3 instalments of the Hunger Games

    Also did FTP test on Boxing Day where I just had my head down oblivious to everything but what felt at the time like certain death! Though was rewarded with a modest improvement on the scoreboard and apathy from the family.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    i.bhamra said:

    I'm done. Can't ride from this afternoon until Sunday so doubled up yesterday (Peyresourde and the Alpe) and did Izoard this morning. Will post up some numbers when I get time but most rides done at 3 w/kg, notable blips on Gallibier and Izoard where I averaged 2.7. Thanks for organising Ugo, a very different challenge to the Festive 500, but definitely a challenge!

    i.bhamra said:

    I'm done. Can't ride from this afternoon until Sunday so doubled up yesterday (Peyresourde and the Alpe) and did Izoard this morning. Will post up some numbers when I get time but most rides done at 3 w/kg, notable blips on Gallibier and Izoard where I averaged 2.7. Thanks for organising Ugo, a very different challenge to the Festive 500, but definitely a challenge!

    I worked out it’s about half the time of the Festive 500 but roughly the same amount of calories. It’s obviously less daunting and not weather dependant… maybe next year we do the Giro cols or the Vuelta picos.

    Peyresourde done in 49 minutes… only the Alpe left… I probably went too hard today

    left the forum March 2023

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