Like everyone says it's really impossible to finish last Alx...just take my last year attempt just do 13km at 1:20 and you'll end up in the top 50%!
I can't really offer up much advice, but seriously when you get your first "come on solo" from riders coming past you'll get exactly why you're doing it.
Or my favourite cheer on was the dude with the mega phone who about 16hours in blared out 'you might want to pick up the pace 61 this is a race after all' that kept me smiling for a good lap and half that did.
Sure we'll catch up sooner the time, and I'm not sure what kind of camping gear you've got but we've got a big van and awning and a marquee thing if you fancy making a 'base'.
It was actually quite funny, I hadn't even considered where to camp on my first solo. It just happened that we parked right onto the race track. So I was able to literally hope over the barrier when I stopped to top up water bottles
Sure we'll catch up sooner the time, and I'm not sure what kind of camping gear you've got but we've got a big van and awning and a marquee thing if you fancy making a 'base'.
Sounds good, I'm probably just going to bring a 2-man tent and doubt I'll have any support so that'd be very welcome.
Ok so here's a question... I came in at 27th ( A place I was extremely chuffed with, nay sayers) I hadn't trained much, and was doing 1:20 13km laps coming in with 12 (lurked the 12th should have been 13) laps overall. I came over the finish line pretty refreshed, which was personal disappointment as I clearly didn't push it. My goal for 2010 is to make up 7 places and be 20th or better...is that feasible, and what would you say I should do. Other than maybe riding more than 3hours at a time in preparation?
Yeah, why not. I did 12 laps in 12 hours and the only training I did was to ride quite a lot, focus on keeping eating and drinking and keep turning the pedals with a smile on my face.
I was lapping pretty much at the same rate as Trevor from USE who came third in the 24, it's just that he rode for twice as long as me. So... what I'm saying is that it's endurance, not speed and the best way to build that is to ride more. Start now and get out regularly over the winter. Maybe - horror - ride on the road. Depends on how bothered you are, I guess, but I just like riding bikes, so it's no great hardship
BHB, 12 1:20 laps means you spent eight hours not riding. Plenty of scope for getting a few more laps in there, and every extra lap means a whole bunch of places until you get very near the top of the results. Take a look at the results and see how many extra laps you'd have needed for a top 20, it may well not be very many.
Training....interestingly a word normally used in the wrong context.
There is no substitute for just getting miles under your belt, whether it's running or cycling, you are training your body to cope with what you are to planning to put it through.
Clearly, it is possible to get to the end of these events in one piece, but you will never achieve your full potential unless you do the right amount of training.
Quite enjoyed DK's training plans.....quite something to say, but completely another to actually do. Work, commitments, injuries etc can ruin your best laid schemes, but it's also the loneliness involved in spending so many hours getting the necessary mileage in.
I like the loneliness of training on long rides, I've joined a Triathlon club but can't get into the whole club thing. There are generally too many riders with differing abilities in any given group, so it can be a waste of valuable time when you're hanging around waiting for folk. Don't get me wrong it's a good laugh and I enjoy it but it's not a good use of training time.
I like the loneliness of training on long rides, I've joined a Triathlon club but can't get into the whole club thing. There are generally too many riders with differing abilities in any given group, so it can be a waste of valuable time when you're hanging around waiting for folk. Don't get me wrong it's a good laugh and I enjoy it but it's not a good use of training time.
Clearly, it is possible to get to the end of these events in one piece, but you will never achieve your full potential unless you do the right amount of training.
It depends on your personal goals though. I did stuff all training for this year's 24/12 then had a very unpleasant illness 2 weeks before it. I went along, didn't finish last and (most importantly) had a good time. Laughed, cried, drank too much, met loads of top people, had sod all sleep, got muddy & wet and loved every minute.
