Chase the Sun 2019 - Italy!
Discussion
Mate of mine (my best man) is 50 next year and is looking at doing the Italian Chase the Sun which is basically coast to coast on the longest day of the year.
Think its 270kms and 3300m climbing/descending in a day!
He's asked me if I would like to do it.
I've cycled for years but only short rides recently due to work/family/other sports so I would need to do a LOT of training.
Anyone else done it?
I think there was a thread years ago about someone doing the UK one.
https://www.chasethesun.org/ (Can't see to get into the Italian section)
Think its 270kms and 3300m climbing/descending in a day!
He's asked me if I would like to do it.
I've cycled for years but only short rides recently due to work/family/other sports so I would need to do a LOT of training.
Anyone else done it?
I think there was a thread years ago about someone doing the UK one.
https://www.chasethesun.org/ (Can't see to get into the Italian section)
Can't speak for the Italian version - which sounds brilliant - but the UK one looks tempting. Paul Stewart, who appears to be an organiser, set up the inaugural London Orbital 300km Audax this August. It was a very well run event. If my knees aren't up to riding then I may volunteer somewhere en-route.
I'd have thought at your age you should be able to build up to that mileage if you train through the winter.
Good luck if you go for it!
I'd have thought at your age you should be able to build up to that mileage if you train through the winter.
Good luck if you go for it!
millen said:
Can't speak for the Italian version - which sounds brilliant - but the UK one looks tempting. Paul Stewart, who appears to be an organiser, set up the inaugural London Orbital 300km Audax this August. It was a very well run event. If my knees aren't up to riding then I may volunteer somewhere en-route.
I'd have thought at your age you should be able to build up to that mileage if you train through the winter.
Good luck if you go for it!
I'm a little older than my mate, 53 but physically should be able to do it but it's just the time to train that I'll struggle with.I'd have thought at your age you should be able to build up to that mileage if you train through the winter.
Good luck if you go for it!
Also living in LIncolnshire trying to find decent hills to train on is difficult :-)
Not to mention getting it approved by the Fun Police :-(
Going to mention it this weekend when we go out for a meal (and after plying her with enough plonk!)
I applaud your technique with the fun police, good luck! I love the sound of this, will be looking into it more.
I know the central part of Italy well; if you start on the east coast near Pescara around 50km later you will be over 2200 m. I don't think there is much climbing after that if you can get there, but that should take about two and a half hours, maybe another hour if you take it easy. I haven't ridden the other way but in the car it's about 3 hours max.
It’s also absolutely beautiful, inexpensive, friendly, and the food and wine is sent from the gods!
I know the central part of Italy well; if you start on the east coast near Pescara around 50km later you will be over 2200 m. I don't think there is much climbing after that if you can get there, but that should take about two and a half hours, maybe another hour if you take it easy. I haven't ridden the other way but in the car it's about 3 hours max.
It’s also absolutely beautiful, inexpensive, friendly, and the food and wine is sent from the gods!
https://www.chasethesun.org
Is it this one? It's north of where I know, but it looks like they are avoiding the summits. 3300m is tough, but I think about the same as the Fred Whitton over about 100km more. So, in my experience and opinion, more about the mental side of riding a long way, not so much the physical
Is it this one? It's north of where I know, but it looks like they are avoiding the summits. 3300m is tough, but I think about the same as the Fred Whitton over about 100km more. So, in my experience and opinion, more about the mental side of riding a long way, not so much the physical
Daveyraveygravey said:
https://www.chasethesun.org
Is it this one? It's north of where I know, but it looks like they are avoiding the summits. 3300m is tough, but I think about the same as the Fred Whitton over about 100km more. So, in my experience and opinion, more about the mental side of riding a long way, not so much the physical
That's it :-)Is it this one? It's north of where I know, but it looks like they are avoiding the summits. 3300m is tough, but I think about the same as the Fred Whitton over about 100km more. So, in my experience and opinion, more about the mental side of riding a long way, not so much the physical
Can't seem to get into the Italy part of the website but I tweeted them and full details are out soon.
Looked at a short YouTube video of this years event and it did look amazing.
Starting in Cesenatico and ending in Tirrenia (I think) via Florence (?) and Pisa.
Wife didn't say no anyway but did say if you're going to do it do it properly and not your usual half hearted attempt ie. having to up at 6am on a weekend so you can train for 3-4 hours so it doesn't impact on the family :-)
If there's a few of us it will definitely help on the mental side.
Physically with enough training I should be ok.
As long as I'm fuelled up and pace myself.
Starting from Cesenatico you will be immediately presented with the Carpegna climb, that was Marco Pantani’s training benchmark, so you can guess the steepness.... The road until Urbino is very hilly, with steep teeth and brief descents, and depending on the weather can be extremely windy. After that, it flattens and turns into a descent all the way to Florence. Final climb to Sassello and then flat on the coast.
You could think of bringing the fun police with you and have her setting a stake out in Forte dei Marmi upon your arrival.
You could think of bringing the fun police with you and have her setting a stake out in Forte dei Marmi upon your arrival.
What's your current weekly mileage and altitude gain? Difficult to say how much training you'd need to do without that info.
That 3300m over 270km isn't as fearsome as it might sound - you'd expect 10m per km on a "flat" course.
For reference, I did the Mallorca 312 (312km, 5000m) on a 15km each-way commute which I extended twice a week with 2 or 3 repeats of a local climb.
Make sure you've got a low enough gear for the steep bits and don't dip into the red; I always find rides of this length more of a mental endurance challenge than a physical one.
That 3300m over 270km isn't as fearsome as it might sound - you'd expect 10m per km on a "flat" course.
For reference, I did the Mallorca 312 (312km, 5000m) on a 15km each-way commute which I extended twice a week with 2 or 3 repeats of a local climb.
Make sure you've got a low enough gear for the steep bits and don't dip into the red; I always find rides of this length more of a mental endurance challenge than a physical one.
HardtopManual said:
What's your current weekly mileage and altitude gain? Difficult to say how much training you'd need to do without that info.
That 3300m over 270km isn't as fearsome as it might sound - you'd expect 10m per km on a "flat" course.
For reference, I did the Mallorca 312 (312km, 5000m) on a 15km each-way commute which I extended twice a week with 2 or 3 repeats of a local climb.
Make sure you've got a low enough gear for the steep bits and don't dip into the red; I always find rides of this length more of a mental endurance challenge than a physical one.
Thanks for your input.That 3300m over 270km isn't as fearsome as it might sound - you'd expect 10m per km on a "flat" course.
For reference, I did the Mallorca 312 (312km, 5000m) on a 15km each-way commute which I extended twice a week with 2 or 3 repeats of a local climb.
Make sure you've got a low enough gear for the steep bits and don't dip into the red; I always find rides of this length more of a mental endurance challenge than a physical one.
Current mileage not a lot (probably 30 miles a week), altitude even less (see below).
Its not for another 228 days so even starting from my low level of (bike) fitness ( I play hockey and train so not a complete fatty) and with a decent training plan I should be able to get to an adequate fitness level.
The climbing will be hard to train for as I live in Lincolnshire and it's bloody flat. However I work in Sheffield and aim to go out at lunchtimes and do an intense 30-40 mins climbing. I can also park my car out of town in the morning and cycle to work which I do now 3-4 days a week.
HardtopManual said:
I would have thought that session, 2-3 times a week, a long ride at the weekend and some regular cycle commuting will see you enjoy the event.
Thanks,that's what I was thinking also.Think registration is middle of November so I have time to work out logistics etc...
GreatGranny said:
Gren said:
My wife did the UK one around 4 years ago. Signed up 5 months before the event never having ridden a road bike before.
She learned quickly and still says it's the best day she's ever had on a bike.
That's encouraging, thanks Gren.She learned quickly and still says it's the best day she's ever had on a bike.
Took a bit of time up
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