Yesterday's Wiggle devil's punch sportive

[IntegraTypeR]

Did anyone else do this? I did the standard route in 3.20 and really enjoyed it. This was my first wiggle event and I have to say it was very well organised. Given that it was rated as a 2.5 I found it surprisingly hilly! I suspect I'm in for a shock when I try the events with a higher difficulty rating!

[Jonnny]

I went straight in for Epic.. Considering I'm 95kg I'm not built for climbing

Most climbing I've ever done is about 2,500-3,000ft so definitely struggled. Will train a lot harder next time!

Very well organised though, feed stations were brilliant and the start/finish were very good.

Even though it's killed me, I enjoyed it!

[Fourmotion]

Yes, I did the epic ride and really enjoyed it. I'm a local, and I've ridden the route a few times in various guises, it has some stunning scenery and is a real rhythm breaker with very few flat sections.

But, and I'm not trying to worry you, that wasn't hilly. At all. As I say I'm local, and they could have made it a lot harder. Even then we're not talking mountainesque 30km climbs, but there are some steeper and longer gradients around Surrey / Sussex.

If you're worried about the hill climbing my suggestion is, er ride those hills you're worried about. It's the only way to improve.

[Jonnny]

Fourmotion said:

But, and I'm not trying to worry you, that wasn't hilly. At all. As I say I'm local, and they could have made it a lot harder. Even then we're not talking mountainesque 30km climbs, but there are some steeper and longer gradients around Surrey / Sussex.

If you're worried about the hill climbing my suggestion is, er ride those hills you're worried about. It's the only way to improve.

Don't say that!

True though, I am a cycling around thinking 'if they went so and so direction that's one pretty big Hill coming up..' Then somehow it directed around it.

What part of the route was the hill with the downhill course next to it?

[Fourmotion]

Jonnny said:

What part of the route was the hill with the downhill course next to it?

That was the Rogate downhill (I think). I love that section through the pine forest.

[Jonnny]

Fourmotion said:

Jonnny said:

What part of the route was the hill with the downhill course next to it?

That was the Rogate downhill (I think). I love that section through the pine forest.

That bit was very nice, other than the hill we were going up..

There dad another nice bit on the epic route that turned left out onto a flowing single carriageway, Lovely views and nice smooth tarmac, didn't feel like England tbh.

[Jonnny]

Thinking about this ride, quite often I was getting cramps, mostly on the climbs..

I was drinking about 400ml of water and about 400ml of at first High5 tablet water and then their 2:1 care drink stuff.

Is it just training that will stop the cramps, or could I drink more/eat something different to help?

[yellowjack]

To an extent I think 'getting used to it' is part of the answer to cramping up on longer rides. A month or so ago, and I was suffering spasms and cramps in my calf and thigh muscles when I extended a 30-ish mile loop up to about 45/50 miles with less than 2500ft of climbing. Fast forward to this last week and I did a 78 miler out to Box Hill with 5,500ft of climbing http://www.strava.com/activities/93204004 and a 51 miler stuffed with 5,300ft of climbing http://www.strava.com/activities/93725263 with only two days between them.

I am by no means quick, nor am I a 'natural climber' but I managed that without any of the cramping issues I was suffering just a few weeks ago on a much less 'hilly' route. Time on the bike is my answer to the problem, and as far as "nutrition" goes - I take cereal bars, peanut butter sandwiches and Robinsons fruit squash, and if I feel the need for 'proper' food, I'll stop and eat at a cafe/chippy. After all, I'm not training for next years TdF or anything