I received e-mail confirmation a few days ago that my application for this year’s Transwales has been successful – I’ve received my team number (I’m in the paired event) and been given my instructions, primed and ready for action.
Now, I’ve tried some hard sports and attempted some pretty difficult tasks before, but completing 500km of riding, encompassing 1500 metres of climbing spanning the entire breadth of a country, just for the hell of it, all to be completed within a 7 day limit – that is something else!
My first problem is I don’t have a bike to ride!
I’m unsure what my best form of approach is for the event. Should I go? (Thoughts welcome here)
A- Lightweight hardtail carbon XC ‘you’re gonna be in the saddle all day’ styling
B- Full Sus 150mm fork ‘give it hell’ shredding,
C- All mountain 100mm front 100mm rear ‘take the bump out of things’ approach
My second problem is I’ve just entered the Transwales!
See, I coaxed my brother into entering the event with me (I won’t name him here in case he gets stage fright.) He was sceptical about doing such an event but I assured him we would be fine and complete it no problem, after all we think we’re the dogs danglys after shredding (cough) through a red graded trail centre route having survived unscathed – bring on the Transwales I said– It’ll be easy!
Now, after reading up on the event a little more and chatting to a few people who have done the event, I fear I may have underestimated things just a little.
Evidently, The Transwales is one hell of a CHALLENGE – something that will take you to the brink of collapse, making you question your own sanity, ability and insignificance.
“It’s not the Tour de France” I said to my brother. “Aye, and you’re no Lance Armstrong” he said.
Neither of us have ever ridden a bike competitively before. In my two years of riding, bikes have only ever been a guilty indulgence so if ever there was an event to test yourself in, surely this is it?
Hence the 2nd Issue – Fitness, or rather the lack of.
I sometimes struggle with 15 miles, never mind 500. On inspection, our daily diets are probably more geared for pie eating contests than endurance athletic events and my gym dedication is sporadic at best.
At least I like to cycle in the sunny weather – we’re guaranteed sun this year aren’t we?
So, the event is on the 14th August. That gives me a little over 3 months from today to prepare for my first ever Enduro event. If you want to enter you can do so here
I’m going to record my training on here every few weeks to let you know what I’m doing to prepare and why I’m doing it.
Suppose I best get going then…………
Bikewise, I think you should add into that list:
– 100mm twangy steel HT
– 120mm(ish) steep(ish) Head angled enduro FS, a touch more travel than 100mm FS race bike. (there seem to very few 100mm FS ‘all mountain/trail’ bikes left these days too)
and I reckon you should ditch the idea of a 6″ FS, mostly because it’d be that much more tiring everywhere else (that isn’t a really techy descent)
C.
Bit of cycle touring, long weekends and the like would be good training.
Remember to pack a box of wine. if it’s good enough for the pro’s on the tour de france (a glass in the evenings) then its good enough for us!
C.
It’ll be faster, comfier and funner 😉
“Borrow” Benji’s Super4 – perfect for this type of event.
Beyond that – get riding. To work, to the shop, at trailcentres, up hills and down dales, on road and off. Ride as much as you (realistically) can, as often as you (realistically) can; from your own admission, you guys are not going to be at the pointy end of the race, so don’t get burnt out on “training” for that – go ride a bunch in prep for a big week of fun riding.
However, do make sure you have some rest/down time; only gentle rides in the week prior (exactly what a gentle ride is varies, and as you get fitter will change too), and schedule a day a week of not riding to begin with, where it’s walking or swimming instead, to break it up and not be “over” the bike, and have a lay-in/nanna-nap that day to get over the riding of the week prior. As you get fitter, maybe one day in 10 or a fortnight. And a day off if you feel below par is gonna be less of an issue, than a week off being ill cos you over did it.
And… sort out the on bike food thing starting as of now. A powerade and pie after riding and a camelback of water might be ok for a trailcentre bash now, but for 7 days, with numerous hours on the bike, you’ll be buggered with that regime, in a couple. However, finding out in the middle of a long climb that you can’t stomach anymore of your chosen fuel supplements is not cool either. And sometimes messy… so find out now whilst you have time to get it dialled!
The mag articles from the Torq guys are good places to start with all of this if your not sure what to do still
That’s Sim’s Super 4.
He can borrow my Spesh Big Hit if he wants 😉
langy – appreciate the words of advice. Food consumption was something I hadn’t really even considered – but when you mention it, the mars bar diet wont take us too far I fear!
Hey buddy i think your worrying to much, i did it last year and there were people just like you who hadnt done much in preperation for it, you might be a little nervous at the start but by the end youll wonder what all of the fuss was about!!!
Just go at your own pace and dont race if your not used to it.
The event is so well organised and everyone has a good laugh along the way!
but the main thing is that at the end of it they all had fun!!!