Scott 24hr Do I go solo

[brendancg]

Help

I competed in a six man team at 'The Mont' last weekend. I had a really enjoyable time, so much so that I am considering competing in the Scott 24hr in October solo. I have a hardtail MTB but a mate has offered his dually for the ride as well. My brother, who has done it before, said I will need two bikes, the hardtail for when the dually is getting serviced.

Only thing, do I do it? Do I make the mad decision and compete in this thing solo? If so, how much more training am I going to need to do? I am riding about 300k per week on the road bike at max effort, and riding a couple of trails each week on the MTB.

[toolonglegs]

I am riding about 300k per week on the road bike at max effort

Ummm...300km a week at max effort...maybe you mean tempo...unless you are racing/ ITT'ing 300km a week? .
6 man 24 is easy....4 man is hard at race pace...3...2...1!...1 man is a totally different thing if you are planning on riding hard the whole 24hr.I have thought about it a few times but I found a 4 man hard at race pace.Have you done an 8 hour solo or a 12 hour?.

Ps...there is only one way to find out .

[Deanj]

Yeah go for it!

Aiming to do my first solo 24hr at the Kona in Nov if all goes to plan!

[brendancg]

Have you done an 8 hour solo or a 12 hour?.

No, and thanks for your thoughts toolonglegs. What you said is the reason I had to ask. I am still keen though so I am going to just hit the training hard and make a decision based on my fitness in about 1 months time.

[trailgumby]

Enduro magazine has been running a series on training for 24 hour evetns. It's still in the newsstands - you might want to pick up a copy and order some back issues.

[brendancg]

Enduro magazine has been running a series on training for 24 hour evetns

Thanks for that will do. I am about 90% certain I am going to do it. Lets see how the training goes over the next month.

[Deanj]

Have a couple of sites in my bookmarks that may be worth a read, not got round to reading them properly myself yet.

Merida Training planner

Executing a solo

[brendancg]

Thanks, have put both links in my bookmarks, and will read in next week.

[toolonglegs]

Personal opinion only here...but I think 24 hour racing is all about mental toughness...to be good you HAVE to be obsessed by it...have seen a few well known 24hr racers totally lose it,not for me I am afraid!.

[johnd]

Your fitness sounds like you should have no worries getting through 24hrs, but it is truly a mental test.

If you were planning to do a 24, I would go out and find some shorter enduros, 8hrs, 10hr, 12 hrs and go ride them solo. It will be a good clue as to how you would go in a longer event. Possibbly one of those multisport team adventure races that go for 24 or 48 hrs.
I dont like the stromlo course very much. I have a 24 in my sights soon having done a few 12hrs comfortably, but i wouldnt do that one. Not enough trees, too many people. The 24 solo race probably has the best atmosphere for a soloist (not been to it though) but i believe it may be 360 days away.

[leximack]

i would suggest doing a SOLO ONLY race like the one that was on last weekend.
Its on every year over the easter long weekend at Majura. Alot less friendly to riding for 24hrs then stromlo. Also everyone there is doing it solo, so they know what your going through and you wont have Pro teams screaming by you every 10 seconds.

http://solo24hour.com.au/

Don

[austy37]

ithink the lap at majura was like 7km, with the lap at stromlo being more like 12km with a bit of climbing id imagine. I think a virgin solo at he scott would be a tough intitiation.