Managed to come/maintain into some good August form despite some rainy weeks & letting it go a bit easy in July. Credits to hometrainer, some nice mountain hikes and going for a rides despite what the weather witch tells us. Stelvio Bike Day, I'm coming!
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
wogsrus wrote:
Broke a spoke yesterday. Wheel is in for repairs.
It happens matey, what wheels are you running? Always keen to hear issues people have with components, still learning wheel building myself and have been practising on old worn out bit and pieces. Looking at getting myself a descent level Parktool wheel jig once I nail it and start doing custom hoops for fellow riders
My cycling has been very up and down of late, since my last Everest attempt when I broke my wrist 70 ks into it (made it 325 ks into a 500 k attempt before I pulled the pin thanks to the fog not the swollen wrist) things just have not gone right. Managed to get back onto the bike later that week to knock out the Rapha Rising challenge but have had one thing after another since that ride. Should of taken some time off the bike but 1. It is my main mode of transport 2. I work using my hands 3. I just dig riding my bike! Sliced my left index finger down to the bone with a new kitchen knife, Picked up a nasty cold which turned into a chest infection and have worked stupid hours to result in one of my quietest months in 2 years. Spent 150 ks & just under 4000 vertical on a local climb this week https://www.strava...er=overall it is harder than it looks as it has a steep standing start turn around at the base and then does not hold a consistent grade with a 300 metre section the averages out at 11% ramps up to 16%, the road surface is pretty good and all going well I am looking at having another Everest attempt on it at the end of the month, it should take 135 laps and around 350 ks, if the wrist heals well enough then I will be knocking out my 3rd Everest.
I want to have 5 completed by the end of the year, 2 successful attempts and another failed attempt. The other 2 I am thinking of doing is this absolute BEAST The Dargo Hill Climb https://www.strava...nts/629059 It is classed as Australia's 2nd hardest climb behind Mt Baw Baw, the average gradient certainly does not show how hard this climb is (10.7's @ 8%) the 1st 2 k's comes in @ 12% and then it has a section known as "The Wall" at the end which av.'s out at 17% for 250 metres
The other climb I have marked down is a true crazy "Hells 500" riders climb, is called Old Coach Rd and has 1.2 k section on rough gravel which av's out at 11% https://www.strava...s/1767500.
Thought I would keep you Cats and Kittens updated on whats going on and on a side note been talking to a cycling buddy of mine who teaches design at a local University who is cobbling together a PCM.Daily cycling jersey, once she comes up with a couple of candidates I will post them and let you guys vote on it, once we have a result I have another cycling friend who manufactures boutique/custom cycling kit and will get some made up and happy to keep any cost down if you guys like the outcome and would like one, it will be quality kit (same guy who makes the Hells 500 kit https://www.nemisi... If any of our graphics guys on the forum have any PCM.Daily jerseys to submit feel free to PM me and i'll throw it into the mix.
Ah! Before I forget, nils erik I am loving the reports from races, keep it up buddy and keep reporting what you are doing. Wish I had your pace on the road
One other bit you guys who climb might be interested in is this https://theclimbin.../Main_Page
It was a page started by a local cyclist as a uni project and has become a climbers treasure trove in my part of Oz, you can add any climb in your area, be it a 20 k HC monster or a 200 metre local road. Check it out and add to what will become a great resource to cyclists around the globe.
Mavic wheels mate. Wouldn't have a clue what specs though.
Made the move to clipless pedals and, after working out I naturally need to unclip the right foot, not what would be the more appropriate left in the UK, am having a blast with it.
Not that there's much, if any, of a performance gain but it's nice not to have to constantly re-position the feet, especially as the weather is already turning wetter and therefore there is more scope for pedal slippage otherwise.
At the same time I got myself a heart rate monitor to play around with too - rather surprised to see an average heart rate as high as 165 on my first test ride going at a fairly typical level of effort.
I've not been on the bike much in August with holidays and general over indulgence so maybe that's partly to blame but I still think I must generally ride harder then I thought I was going.
I'm fairly sure the readings are reliable given it agrees with my own manual reading as well as an HRM app I have on my phone. On one hand it's nice that I've been working harder than I thought, on the other I'd like to be riding faster for that level of exertion!
On top of all that my current tyres are approaching 3000 puncture free km's so I've replaced my defunct mini pump and got myself some tyre levers and a patch kit (prefer that cheaper/tiny package to the spare inner tube option but time will tell if that's foolish...) in anticipation of the inevitable puncture. Now I have an old hybrid bike to practice on I'm hoping I can finally get to grips with the basics of getting back up and running post puncture.
I'm off to find a thorn to attempt a dry run on a hybrid inner tube, wish me luck, with a distinct lack of manual dexterity I'll need it...
Edited by ianrussell on 27-08-2014 12:21
Hells 500 Crew and 6 x Everester
Don Rd Launching Place
Melbourne Hill Rd Warrandyte
Colby Drive Belgrave South
William Rd The Patch
David Hill Rd Monbulk
Lakeside Drive Emerald https://www.everesting.cc/hall-of-fame/
admirschleck wrote:
Ho lee fok. Absolutely amazing.
It's rocking that someone had the balls to do it, wonder which of the legendary climbs will be left for me to Everest when I come over next year
Hells 500 Crew and 6 x Everester
Don Rd Launching Place
Melbourne Hill Rd Warrandyte
Colby Drive Belgrave South
William Rd The Patch
David Hill Rd Monbulk
Lakeside Drive Emerald https://www.everesting.cc/hall-of-fame/
admirschleck wrote:
Ho lee fok. Absolutely amazing.
It's rocking that someone had the balls to do it, wonder which of the legendary climbs will be left for me to Everest when I come over next year
Interesting. Got your eye set on some preferred climbs or country to visit already or need to do some google maps/cycling mag/strava recon first? Maybe a cycling trip straight through the alps, including a little bit of everything. I imagine your legs will never stop riding there. Edited by Shonak on 28-08-2014 20:01
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Because some of you have appreciated what I have been writing earlier, I'll give another update now!
Because of lack of races this autumn the last weeks has been used for training, and because I haven't started working yet, all focus have been turned towards the last three weeks of competitions. I feel that I have succeeded well; and think I am in by best shape ever. Let's see where that will turn me.
This week we have Roserittet, reckoned as one of the hardest races in Norway, (which to be honest tells more about norwegian races) mostly because of the Hvarnesbakken RR on saturday. Hvarnesbakken may not look like much on the profile, but it really is a beast of a hill, and to ride it twice will be hard; especially with another hard climb, Gregershølet, close to the finish as well as an uphill sprint. The opening time trial is not very exciting though. The RR on sunday is the same route as the TT, but the other way, so that we can ride the same uphill finish as saturday.
Roserittet will also be hard, because it is one of few races as a first year-senior where we can actually ride the whole race. Most of the conti-teams will not start, but some guys from Sparebanken Sør will take part (Røinås, Lunke) together with Frederik Wilmann. Sondre Holst Enger will also do his comeback after Arctic crash. Many strong riders from the swedish Bliz-Merida team (Matti Manninen is strong as hell), and other scandinavian will also make the start list pretty strong. But with my shape now, I hope to perform good in the hilly routes, which suits me well.
Quite some routes the organization has come up there. Are your races primarily raced with attacks out of the bunch or is it usually a survival of the fittest? Would be to fun to follow on TV or sideline either way surely. I imagine Sunday will hurt like devil, little rest between the multiple climbing and Hvarnesbakken the day before.
Good luck champ, go get them! Edited by Shonak on 02-09-2014 22:48
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
admirschleck wrote:
Ho lee fok. Absolutely amazing.
It's rocking that someone had the balls to do it, wonder which of the legendary climbs will be left for me to Everest when I come over next year
Interesting. Got your eye set on some preferred climbs or country to visit already or need to do some google maps/cycling mag/strava recon first? Maybe a cycling trip straight through the alps, including a little bit of everything. I imagine your legs will never stop riding there.
The Alps will be my destination snd plan to fit in as many climb as humanly possible, also have done some online recon and have my eyes on some iconic climbs to have a Everest attempt on providing they are still there
Hells 500 Crew and 6 x Everester
Don Rd Launching Place
Melbourne Hill Rd Warrandyte
Colby Drive Belgrave South
William Rd The Patch
David Hill Rd Monbulk
Lakeside Drive Emerald https://www.everesting.cc/hall-of-fame/
Strydz wrote:
The Alps will be my destination snd plan to fit in as many climb as humanly possible, also have done some online recon and have my eyes on some iconic climbs to have a Everest attempt on providing they are still there
Nice, good to hear. When you're around italian, swiss or austrian Alps, give me a call.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Look what I just found: Endura Alpine Dream goes in its second round, 13 September. I might start there too. Not very sure yet. It's next week so a bit out of the blue but since I didn't ride Stelvio as planned, I might get a second shot at it.
There's a long route (252 km, 6000m elev) and a short one (146, 4315 elev), both of course including Stelvio & Sulden. Fuck me, right? Since the short one starts in a place near me (40 minutes), I might register on the day before and stay overnight at my grandpa's place.
Today is actually the last day for registration but the weather has been dickish the past weeks and I don't feel like spending riding Stelvio wetsoaked from the rain, though I'll probably will be wetsoaked due to my sweat.
Guess we'll find out. My legs are itching for it sorta.
Edited by Shonak on 03-09-2014 19:08
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Shonak wrote:
Guess we'll find out. My legs are itching for it sorta.
that's the downside of reading all of you guys stories. have that feeling everytime and since I have no possiblities to do any big climbs myself without spending three days from home. it's not nice
I've just uploaded a week's worth of rides (17 in total) to Strava and on 1 of them I picked up my first and only KOM. I was expecting it to be a small hill or something but turns out it was this.
I guess I will be keeping that one for a while as I doubt anyone will be able to break it until the next one, and that's only if they keep the same route.
Went to the German Schwarzwald (Black Forest) for a 2 week holiday with the family. And for the first time in my life, I climbed real mountains with the roadbike. First the Feldberg , from Todtnau to the summit (15.8km at 5.4%). It started dry, but when I approached Fahl, the real foot of the climb, the rain was pouring down. After 4km at 9% I arrived at the Feldberg hotels, and the rain stopped. So I decided to climb to the summit, only 4km to go. With steep parts up to 16% I reached it, feeling really great in achieving this.
A few days later (hey, the wife and kid wanted to have me in their company as well!!), I climbed the Belchen, 11.2km at 7.2% to an altitude of 1360m. Already after 1.5km, I was done (okay, those 3 cans of beer, 0.5l, the night before didn't help), but I felt I had to to this. So after 9.5km more, I arrived at the misty summit. After a descent to Obermümstertal, the next climb was the one to Stohren, 3.5km at 13.5% average, and a maximum of 25%............
I wa sso glad with my granny shifting, a triple and 30x28...... With it, I managed to get to the summit. Even La Redoute was peanuts compared to this one!! And back "home", I managed to break my speed record, doing 80.5 km/h
So, great holiday, and next years it'll be the Alps!!!
Have had two race weekends now, which in their own way was emotional, spectacular and bizarre, and by far the most interesting races this year.
Roserittet:
Stage 1:
Definitely rode my best tt this year. Ended up as number 51, catching Kim Magnusson (Vini Fantini-Nippo) with 1 minute (don't know about his form, assuming he was not at his best). Magnusson took my wheel for the last 5 kms of the tt, and sprinted past me on the last 100 metres using the wrong side of the road. Looks like the swedes are used to racing on closed roads, as all of them rode on the left side in the turns, which is dangerous in Norway.
Stage 2:
Started great, and to the first major hill on the course I was riding near the front of the peloton the whole way. Lost some time up and had therefore to be offensive in the downhill, resulting in a crash in about 60 km/h in an unswept turn. I was lucky, and could have continued, but my helmet were crushed and my front wheel bent, so I decided to stop.
I later decided not to start the third stage as well, which was pretty lucky for me. Because of a great fail by the organizers the elite peloton started on the laps about minute in front of the juniors. It ended with a 20 minute break in the middle of the elite race, while it ruined the junior race, because the junior breakaway got through the elite peloton, while the peloton didn't. Many things also happened after the break, because of no communication between the organizers, and nobody in the peloton knew which lap was the finishing lap due to different signs.
Then we had the last race in the norwegian cup this weekend, which had even more chaos. First race was a kermesse-like race by the south-west coast of Norway, a short and intensive race with heavy wind, dirt roads and short hills. Did not suit me well, and also due to a bad training week before (the crash last saturday as well as sickness the last days before the races) I rode bad. Pulled out after 40 kms, at a point where I already was far behind.
Cup race sunday:
I did not have much expectations to this race either, relatively flat and with high pace, many tight turns and strong wind, just like yesterday. Still I actually got to finish all the laps and get to the finish line. The race were shortened from 8x20 to 5x20 due to a bizarre accident on one of the roads we were racing. A woman gave birth on the road, on the way to the hospital. When the emergency vehicle were driving to help, the car was caught up in a frontal collision in the middle of the road. The second time in one week we had a longer break in the middle of the race. 1 hour and 40 minutes it took to get ready for racing, which led to many riders leaving, including Frederik Wilmann (of course).
Looking forward to my last races this season on saturday and sunday. Short stages with hilly routes, I can deal with that!
Shonak wrote:
Quite some routes the organization has come up there. Are your races primarily raced with attacks out of the bunch or is it usually a survival of the fittest? Would be to fun to follow on TV or sideline either way surely. I imagine Sunday will hurt like devil, little rest between the multiple climbing and Hvarnesbakken the day before.
Good luck champ, go get them!
That depends on the route (like on all levels). Often, the first 30-40 kilometres have really high pace, primarily to drop the weaker riders to make it safe to ride in the peloton, and decrease the number of crashes. The early attacks are probably more likely to hold on to the line, as the successful breakaways often include strong riders from the biggest teams. Still the most common scenario is that a smaller group gets together into the last 10-15 kilometres, and then attacks will decide who wins. In flatter races a mass sprint is hard to avoid, as some of the continental teams always avoid the breaks, and pulls the peloton instead.
