Training - What Training?!

[Robin]

Fred Whitton today. Not done it before (not really ridden over 130k, but they were very hilly training rides with 3300m climbing in) About perfect conditions tbh.

Pretty cold first thing, frost on the grass at the event start, but gradually warmed up, completely clear all day.

Having not ridden over 6.5hrs before, I didn’t really know what to expect for Hardknott 6hrs in, with how difficult people have said it is. So I made sure my gearing was easy enough, with a GRX 30/46 chainset and 36-11 cassette, which worked great.

Slight change of route up the Struggle this year at 6km in, I thought could catch some people out later on, if they went too hard on the first climb.

First half of the route I took relatively steady, averaging 180w including stops.

After Whinlatter I knew to take it easy, to recover for Hardknott.

Got to Hardknott, got up fine, definitely made the right choice on gearing. Had a slight delay due to an air ambulance on the descent from Wrynose.

Got over Blea Tarn and realised I could still get a sub-8hrs overall, so pushed as hard as I could, as I felt pretty good.

Finished 7.51.15. Averaged 170w, normalised 215w (I think this was overall including stops, as I set my Garmin not to stop at the feed stops etc). 650 out of 2204. On a steel framed Genesis.

Pretty pleased with it, everything went well, first big sportive and first 100 miler. Probably wouldn’t do it again, as the weather was just about perfect and I’ll only be disappointed if things didn’t go as well in future.

[gingerbongo]

Top work, sounds like a pretty much perfect day. We don’t get many of those so savour it!!

[joex]

[jeffb]

Well done, sub 8 is good going. Sounds like the gearing worked well.

[Robin]

Yeah it definitely did. There was a few pushing up the struggle right at the start, more pushing up the bottom of Honister, then probably about 30-50% pushing up Hardknott.

My friend, who went round in 6.51 was running 34-30 smallest gear and said Hardknott was the most difficult thing he’d ever done. Looking at his stats he was 5mins quicker up Hardknott alone compared to my time, but was as 161bpm and 301w average over the whole climb, when I was at 135bpm and 240w (I did take the middle bit very easy). I felt like I had plenty left and the only risk was other riders around me stopping.

Lots saying it’s the most difficult ride they’ve done. I’m sure there will be more difficult out there, as the climbs are big and steep in places, but there are pretty large relatively flat sections to recover, especially between Matterdale and Honister and before Hardknott of about 30km each.

Gives me hope that I might get round Ironman Wales ok in September.

[Doonhamer]

240W is baby watts to get up a proper climb like that. Great choice of gearing & a great day out. You probably enjoyed it much more than the majority.

[funkster]

1 hour and 4.2km down

25km to go

[funkster]

2:52 - 11km

[jeffb]

Managed 60 minutes at 190W and Z2 HR, based on Strava’s interpretations. Although the chest HR had a stroke and started reading 190W paired with my Garmin which later decided to read low possibly evened themselves out.

Heading to the gym soon for a short upper body session before a massage

[joex]

keep it coming!

[funkster]

3:44 15.5km.

Stopped for lunch

[Robin]

That was average over the whole climb, so the steeper bits were mid-300’s but the middle bit I took steady at about 180. Having the low ratio meant I could get away with that, and not put myself into a massive hole. So much so that I expected it to be longer/worse than it was.

Here’re photos from the top (I will be buying them, just waiting until they are all up before deciding which ones to get)

[awildt]

Ace to get a pic on your bike with others walking behind

[funkster]

5:16 21.64km

7km left for day 1

[APM]

Talk to me about the zip situation here.

Yes, the blokes behind are walking but looked pretty wrapped up.

Did you decide to make it more obvious that you’re working harder than the others, or is this something to add to @fruit_thief s OF page?

[APM]

Anyway, trained twice today.

30 minutes circuit training first thing.

30 minute spin class at lunch.

[joex]

Rest day.

[bbt67]

@APM

Talk to me about the zip situation here.

Come on… its free introdution to the only fans account. Nipples are not free.

[Robin]

Sorry, I’m not sure what you mean? What cycling faux-pas have I made? I get pretty sweaty when exercising, so trying not to overheat, I undid my zip when going uphill and did it back up when going down. Something that I usually do.

It was 1 degree with frost on the grass at 6.45am when we left, so I wore arm warmers, leg warmers, Gabba ros top and bib-shorts. Gradually stripped off throughout the day, by the time I’d got to Hardknott it was 1.30pm and about mid to high teen degrees I think, with a slight tailwind. So I had to compromise on what top I wore, otherwise I’d have frozen earlier on, or cooked at the end. There were a lot of over dressed people at the end, and underdressed people at the start. I think I got it about right, if a little warm on the big climbs at the end.

Should I have kept my jersey done up to please the fashion police?

[bbt67]

@Robin

Probably wouldn’t do it again, as the weather was just about perfect

That was my takeaway when I did it… would love to do it again, but the day was perfect, weather, training etc.

Top job, well done.