Discussion
Has anyone done this sportive before?
I have really got into cycling over the last 18 months and I am looking for a challenging event for next year - partly to motivate myself to stay fit over the winter. I did several sportives this year including the Fred Whitton and I manage to do a longish hilly ride most weekends.
How much additional training is needed to complete La Marmotte in a reasonable time compared with say the Fred Whitton, and how does one train for very long but not massively steep climbs when we don't really have them in the UK?
I have really got into cycling over the last 18 months and I am looking for a challenging event for next year - partly to motivate myself to stay fit over the winter. I did several sportives this year including the Fred Whitton and I manage to do a longish hilly ride most weekends.
How much additional training is needed to complete La Marmotte in a reasonable time compared with say the Fred Whitton, and how does one train for very long but not massively steep climbs when we don't really have them in the UK?
I'm planning to ride La Marmotte this year and it sounds like you're more than strong enough to complete it in a reasonable time.
Gearing (something like a 34-28) and a steady riding pace should see you up the climbs. The people that struggle up the final climb have usually gone too hard too early (which is easily done if you are used to steeper but shorter climbs).
Gearing (something like a 34-28) and a steady riding pace should see you up the climbs. The people that struggle up the final climb have usually gone too hard too early (which is easily done if you are used to steeper but shorter climbs).
Any idea what the various times for Bronze, Silver and Gold are? I'd like to have a target time rather than just aiming to complete it - which I appreciate is an achievement in itself.
I do get perverse enjoyment out of climbing hills and usually seek out hills around where I live (Leeds) on my weekend rides, but I am totally untested on massive alpine climbs like those on La Marmotte. I am currently around 65kg so I guess I have the right build for climbing.
In terms of training I am quite close to Cragg Vale, which is apparently one of the longest continually rising roads in the UK, so I'd probably start including that on my weekend rides.
I do get perverse enjoyment out of climbing hills and usually seek out hills around where I live (Leeds) on my weekend rides, but I am totally untested on massive alpine climbs like those on La Marmotte. I am currently around 65kg so I guess I have the right build for climbing.
In terms of training I am quite close to Cragg Vale, which is apparently one of the longest continually rising roads in the UK, so I'd probably start including that on my weekend rides.
Re: Gold / Silver Classification, have a look at the table halfway down this page: http://ravito.com/marmotte/mamrotte-circuits
I think I'll be aiming for Silver
I think I'll be aiming for Silver
nammynake said:
Any idea what the various times for Bronze, Silver and Gold are? I'd like to have a target time rather than just aiming to complete it - which I appreciate is an achievement in itself.
I do get perverse enjoyment out of climbing hills and usually seek out hills around where I live (Leeds) on my weekend rides, but I am totally untested on massive alpine climbs like those on La Marmotte. I am currently around 65kg so I guess I have the right build for climbing.
In terms of training I am quite close to Cragg Vale, which is apparently one of the longest continually rising roads in the UK, so I'd probably start including that on my weekend rides.
I think it's age related, I've no idea. They also have a neutralised zone after the first climb and I can never remember how they take that into account.I do get perverse enjoyment out of climbing hills and usually seek out hills around where I live (Leeds) on my weekend rides, but I am totally untested on massive alpine climbs like those on La Marmotte. I am currently around 65kg so I guess I have the right build for climbing.
In terms of training I am quite close to Cragg Vale, which is apparently one of the longest continually rising roads in the UK, so I'd probably start including that on my weekend rides.
I'd not worry about hills, waste of time in the UK - they're too sharp and short. Within 30 mins of starting the ride, you're into a 2hr climb.
"Time in the saddle" is important, as is pacing yourself. Think of doing long steady intervals on a turbo, not short-sharp ones. You wont be working at your threshold but below it; so you'd need to train differently to someone road-racing / TT-ing etc. If you start hitting your thresholds on the first climb, you'll be in a world of pain later.
Disclaimer - I know nothing about training and am certainly not qualified - I got a coach!
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