A 40-ish reporter for the NY Times has started a blog on his effort to ride one stage of the Tour de France this summer. He did not start training in earnest until a couple of weeks ago.

Here's his launch of the blog, plus many, many comments from cyclists. Interestingly, about 80% of the comments are negative, telling him he can't make it.

http://theclimb.blogs.nytimes.com/

(this link may require you to register w/the NY Times)

hope that guy was in really good shape before he started training... not something i'd want to try, and i put in ~5,000 miles a year... dunno how you can hope to finish the hardest stage of the Tour with only several weeks of riding under your belt!

tks for posting this...

hope that guy was in really good shape before he started training... not something i'd want to try, and i put in ~5,000 miles a year... dunno how you can hope to finish the hardest stage of the Tour with only several weeks of riding under your belt!

tks for posting this...

I hope the guy was really skinny to start with. Living in NYC would have probably helped (as people just walk a lot more and drive a lot less).

I would never even think to try such a stage - I am a horrible climber (mainly because I am too heavy). Although as I ride more and more, I am building some muscle mass in my legs (and apparently burning fat in the process), which means that some of the climbs that I have done in the past have gotten a bit easier.

A number of years ago, before I got back into cycling and paid any attention to Le Tour, I was travelling in France and drove up to the top of Alpe d'Huez. That was an amazing climb in a car, and years later when I saw Lance et al climbing it on their bicycles, I was really blown away. I don't think I could walk up something like that!

Anyway, having been on a number of European mountain roads, and having watched the Tour coverage a number of times, there is no way that I could imagine doing one of those harder stages even given all day to do it. I really can't see how this guy is going to be successful given his lack of training and baseline fitness level.

Here's a very eye-opening article about that particular stage: http://rouleur.cc/1_tourmalet.html. Enjoy!

Just to give you a flavor of some of the "advice" that the NY Times reporter is getting, here is a typical comment to the reporter on his blog, posted by a cyclist:

"this is exaclty the type of article that is BAD FOR CYCLING.

you have someone that is relatively inexperienced taking on a major major cycling trip as a first race/tour, etc. very stupid.

its the mentality of most people sadly of “i can do anything i dont’ need baby steps, give me mount everest when i have never climbed bear mountain”..

well if you put in the time more than just the haphazard trainign you say then maybe you will make it amybe you will like it.

but in reality its too much for what is essentially a beginner cyclist in their first year.

i dont’ think you can truly undertand how bad the french alps are until you ride up them.

i’m an experienced cyclist and i couldnt’ believe how bad the telegraph, galibier and alp huez was when i attempted that years ago after cycling for 9 years beforehand.

good luck i hope you have fun and rembmer the going up won’t be the problem..
have you ever tried a true alpine descent? if not you are in for a very dangerous surprise."

have you ever tried a true alpine descent? if not you are in for a very dangerous surprise."

Yea, but they aren't really racing - the only goal is to get to the finish line. Why can't he just ride the brakes the whole way down? His hands would get tired from holding on, but he ought to be able to keep the speed under control..

Stapfam did Mt. Ventoux, so it can be done by mere mortals.

OTOH, he trained like crazy for it for months prior to his attempt, and had special gearing set up for his bike.

But I say go for it. The worst that can happen is that his eyeballs will explode, he'll have blood over his face, and the NYT will have his picture on the front page. NBD.

Thanks for posting this - I'll follow the blog with interest

A friend did most of the Etape de Tour a few years ago, on a stage that finished at the Mont Ventouyx (known to our friend Stapfam). He's a tough guy, with the stern expression and the body fat percentage of an Easter Island carving. The Etape that year was cut off for most before the final climb, as there was a hail blizzard at the top - in July! He said it was the hardest thing he's ever tried, and he's a double-century guy. He was happy to be turned back before the last 10 miles.

There's a story of that year's event here <http://chainreaction.com/letape2000.htm> - not by him, but a great account of the event

I hope the NY Times chap makes it. Sometimes the pipeline effect works - launch in fast and heedless, you'll probably pop out the other end!

hrm... to bring this a little on topic, at 40 I decided to do a 600 mile, 7 day tour of the colorado rockies, after have not ridden much for a couple of years. I trained hard for a month or two leading up to it and it went fine. This year, having started riding again last summer after an even longer layoff, and now at 50 I started training again for what I had hoped would be a trip to the alps after le tour this summer. Lemme tell you, its WAY easier getting in shape at 40 than it is at 50. Relatively speaking, recovery takes flipping forever at 50. I got shelled big time on saturday and on wednesday I was still feeling it. 10 years ago that wasn't the case.

Stapfam did Mt. Ventoux, so it can be done by mere mortals.

OTOH, he trained like crazy for it for months prior to his attempt, and had special gearing set up for his bike.

But I say go for it. The worst that can happen is that his eyeballs will explode, he'll have blood over his face, and the NYT will have his picture on the front page. NBD.

Yeah- And I did not do 100 miles before it either.

It will take a lot of Guts for this journalist to complete it- He hasn't done the miles and he hasn't done the climbing. He hasn't a chance.

Now this year I have too much going on to get to France to try these hills- but I reckon that any of us 50+ers that have done a century ride- and got in some hill training- would be able to do this ride. And I know that if I could get transport tomorrow to Ventoux- I could do it again. But still would not fancy the 100 miles before it.

Hoping that it will come off before the legs give out so I reckon that I only have a few years left to do it in.

There are 3 routes to the top of Ventoux. The ultimate challenge for me will be to do the 3 climbs- In one day. It may not be possible but one thing I do know is that IF I do attempt it- There will be a lot of training going on beforehand. And I definitely will not be doing any milage before I start climbing.

Stapfam did Mt. Ventoux, so it can be done by mere mortals.

Anyone who builds his wife a swimming pool is not a mortal.

I would crush him like the NY Times Pretender he is.

BikeSnobNYC published a pretty scathing critique of this effort yesterday; the point of the critique is that this 6-week effort to get into shape for a big ride is demeaning to all the folks out riding all the time to get into shape for their big events.

http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/2008/06/its-not-about-riding-cycling-blogging.html