Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

so i'm riding in the Tour of Bright, which for non-Mexicans is a 3 stage race in the Vic High country with big climbing. i also just got back from a month's holidays, during which the only riding i did was on Paris Velib hire bikes.

i'm thinking:
- week 1 - easy riding, 300km
- week 2 - easy riding, 400km
- week 3 - intervals for first couple of days then easy riding, 150 km

i had decent form when i left and managed to only put on a bit of weight while on holidays by eating well! any ideas?!

Is it a race?

yes it is a race.

Open A, B, C
Masters A, B, C

Word from people that have raced it before is that a lot of sandbagging goes on and there has on numerous occasions been Club A graders riding in C grade. It also has some pretty nasty climbs.

To late now to get any form Jules!

Swap your strengthening to your first week combined with distance and tapper for the third.

You should have taken your road bike with you!

Foo

just do heaps of intervals. So at least when the surges are going on you don't implode.

Yeah too late to get any form now... Ride first two weeks normally... Not easily.
Ride last week short and sweet... Not easy, but not long enough to leave you feeling it.
Arrive fresh but not too rested.

ok well thanks all - i'll go a bit harder then and taper in last week. maybe i'll line up for a crit or two

skull wrote:yes it is a race.

Open A, B, C
Masters A, B, C

Word from people that have raced it before is that a lot of sandbagging goes on and there has on numerous occasions been Club A graders riding in C grade. It also has some pretty nasty climbs.

I've heard this as well. I think I'll be there in Elite C and I will be happy just to finish with the bunch.

What's sandbagging?

That's to stop water from getting in somewhere you don't want it! (just different words)

Foo

Sandbagging - the ability to remove any moral fibre and convince yourself that cheating is OK

Riding in a grade that you are clearly too strong for, in order to steal prize money from the people that are riding their genuine grade

If you are racing C Grade then I recommend you continue in your holiday mode, perhaps consume a few more croissants (maybe mix in some pan au chocolat for some variety). Start tapering and carb loading now, easy cafe rides only and be sure to have a breakfast with the lot when you get there.

If you aren't racing C Grade then perhaps you are better served by following the advice given by previous posters.

* Disclaimer: I am racing C Grade and the more people I can encourage to stop training and gain weight the better things will be for me. Thanks.

nescius, i'm in Masters C. you needn't worry about me - i'll be off the back at some point, just a question of how early

I am masters c jules. I recommend you follow nescius training plan to the letter. Maybe double the chocolate carb loading sessions and cut back on any riding. You don't want you legs to be tired before you get to ToB

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Damn! I am in masters b and could use the company out the back.

skull wrote:I am masters c jules. I recommend you follow nescius training plan to the letter. Maybe double the chocolate carb loading sessions and cut back on any riding. You don't want you legs to be tired before you get to ToB

chocolate carbs?! why didn't anyone tell me about that before

r2160 wrote:Sandbagging - the ability to remove any moral fibre and convince yourself that cheating is OK

Riding in a grade that you are clearly too strong for, in order to steal prize money from the people that are riding their genuine grade

Thanks for the straight answer.

I thought jumping from A grade club to C grade open was how the Australian grading system worked!

toolonglegs wrote:I thought jumping from A grade club to C grade open was how the Australian grading system worked!

it is. there are maybe 10 decent-sized clubs in a state with A grade bunches in each, and 6 state open grades (masters and open A-C), so if more than 1/5th of A grade riders enter a state event, they will spill into Masters/Open B, and so on

jules21 wrote: chocolate carbs?! why didn't anyone tell me about that before

The best carbs, closely followed by ice cream carbs. I recommend doubling up on that too.

Just looking at the maps of the routes, how does everyone get back to Bright after the finish? I can't find any info on their website, is there bus transport or anything?

I'm really hoping it's not riding back. After the final stage the last thing I want to do is jump on the bike for another hour or so.

i think most people ride. i'm unaware of any organised transport. from the top of hotham, it's an easy cruise back to bright.

NeillS wrote:Just looking at the maps of the routes, how does everyone get back to Bright after the finish? I can't find any info on their website, is there bus transport or anything?

Most people ride back. Its all downhill. Otherwise you have your driver meet you at the top with the warm clothes and coffee and stuff.

toolonglegs wrote:I thought jumping from A grade club to C grade open was how the Australian grading system worked!

Club A grade equates to State C or D grade. You have to get some results in the State races to move up into State B.

My local club has 276 members so its the biggest / one of the biggest in NSW. We have our own velodrome and we race on a real road. Its pretty competitive racing. My young bloke won A grade last Sunday so he goes alright ... he did ToB last year in C grade and finished mid pack.
There was Victorian STATE A graders in ToB C grade last year, so Im not sure how that works.
If any average bike rider is hoping to go top 10 in any grade at ToB, you are dreaming.