powpow

...and I need some recommendations for repeats/intervals.

I've never done structured hill repeats, but most of my rides have lots of climbing (+110 vert/mile).

Anyway, the race finishes with some painfully steep grades, so I'd like to do some interval work to get ready.

So, I have a perfect climb outside my door: takes about 4-5 minutes to climb, averages 7-10%, with areas of 13%.

Thoughts? Also, how many times per week should I do these?

Thanks.

Val23708

do repeats on 3 bears. like the circuit 3 times at threshold

powpow

Thanks, but I was looking for something a bit more structured. Shorter reps with high intensity.

Dubbayoo

4 times, twice a week.

Duke of Kent

Given the lack of information, the first person who responded gave you some pretty sound advice.

Also, if you're so quick to ignore his advice, why are you asking the question in the first place?

MtnRide

If the race is Ross's hillclimb, I don't think this (short intervals) will help as much as the longer threshold intervals suggested here.

powpow

Sheesh, relax. I appreciate his advice, but he suggested a local ride that I/we do all the time, and I was looking for some interval/repeat advice on the hill that I described in my original post. Like I said, I've never done structured intervals/repeats, and I was hoping to learn what works for others.

Thanks Duke!

powpow

Yep, that's the ride.

Thanks.

celticfrost

I believe(?) that Duke was suggesting that you give more info about the hill climb you’re prepping for relative to the climb outside your door. The only info you give about the hill climb is “the race finishes with some painfully steep grades”.

Sounds like you may have a good climb outside your door for training, but what’s the distance and grade of the actual hill climb competition?

powpow

It's 18 miles with 3800 vert, most of which comes in the last 11 miles.

Here is the elevation profile from the site:





Thanks.

celticfrost

Nice climb – looks like the actual climbing portion is ~8% for 9 miles (ouch). I’m not a climber, so I’m thinking if you can avg 9mph then you’ll be climbing for an hour on race day – which may mean the 4-5 min climb outside your door isn’t the best training tool. I suggest you practice on the race course itself in phases so there are no surprises.

-Phase 1 for 1 week (3 climbing days) = the entire race course.
-Phase 2 for 10 days (~4-5 climbing days) = do the entire race course, descend back to mile 15 and then climb to top AGAIN.
-Phase 3 for 10 days (~4-5 climbing days) = do the entire race course, descend to beginning of climb (@ mile 7), then climb to top AGAIN.

Spend a few days p/ wk doing tempo/aerobic work for a few hours, plus at least 1 day of rest.

Rest/spin for 2-3 days prior to race.

Also, warm up for a good 20 min before the race. Looks like there’s a bit of reprieve from miles 13.5 to 15.5 – take those 2 miles to slam some gels/calories and take a break.

MtnRide

2x20 min on Diablo repeats (school to entrance? use descent as break between intervals) these should be done as hard as repeatedly possible

2 x Diablo repeats (school to ranger station, or go to the top) on weekends

1/week do 3-5x5 min intervals on that local hill, 5 min rest in between - do some of these in a higher gear than normal to get used to putting out power for the steep finish at the hillclimb

I'm fairly certain the steep part is just going to require good aerobic fitness; I have a hard time imagining that people are going to go all out for several minutes at the end.

See ya at the climb.

powpow

Cool, thanks guys!

kudude

what's your 4-5 minute climb?

repeats on mama bear -- 2 minutes 6-7%? if you want short

ericm979

The steep part at the end is really really steep. My data shows that it hits 18% in spots. I think plenty of riders have to go anaerobic to get up it. Last year some guy was catching me on it. I could hear him breathing. Then I heard some gagging noises, then nothing. I think he had to stop to puke.

bdcheung

What about Pinehurst? Haven't ridden it in a while, but that was decently long.

merlinextraligh

Given the length of your race, you need to be doing intervals longer than 4-5 minutes. You're race will essentially be an hour or more at threshold. If you really want to use the 4-5 minute hill, I'd ride 5-15 minutes at threshold to the foot of the hill, then ride the hill for the final 4-5 minutes at or above threshold.

If you do it for a total of 20 minutes, then 2-3 times. If you do it for a total of 10 minutes, then 4-6 times.

Of course repeats of a 10-20 minute climb would be better.

kudude

pinehurst is like 8minutes, but yeah, it's steep at the top

wildcat repeats? You could also go up pinehurst, descend shepard's canyon (on the other side of the intersection), turn around -- that one is STEEP come down pinehurst and then do it again. and again.

have fun

Val23708

oh wait. i know what you should do. go out to McEwen hill in crocket. do the UC Berkeley RR course. a cat 4 should easily be able to do it in under 40 mins/lap

https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2647713

kudude

ftw.

8 minutes of super suckage in there. enjoy

Beaker

If you're talking about threshold then how about repeats on South Park Drive in Tilden - much closer to the OP and very low traffic.

I've somehow never ridden McEwen, but South Park is a tougher climb than Pinehurst and the road is better/quieter for this purpose. If you want to make a loop then you could go back down Grizzly Peak to Golf Links/Shasta.

Beaker

That descent down Shepherd's Canyon is sweet.

kudude

isn't it closed to traffic or did they open it back up?

that would be a good repeat loop, probably a 5 minute descent down golf links and back up you go. plus SP gets crazy obnoxious steep near the top. McEwen is some awful 10% grade for nearly a mile or something then it levels off, but by that point you're pretty beat anyway. If you live near berkeley you have to go looking for it, as it's pretty far off the beaten path of normal rides

agreed

Beaker

I think they opened South Park for the season at the beginning of April? Even when it's closed it's OK to climb, but I wouldn't feel good about the descent - too many people meandering over the road walking their dogs etc.

I know where McEwen is I just haven't ridden it - I'm in Orinda, so it's not too far.

Val23708

pinehurst i can do in the 19t and then power through the steeper part at the end... mcewen i need the 27t until the last 1/3.