2012 Audax Alpine Classic

[oldnewby]

yeah i did see it's a pretty big hill ah well, whats the worst that can happen looking forward to having a crack tomorrow arvo!

[oldnewby]

ah well, whats the worst that can happen

Answer: the worst that can happen is a have to walk about 2km of that final hellish 6km ascent. Holy crap, that was intense. Did 96km Noojee Baw Baw return, didn't leave early enough in the day, and got most of the return leg (and some of the afore mentioned walking) in 35-42 deg heat.

But I got there, and I'm happy

[feral grasshopper]

ah well, whats the worst that can happen

Answer: the worst that can happen is a have to walk about 2km of that final hellish 6km ascent. Holy crap, that was intense. Did 96km Noojee Baw Baw return, didn't leave early enough in the day, and got most of the return leg (and some of the afore mentioned walking) in 35-42 deg heat.

But I got there, and I'm happy

Well done, you'll mash the 130!

[oldnewby]

Well done, you'll mash the 130!

Thanks mate, I dunno about mash it.. but I'm at least a little bit confident I'll make the distance in the time now. And as I said earlier, I'm happy to try it even if I don't! Looking fwd to it

[jules21]

you'll get there. tips:
- soft pedal it until you're on the last climb (tawonga) and only then ramp it up if you feel good. so easy to get caught up in the moment and attack early climbs, then collapse in a heap.
- eat and drink regularly.

[oldnewby]

thanks heaps Jules, will definitely take that on board, as well as your advice in the other thread. btw, any update on the pm you sent me?

[jules21]

ok anyone who wants to save some kids from cancer can sponsor me to assist the Alpine Classic's official charity, the Oncology Children's Foundation. i'll be riding the 250km event so any small change you can come up with will be great for keeping me motivated! thanks in advance for anything you might be able to contribute.

[hannos]

ok anyone who wants to save some kids from cancer can sponsor me to assist the Alpine Classic's official charity, the Oncology Children's Foundation. i'll be riding the 250km event so any small change you can come up with will be great for keeping me motivated! thanks in advance for anything you might be able to contribute.

Nice. You've already passed your target!

[oldnewby]

registered. accom booked. Can't wait! Gonna try a decent length ride this weekend, then take it pretty easy the 2 weeks in between. Looking fwd to seeing some of you there!

[jules21]

don't take it too easy newby, 2 weeks is a long time to taper off (someone with more knowledge of this can confirm a taper plan).

Nice. You've already passed your target!

cheers hannos. it keeps me out of the doghouse too when training.. "but i'm doing it for the kids!"

[Daccordi Rider]

Snow on Mt Hotham?!

You Victorians better sort out this weather. I want it the same as the last two years, perfect, ok?

[jules21]

it ain't gonna always be as nice as the last two years have been - get used to it

i've been on falls in january when it's been blizzarding and 0 degrees, with 5m of visibility (bushwalking, with a compass and praying that i was walking in the right direction!)

[Daccordi Rider]

it ain't gonna always be as nice as the last two years have been - get used to it

Nope, shant. I'm soft!

[oldnewby]

cheers Jules, I take your point. Just meant I would probably do a 100km + this weekend, with some decent climbing, then maybe next weekend only 70-80km and a bit flatter. Will still get 2 or 3 smaller rides in during each week too. As you alluded to, 2 weeks is a long time to taper! I've had 2 days with no riding and am hating that... heading up to the border tomorrow, will try for a 60km ride after work.
Looking forward to it... whatever the weather

[Daccordi Rider]

I work hard upto the week before, drive over Tues and just a 1 1/2 hr flat spin that arvo, after a 10 hr drive you need a stretch out. Wednesday ride up Buffalo, Thursday up Hotham and Friday up Falls. Tunes the legs into long climbs. Saturday is a very gentle spin. It's so relaxing there I figure the afternoons are my taper. Also I don't attack any of these climbs, just enjoy them.

I find come Sunday I am feeling good and rested.By Sunday arvo I'm trashed!

[MichaelB]

I work hard upto the week before, drive over Tues and just a 1 1/2 hr flat spin that arvo, after a 10 hr drive you need a stretch out. Wednesday ride up Buffalo, Thursday up Hotham and Friday up Falls. Tunes the legs into long climbs. Saturday is a very gentle spin. It's so relaxing there I figure the afternoons are my taper. Also I don't attack any of these climbs, just enjoy them.

I find come Sunday I am feeling good and rested.By Sunday arvo I'm trashed!

My aim for 2013 ....

[feral grasshopper]

I work hard upto the week before, drive over Tues and just a 1 1/2 hr flat spin that arvo, after a 10 hr drive you need a stretch out. Wednesday ride up Buffalo, Thursday up Hotham and Friday up Falls. Tunes the legs into long climbs. Saturday is a very gentle spin. It's so relaxing there I figure the afternoons are my taper. Also I don't attack any of these climbs, just enjoy them.

I find come Sunday I am feeling good and rested.By Sunday arvo I'm trashed!

My aim for 2013 ....

To be trashed??

[Gassy]

Snow on Mt Hotham?!

You Victorians better sort out this weather. I want it the same as the last two years, perfect, ok?

Last 2 years have been perfect for the 250 I agree. Not likely to have another but time will tell. Long range forecast is for rain , although the accuracy at this stage isn't worth anything. Mind you, in 16 years I haven't had a bad wet day either, so we might be due.

[MichaelB]

My aim for 2013 ....

To be trashed?? [/quote]

Ye, as it means I've successfully ridden up some big hills and done the 130/140km like I wanted to.

[hannos]

My aim for 2013 ....

To be trashed??

Ye, as it means I've successfully ridden up some big hills and done the 130/140km like I wanted to. [/quote]


I reckon you could manage that this year Michaelb.

[keithleonard]

Hey Guys,

Have just signed up for the 200. First time riding in that area so looking forward to it, although am a bit apprehensive. Am doing the 3-Peaks ride in March so using this as a prep ride and to try to mentally conquer that 'Falls Creek' climb before the big one in March.

Any hints on how much climbing I should be doing in training? Am limited for time so hoping to get some good hills in this weekend...6 repeats of Arthurs Seat along with another 120km riding sound ok? or would more be needed by now?

Cheers

[jules21]

i'm signed up for the 250 and have done very little climbing. that could be the death of me, but i've focussed on just getting km under my legs. fundamentally, pedalling is pedalling.

6 repeats of arthur's hill and 120 km sounds impressive to me. unless that was the only training you were going do?

[MichaelB]

I reckon you could manage that this year Michaelb.

I agree, but accomodation and time off is a minor issue.

Heading to Seoul for two weeks at end of March to visit friends, so saving bikkies for that.

Just need to keep the form and weight for another 12 months !!!

[keithleonard]

Cheers Jules

That would be just Sat or Suns ride. Been doing about 300-400km a week now for over a month, with as many hills thrown in as I can (prob max of 2000 mtrs in one ride), although most are the small bump repeats around Mt Eliza and Mornington.
The AC200 will certainly be the longest and toughest ride I'll have done, but given 3-Peaks is only 2 months away I reckon I need to be pushing myself right now.

Hopefully 2 big weekends of riding between now and then will be enough!

[jules21]

Been doing about 300-400km a week now for over a month,

mate that's heaps, although if you've ramped it up a lot from what you were doing previously, it can be a shock to the system. i crawled through the 200 last year with minimal training, nothing like that. but that was not my objective nor something aim for.

Hopefully 2 big weekends of riding between now and then will be enough!

go for it! but i will be tapering off in the last week.