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Seem to have secured a last minute trip to Malaucien (sp) in 12 days time. I've wanted to do Cingles for a few years now, and now's my chance. The only problem is that I've been out with the road club a grand total of once in the last 7 months.
Can I get fit enough in the next 12 days?
If so how?
Don't be ridiculous.
Of course you can. Just ride your bike for 30 minutes a day for 10 days, then take two days rest. What could possibly go wrong?
Give yourself enough time and gearing to spin up everything. If you have SRAM gears consider swapping in a 10 speed mtb mech and cassette if you have them handy. If your on Shimano then a 30t cassette with the b screw fully tensioned.
Start from Bedoin early enough to have breakfast whilst watching the sun rise at the top knowing the steepest climb is done, drop to Malaucene for a decent break and refuel and then back up the slightly easier climb to the observatory. Drop for an extended late afternoon break in Sault knowing you've only got 6km of real 7%+ climbing left to do from Chalet Reynard back to the top. Drop back to Bedoin in time for a beer at sunset. Hard work and painful especially at the top of that last climb but assuming youve been out on at least a few epic all day mtb rides this year and know how to keep yourself refuelled then it should be do-able.
Pray the weather stays kind and that theres no snow on the top.
i'd check that the road is actually open first
Of course you can. Just ride your bike for 30 minutes a day for 10 days, then take two days rest. What could possibly go wrong?
Cool, that's pretty much the plan. I cycle to work most days which is about half an hour each way. There is a chance I can get one bigger ride in this weekend as well.
assuming youve been out on at least a few epic all day mtb rides this year
Erm, I had the mtb out at the weekend to cycle round the garden with the kids and had to change the chain as it doesn't match the new wheel I put on. I think I put the new wheel on when I bought it from Halfords in the sales at the end of 2013. Which kind of suggests I haven't used that bike at all this year, apart from 3 laps of Philips Park.
It's not looking likely really.
As for the gear ratios, I'll be using whatever the hire bike has on it 🙂
This is going well isn't it.
In two weeks....
Ride your bike every day for the next 2 weeks and you could be ready...
Extend you're commute, find some longish hills and spin up them, again and again and again. The one thing I found with Ventoux is that it is relentless, so if like me you're not a born climber you only have one option, sit and spin. Like most of these long climbs it's pretty tough mentally but if you can get over that then you'll be OK.
Ferme.
Maintenant.
Peut etre ouvert naechste Woche.
J' easpere.
Have you ridden Ventoux before?
22k uphill at 7% with 2 weeks training? Why not leave now and in 2 weeks you may actually have made it to the top 😉
I guess its possible, but I imagine it wouldn't be pleasent, and will take you a long long time with alot of breaks
I'm planning to do it in June. Fitness base is ok but I have no idea how to train to simulate 2.5 hours climbing. Long turbo sessions at high resistence may be the order of the day
Have you ridden Ventoux before?
No, but I've seen it in the distance when I was rock climbing nearby.
22k uphill at 7% with 2 weeks training?
That wouldn't be too bad. But unless I'm wrong I think it's closer to 66km uphill isn't it? No idea whether it averages 7% or not. Hang on 4444/(135000/2) = 6.6
Yup 66km at 6.6%. Haha I'm going to die. But never mind, the cols closed so it's all academic.
anyone done Cingles and The Fred? Which is harder?
I've done the Fred but it took alllll day, and was years ago when I was relatively fit.
I'd do a long, hard ride at the weekend then recover.