3 Dams challenge for 2018

ausrider
Posts: 21
Joined: Thu Dec 12, 2013 1:48 pm
Location: Antarctica

3 Dams challenge for 2018

Postby ausrider » Tue Nov 21, 2017 11:52 am

A friend who does around 1200km a month mainly commuting and weekend ride is thinking of joining us for the 3 dams challenge next year. His power is currently only around 2.5W/kg and he's not sure if he can finish the ride comfortably. He has done multiple century rides on and offroad before but he's a big guy.

What're your thoughts especially if you have done it?

Asking for a friend. :D

alh9a5
Posts: 49
Joined: Wed Jun 12, 2013 4:29 pm

Re: 3 Dams challenge for 2018

Postby alh9a5 » Tue Nov 21, 2017 1:52 pm

Hi Ausrider

I'm a big fella and have previously completed 3 dams. At the time I was around 95kgs and doing similar amount of riding to your mate, not sure about watts as I don't have a power meter. When I signed up I had yet to do a 100km ride, so my training for dams was a weekly 100km plus ride into the hills (up Greenmount and around Mundaring Weir road, which are part of the course).

On the day I felt very comfortable having done the first few climbs previously and finished no problems, so I would say its definitely doable for someone who already has many 100km rides under their belt.

Cheers

Adam

tomness
Posts: 129
Joined: Thu Oct 16, 2008 6:05 pm

Re: 3 Dams challenge for 2018

Postby tomness » Tue Nov 21, 2017 1:55 pm

If your friend can do 100+km off road (mtb?) rides and rides 1200km a month then the three dams should be fine. When I did the three dams I was only doing around 1000km a month for two or three months before the event. I did a few hilly 100km road rides in the weeks before the event which helped me gauge how I was going. It went fine.

However if your friend is wanting to finish in the top 10 or 20 or 50 then it may not be such a comfortable ride.

NewStew
Posts: 172
Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 1:26 pm

Re: 3 Dams challenge for 2018

Postby NewStew » Tue Nov 21, 2017 6:15 pm

I am heavy and would be likely in the 2.5 W/kg range (I guess based on a smart trainer FTP and my weight). I have done three dams before and 2018 will be my 5th. If he is already doing 100km rides with a bit of build up to gradually get it up to 120-130km with hills then they will be totally fine and should even be able to do a respectable time (top third). It always hurts at some point (usually coming out of Canning and Wungong dams or back up the freeway) because if it doesnt then you either havent gone hard enough or you havent done your fair share on the front!

Prepping for the dams ride is almost as much fun as riding it!

ausrider
Posts: 21
Joined: Thu Dec 12, 2013 1:48 pm
Location: Antarctica

Re: 3 Dams challenge for 2018

Postby ausrider » Tue Nov 21, 2017 7:21 pm

tomness wrote:If your friend can do 100+km off road (mtb?) rides and rides 1200km a month then the three dams should be fine. When I did the three dams I was only doing around 1000km a month for two or three months before the event. I did a few hilly 100km road rides in the weeks before the event which helped me gauge how I was going. It went fine.

However if your friend is wanting to finish in the top 10 or 20 or 50 then it may not be such a comfortable ride.
Imperial century, not metric century...he has no problem doing 160km on and offroad but 3 dams has 1800+ meters of elevation gain and he's not too sure. Will take him out to do more hill climb and proper pacing and see...

billy70
Posts: 199
Joined: Tue Jul 23, 2013 9:30 am
Location: Perth

Re: 3 Dams challenge for 2018

Postby billy70 » Wed Nov 22, 2017 11:07 am

Some great advice here. On those ride volumes, he should have no problems. It’s a Ride not a Race, so sensible pacing up the climbs will likely engender success. Of course, a bit of Hills training in the preceding months would also go a long way to building the right type of fitness and confidence.
Image

User avatar
Mububban
Posts: 3043
Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2008 12:19 pm

Re: 3 Dams challenge for 2018

Postby Mububban » Wed Nov 22, 2017 1:26 pm

Hmm, I wonder if my scrawny butt could cope with 145km....I'm hoping to do my first 100km+ ride this weekend. 50-80km with the group is okay, I did 50km in the hills recently and did okay. Combining the two (and then some) will be a challenge!

Edit : just answered my own question
Times:
Rider briefing from 5:40am;
5 Dams Challenge from 6:00am;
3 Dams Challenge from 6:30am;
Event cut-off 6:00pm
When you are driving your car, you are not stuck IN traffic - you ARE the traffic!!!

User avatar
Mububban
Posts: 3043
Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2008 12:19 pm

Re: 3 Dams challenge for 2018

Postby Mububban » Thu Nov 23, 2017 11:46 pm

Well I just registered for this ride. I've got some serious work to do between now and April!
When you are driving your car, you are not stuck IN traffic - you ARE the traffic!!!

NewStew
Posts: 172
Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 1:26 pm

Re: 3 Dams challenge for 2018

Postby NewStew » Fri Nov 24, 2017 11:10 am

Mububban wrote:Well I just registered for this ride. I've got some serious work to do between now and April!
Prepping is more than half the fun... if you live somewhere close to the city and are interested in hills rides with a small group send me a PM.

XIX
Posts: 72
Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2016 6:44 pm

Re: 3 Dams challenge for 2018

Postby XIX » Tue Nov 28, 2017 1:40 pm

He will be fine. I did it last year and although I stopped for a rub down at Wugong, it was ok otherwise. Bit of a grind, but I am 95+ kg and didn't do any hills before hand ( I did Mount St, Kings park and Mosman Park Hill). It's all about going at your own pace and keeping fueled and hydrated.

astroguy
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Nov 29, 2017 4:04 pm

Re: 3 Dams challenge for 2018

Postby astroguy » Wed Nov 29, 2017 4:30 pm

NewStew wrote:
Mububban wrote:Well I just registered for this ride. I've got some serious work to do between now and April!
Prepping is more than half the fun... if you live somewhere close to the city and are interested in hills rides with a small group send me a PM.
I'd be keen to do some hill rides if you guys are having one...I'm a beginner and new and need to get ready.

User avatar
Mububban
Posts: 3043
Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2008 12:19 pm

Re: 3 Dams challenge for 2018

Postby Mububban » Thu Apr 05, 2018 10:57 pm

3 Dams is on this Sunday. 136km and 1520m of elevation.
I've been assured by multiple people that if I can survive the Kalamunda 100, then the 3 Dams should be no problem. It's less elevation (1520m vs 1950m) but 36km longer.

Image

Hopefully my new wheels will make things a little bit easier on the climbs.

Anyone else getting a bit nervous? :D
When you are driving your car, you are not stuck IN traffic - you ARE the traffic!!!

XIX
Posts: 72
Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2016 6:44 pm

Re: 3 Dams challenge for 2018

Postby XIX » Fri Apr 06, 2018 1:24 pm

Im very nervous, sitting in the high 90's weight wise and stupidly trying the 5 dams !

Lets see how badly I go :lol:

User avatar
Mububban
Posts: 3043
Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2008 12:19 pm

Re: 3 Dams challenge for 2018

Postby Mububban » Fri Apr 06, 2018 2:18 pm

XIX wrote:Im very nervous, sitting in the high 90's weight wise and stupidly trying the 5 dams !

Lets see how badly I go :lol:
5 Dams!!! :shock: Realistically, I think that'll be a step too far for me personally. My slow average speed would mean I'd be on the bike for a looooong time.
If I can survive the 3 Dams, I'll be really happy with that.
When you are driving your car, you are not stuck IN traffic - you ARE the traffic!!!

owly
Posts: 273
Joined: Thu Oct 20, 2016 9:11 am
Location: Inglewood

Re: 3 Dams challenge for 2018

Postby owly » Fri Apr 06, 2018 6:48 pm

5 Dams looks like a real killer!

Ended up spending the money (and more) on a new wheelset, which should be suitable for NEXT year ;)

Good luck to both of you.
MUFC :twisted:

User avatar
nickobec
Posts: 2271
Joined: Fri Mar 27, 2009 12:51 am
Location: Perth or 42km south as the singlespeed flies
Contact:

Re: 3 Dams challenge for 2018

Postby nickobec » Fri Apr 06, 2018 7:00 pm

The tough part of the course is at 35km or so, the climb up Kingsbury Drive to the Monastery. If you can conquer that, then it is just time in the saddle and far less challenging climbs.

Kingsbury Drive to the Monastery is only 2km at an average of 8% https://www.strava.com/segments/8018699. The first km averages 10% or so, with a couple of pitches getting close to 20%, flattens out for 500m, then 400m of hell, close to 15%.

ps close to 60 years old, close to 85kg, pretty poor climber, I can do 160km and 1800m of climbing in 6 hours if I want a long hilly ride unsupported.

Hugor
Posts: 265
Joined: Tue Oct 22, 2013 8:56 am
Location: Floreat, Perth

Re: 3 Dams challenge for 2018

Postby Hugor » Fri Apr 06, 2018 11:14 pm

That looks properly terrible! Just when you think its over it gets even steeper!
Field will still probably be bunched up at that point too after the long flat stuff.

User avatar
Mububban
Posts: 3043
Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2008 12:19 pm

Re: 3 Dams challenge for 2018

Postby Mububban » Sat Apr 07, 2018 10:46 am

nickobec wrote:The tough part of the course is at 35km or so, the climb up Kingsbury Drive to the Monastery. If you can conquer that, then it is just time in the saddle and far less challenging climbs.

Kingsbury Drive to the Monastery is only 2km at an average of 8% https://www.strava.com/segments/8018699. The first km averages 10% or so, with a couple of pitches getting close to 20%, flattens out for 500m, then 400m of hell, close to 15%.

ps close to 60 years old, close to 85kg, pretty poor climber, I can do 160km and 1800m of climbing in 6 hours if I want a long hilly ride unsupported.
Well, that sound brutal :shock: At least we'll have the first 35km to warm up the legs. The Kalamunda 100 was pretty much straight into it with no warm up.
When you are driving your car, you are not stuck IN traffic - you ARE the traffic!!!

User avatar
Mububban
Posts: 3043
Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2008 12:19 pm

Re: 3 Dams challenge for 2018

Postby Mububban » Sat Apr 07, 2018 1:46 pm

So this is what a "large" jersey looks like on 189cm and 68kg :D

Image


If you're not really skinny, good luck zipping it up and getting your arms in the sleeves!
When you are driving your car, you are not stuck IN traffic - you ARE the traffic!!!

owly
Posts: 273
Joined: Thu Oct 20, 2016 9:11 am
Location: Inglewood

Re: 3 Dams challenge for 2018

Postby owly » Sat Apr 07, 2018 5:32 pm

^
Bibs will sort that out. Maybe.

Oops. I thought it was on today. Just came back from a ride and was thinking about those poor souls going up that road with the crazy gradients. Oh well, they've got another few hours to psyche themselves up!
MUFC :twisted:

billy70
Posts: 199
Joined: Tue Jul 23, 2013 9:30 am
Location: Perth

Re: 3 Dams challenge for 2018

Postby billy70 » Sun Apr 08, 2018 6:27 am

Good luck to all today, should be a great day for it!
Image

twowheels
Posts: 1437
Joined: Mon Apr 23, 2007 6:14 pm
Location: Perth

Re: 3 Dams challenge for 2018

Postby twowheels » Sun Apr 08, 2018 10:06 am

Mububban wrote:So this is what a "large" jersey looks like on 189cm and 68kg :D

Image


If you're not really skinny, good luck zipping it up and getting your arms in the sleeves!
Think you got one of the podium girls' top.

User avatar
Mububban
Posts: 3043
Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2008 12:19 pm

Re: 3 Dams challenge for 2018

Postby Mububban » Sun Apr 08, 2018 9:27 pm

I survived!!!

Actually, I felt pretty good. Those new wheels I bought really made the climbs a lot easier....not easy, but easier.

Everyone warned me about the first climb, but I found that okay as I was fresh. The 2 killer climbs came at ~125km, when I was not so fresh. There were lots of people walking up those last 2 climbs, but I managed to make it without dismounting.

I was not impressed that they ran out bananas by the time I reached the first drinks station, as I was nowhere near the front or the back of the field. But I was thankful for the sunscreen and the water refills. Lunch was okay too. I drank more and ate less than the Kala 100 and I didn't feel like throwing up today so that was an improvement.

The Kalamunda 100 felt more punishing, this one felt more enjoyable. Not sure if I'll do either next year, but I'm glad I ticked them both off my bucket list :)
When you are driving your car, you are not stuck IN traffic - you ARE the traffic!!!

twowheels
Posts: 1437
Joined: Mon Apr 23, 2007 6:14 pm
Location: Perth

Re: 3 Dams challenge for 2018

Postby twowheels » Mon Apr 09, 2018 12:11 am

Goodonya. Not going be on my bucket list, but I can appreciate the achievement.

Hugor
Posts: 265
Joined: Tue Oct 22, 2013 8:56 am
Location: Floreat, Perth

Re: 3 Dams challenge for 2018

Postby Hugor » Mon Apr 09, 2018 10:39 am

Pedal Mafia are notorious for their small sizing. Their like Castelli in this regard. When you carry 100kgs of bloke around you learn which brands to avoid! When the Dams ride was initially released the largest jersey was XL and this was 12cm too small for my chest size! I'm normally an XL in common brands like Assos or Cycology. I wrote to them telling them there'd be a lot of unhappy people and they increased their jersey sizes to 6XL. I ordered a 4XL based on the sizing chart and it is only just acceptable! There are lots of people on the BWA FB page requesting swaps, one even requesting a swap from a Medium to a 2XL! LOL

I got so spooked by that first hill in the buildup that I actually found it not bad at all. The final 2 hills were much more testing for me.

The Albany Hwy stretch was not much fun at all but I guess was a necessary evil to link the dams.

Great event.

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users