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......Of completing the Etape du Tour in three weeks. It's coming up fast and though i've done a fair bit of training it's not anywhere near as much as I'd like to have done - many many reasons and excuses! Did a ride last week which at 63 miles and 6,500 feet of climbing was equivalent in terms of mileage and climbing to deliver me to the bottom of the final climb and I felt OK. But the thing is the final climb is 37km long at an average of 7%, so means a further 20 miles and 7k feet of climbing after on top of that. Going on a bigger ride tomorrow and another one next week and probably a third before I start tapering down hopefully getting to 100ish miles and 10k ish feet of climbing along with completing a Zwift training schedule and gym work.
Training has consisted of working through a Zwift training schedule for the Etape (focussing sweet spot stuff) and extending mileage and climbing on rides hunting out hills in the Peak District (so alot shorter, but alot steeper than the Alps), spin classes at the gym and a non-runner to half marathon in 5 months, which I completed last month. Not been too successful in losing weight...lost some, but not a huge amount. Definitely feel fitter and better for all the work, but it's a big challenge with over 14k feet (5k metres) of climbing in total.
Ultimately irrelevant, I'm doing it anyway, but succeed or not i've had a blast with the training and having the goal etc. just struggled to balance everything with family, work (including business trips), crappy weather etc.
Anyone done the Etap or something similar? What's lying in store for me?
oops please can the mods move to the bike forum?
Plenty will, be attempting on way less training, so ride and enjoy it. The day itself and atmosphere will carry you along also.
You’ll just suffer a bit more than if you were very well trained / were lighter and take a little longer but you will get around. I’m doing the Maratona Dles Dolomites next weekend so I have the same thoughts but I did a 160km 5500m climbing ride in the Alps last year with less training than this year
you'll be fine... training's going well, and the right mind set will see you through, good luck
but, and this is huge... "alot" is not one word, it's two: a lot
You'll get round easily
Three weeks is plenty of time, most get round in 5-6 hours, you could do it on all fours in three weeks. (May have got the wrong end of the stick)
Cheers, good to hear people have managed similar events having felt like they were not fully prepared. did a bigger ride today than last week and feel OK after it so think I'm getting to the point where I'm close enough to eek out the last miles of climbing. Planning a bigger ride next week with the aim of exceeding 10k feet of climbing...I know I can squeeze out the last 4k feet if I can manage that.
When do you ever feel “prepared” ?
Lots of folks go into an event wishing they’d done more..
By reading what you’ve done ^^ you’ll be fine, in fact you’ll be pretty pleased with how well you do.
Just don’t go off like a loon, burn up too quickly.
Oh, enjoy it.
Take pics.
Yep, as long as you're not being broomwagoned then it's all good, enjoy the scenery and cameraderie ; you'll be shelled whatever happens 🙂
i reckon you’ll be fine.
And a lot fitter after 😊.