Note, written later. To see photographs and specific information about the route itself click on these links. I'll update the list as I ride and post:
Yes, sentences that start with I are problematic. Ditto posts lacking photos. Here we go.
Yes, sentences that start with I are problematic. Ditto posts lacking photos. Here we go.
I don't ride fast. I'm not competitive. I love to tour. Tour solo, loaded. I'm pretty solitary, don't much like crowds. I stop, visit historic sites. I take lots of photos. I linger over French lunches. I might have a glass of wine. I smell the world around me when I ride. I notice the details.
Next.
I just signed up for the Berkshire Cycling Classic Cyclosportif. Another way to say that, a gran fondo. I just signed up for the 130K route, not the 100k route. The route promises 1909 meters of climbing.That's a pretty specific number. It is not a little bit of climbing. But my head thinks in feet, maybe I don't get it. I don't think that I want to understand that number in feet. Now where am I going to go with this post if I don't look it up. OK. Write it down, face up to it. Say it out loud. That is 6,263.1233596 feet of climbing. I didn't really need to go out to7 digits to be intimidated. Rounding would have done it.
It is on May 6.
Organizer and former pro John Eustice describes it as: "It is a very challenging route, reminiscent of a Tour de France stage in the Vosges Mountains of Eastern France." That's something, they didn't tell me the Pyrenees or Alps. But I knew that, I live here. These are hills, not mountains.
Cyclosportives rank riders in their age and gender categories. Just what are those age categories, anyway? It is a race. Maybe a mellow race, but a race. Not a randonnée. In this country, you don't need a medical certificate, which you do in France. You do get a chip and a number, though.
I do have some advantages. It starts closer to my home than my job is. Specifically in Lenox, just to the west of home. No need to travel to get here. No need to find lodging. No need to get up at an unhumanly early hour.
It is the inaugural, first-ever year for this particular event. That should be fun. I have assigned my husband the task of turning local Berkshire County, MA residents into the equivalent of TDF fans. Though they can scream and be silly in English.
I know there are readers out who know a lot about training. A way lot. Much more than me. And I know that most of you are much faster than me. I need to climb faster. Hints?
I could train more, though quitting my job is a really bad idea. Or at least unfeasible. I could lose some weight, though dieting and training don't sit very happily together. My BMI is pretty low on the charts as it is. I could buy a faster bike, though that would no doubt eat up my cash for the next air ticket to France and I won't do that.
The route and elevation for the 130K.
Around North Egremont, imagine Shari and me yelling, "Yay Sue, go Sue!"
ReplyDeleteHey Larry, Absolutely I will, thanks! You can add to that "Finish Sue!" I imagine it will be high black fly season, that should help keep me moving right along ....
ReplyDeleteAwesome - good for you!
ReplyDeleteHi Karen,
DeleteAlways, always, good to hear from you, and thanks! Now, excuse me, it's dark, it's cold, but I'd better get myself out and pedal uphill, or I am s-u-n-k!
Suze
That's a lot of climbing for a first sportive, Suze! I'm sure you'll do great. Don't forget to take along the camera!
ReplyDeleteHI Gerry,
DeleteSuper to hear from you and thanks for the encouragement! I know some of your readers are hoping you'll package up your life and send it to them. For me, I'll happily settle for some small percentage of your climbing skills sent my way! Yes, it is a lot of climbing, more in one day than I did in the Pyrenees, even, though one day wasn't too far off.
And yes, I hope to remember my camera. And also hope that I remember to take it out and use it!
Cheers, Suze
Hello Susan,
ReplyDeleteVery impressive. You are motivating me to (perhaps) sign up for some regional events out here. As to "hints", i.e, "I need to climb faster", here are my 2 cents. I'm not a fast climber, but I do a lot of climbing. What I've learned about getting up hills (with my heart rate and pride reasonably intact) is that the longer and hillier the route, the more important it is to tackle the climbs at a sustainable pace. This means not over-extending myself early on a climb in order to "get it over with" (an urge I still must beat back from time to time), not trying to catch up to riders who are in front of me (though I admit that if they are reasonably close I will sometimes use them as a carrot to push myself), and ignoring the urge to try and maintain the pace of faster riders who pass me. I use easier rollers, the flats, and downhills to make up for speed if need be(side note: my husband bought me super light tires for my birthday last year... wow, they move!), but I know that if I don't ride within my limits on hills then my legs will definitely bonk later on.
I have a tendency to pedal too fast going uphill, and when my husband isn't there to tell me to slow down, I sometimes rely on my bike computer to help me pace myself. So if I'm riding a particular hill around here that is two miles with an average 6% grade, I know I need to pedal below say 5-7 mph in order to maintain my pace. If I see myself edging past it, I slow down. It's actually a pretty useful aid.
Other than that, keep up your indoor interval training. That will certainly help with your endurance on those hills!
Regards, Ellen from Portland
Hi Ellen,
DeleteThanks for all the good, thoughtful hints! I will pay attention. And I agree, on hills especially, I always try to find my competitive switch and turn it off.
Perhaps I'll take a look at alternative tires, that might be a real help, I have touring tires on my bike.
Enjoy your riding there. Are your France plans firming up? Would love to hear about it.
Suze
Actually, I meant wheels, not tires. Super light wheels. So sweet.
DeleteWe only have the dates set. August 31 - Sept. 15. We will probably do one week in France and the other in Switzerland. As to the daily cycling routes, I'm leaving it up to Chris. He's the expert when it comes to that. I'm sure he has a long list to choose from already.
OK. You wrote tires, I understood wheels, but also wrote tires, unthinkingly. So, the Alps?
DeleteAllez, Suze!
ReplyDeleteI am not the right person to give someone with your experience any advice about anything involving a bicycle; you've forgotten more than I know. Best of luck to you and I think its great you've found a sportif right here in the good old USA.
Merci, Steve!
DeleteNo, absolutely not, I have not, no way, forgotten more than you know! And thanks, I'll definitely need all the luck you can send my way. It is fun to find goals right near home, keeps me motivated.
Speaking of right near home, don't you have a 200K coming up soon right near you? I looked back through your blog a little to find the date, but didn't come up with it. I'll keep watching though.
Suze
Hi Susan: I echo everything that Ellen from Portland said about managing the climbs. The best advice I ever got for a long hard ride like this is to wear a heart-rate monitor. Keep your heart rate out of the red zone on the climbs (< 80% max), and have a eating plan and stick to it (slow-burn carbs early, high-octane gels later) electrolytes throughout. This usually means ignoring what others around you are doing - just do your own ride. If you maintain your discipline for the first 100k and if you're still feeling frisky, then go for it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading ... and for taking the time to post your comment. I appreciate the hints!
Delete