jsigone

Starting to doubt if I have enough training and mileage under my belt to pull this off!! Just had a newborn 2 months, ride whenever allowed and I have signed up for the Julian Death March MTB race on April 13th. With cut off times per route. I'm aiming for route #2 but if I hit the cut off time, I'll try #3 for the hell of it To make matters worse I'm thinking of doing on the new singlespeed.

Course #1 50 mile course 7,000 feet of climbing
Course #2 64 mile course 9,000 feet of climbing
Course #3 86 mile course over 12,000 feet of climbing
https://app.strava.com/activities/jul...-2012-25619689

12 mile decent followed by a 12mile/3k ft climb out of the valley then some "rollers" and few harder climbs at the end.

With a month left to train, which is actually shortened by a week for taper I feel I have allot left to do. I plan to ride the 50mile route this weekend on the geared bike but it's snowing up at julian as we speak right now and more to come tonight. This will likely push the ride to Sunday. It will be self supported, there is a lake about 25miles into the loop where we can stop for refills, then push on. Would be similar in the race, the Aid stations are spaced about every 20miles.

I've been averaging only 5-6hrs and about 5k vertical climbing per week on the bikes. This next 3 weeks I need to hit at least 8hrs and 10-12k ft per week. Maybe some Palomar Mt trips after work might be in my near future to hit those climbing goals My legs are going to hate me

After this event I got 2 months to the next event on June 8th, 12hr of Temecula, gonna race solo rigid singlespeed. That is 10-11 mile/1200ft laps. I usually finish them in 48-52mins / lap.

TrojanHorse

We already knew you are nuts. Thanks for confirming it.

And on the single too.

jsigone

LOL am I really that nuts.....I just like a good challenge

psalm

With the time change this weekend you actually have 3 weeks + one hour to train. Plenty of time!

Good luck, I'm sure you can do it.

Oh wait, that is minus one hour. Hmm, I'm sure you can still do it.

Hey at least you'll have one more hour of daylight.

TrojanHorse

I don't mean to be a sourpuss but the quantity of daylight per day remains EXACTLY THE SAME after we shift to daylight savings time.

Just thought I'd point that out for all you physics / astronomy challenged folks out there. Of course, it sticks around longer in the day and it's not broad daylight when you should be sleeping in, so there's a shift in emphasis.

But yeah - if anybody can do it, jsigon can do it. Get training!

dpicare26

There is this annual race in central PA I have considered past 2 years. Wilderness 101. As the name suggests, 101 miles. Don't think I'm that crazy yet

https://www.mtntouring.com/mountain/h.../w101_body.htm

jsigone

I like the daylight shifting to more when I'm awake. I'm far from a morning person. I'll still be using my lighting systems for those after work rides, but can get to ride in the warm sun a bit longer before I have to turn them on. I might even have to touch the dreaded trainer..yuck

jsigone

Got out to preview some of the course. We "only" rode to the lake, going beyond would have been slushy and tear up the trails. After the 12 mile decent, we roughly climbed 4000ft in 13 miles. Not technical course at all, mostly fire roads, some paved. The grades in the first hair pin out of the valley is NUTS. Was a gorgeous day out there though, a tad over dressed in the valley but by the time I got near the top about 3800ft where the snow was, you can feel the chill coming off the mt. Dirt was damp and tad soft (slow). But good to see it. Singlespeed is possible but will have to walk a few sections where its steep and goes for a 1/8 mile or so. If I race is on the geared bike, I need to put a longer stem and slam the stem. The 50mm stubby setup is great for decents but not climbs this long and couldn't get off the saddle at all.


snow capped mts in the background is the goal


gate entrence to the 3 sister water fall, guess its about 90 min hike to get there


getting up in elevation

awesome views along the ride looking over San Diego county


Lake cuyamaca, the route goes off to the right side of the lake and around the back of that peak then drop into the desert about 15 miles later. I'll save that loop for when the dirt isn't so mushy


and the reward for a hard day in the saddle + some pies to make the wife happy for me missing church again ... ride link https://app.strava.com/activities/43940795

psalm

Nice!

jsigone

thanks psalm!!

I took the singlespeeder for a short spin after work in the hills near my house. 7.3 miles and 1100ft of gain. After the harsh warmup from the parking lot(10% grade for 1/2mile out of the saddle HUHHH)... I felt pretty good when I hit the single tracks climb. Felt like I had allot of power still on tap, must be the elevation difference from yesterday. Bonus*** Made it home before dinner got off the stove so wife is happy and baby was knocked out!! (quite house LOL)

https://app.strava.com/activities/44084040

vesteroid

Jsi, for what its worth, I have a long term buddy who is also a level 2 coach and he helps me out on a regular basis. he doesnt believe in tapering for races that fall in training periods for bigger races...in effect do your normal training that week, take a day off two days before the race, and do a one hour easy ride with 2 x 3 minutes intervals at max power the night before...then race.

I have no idea if he is right, just sharing what he told me. Of course he does believe in taper prior to a goal race.

jsigone

that might be a good plan since this event is coming up quicker then I'd like, and can use all the climbing/riding I can cram into my legs and lungs. Though I know the REAL hard part is the eating and hydration part. I've got a drinking problem and not the good kind Even on today's ride, I only drank half a bottle though I had 50min moving time.

On a positive note and looking over the HR chart from yesterday's paced climb and today's sprinted climb, the levels are mostly in zone 3 with few pitches in the 4 as the grades got steep. maxes were 174bpm today and 172 bpm yesterday climbathon. My max HR is about 194, with LT around 183ish. So I still have range to push harder and ride bit faster for training purposes.

My goal race is the 12hr of Temec in June. I hope I can keep it up and not get burnt out AND not piss off the wife for being on the bike too much....

jsigone

Baby didn't sleep too well last nite, so I slept in a bit and missed the window for an all day roadie ride. Ended up going to church then brunch at the Broken Yolk with my fam. Got out about 2 on the bike but 1st hr was spent w/ a buddy who brought his GF that just started riding. No prob, nice long warm up before I can do my real laps. Got in 3hr moving time, 20 miles and 3k ft of climb on my singlespeed. I didn't pack enough food and felt it after the 2hr moving time mark. I had no energy for some of the kickers. Also got some knee twinges over my scar on right next to my knee cap when pulling up too hard on the pedals. 2 summers ago I sliced it open on a rock almost to the patellar tendon. So that pc of muscle is fused together with 7 internal stitches plus another 5 over the top. I need to train that muscle but not over work it. Been riding geared bike since that crash and knew this would come up riding the SS again. I lugged around the camera but only took photos in one spot

https://app.strava.com/activities/44871580

jsigone

another week in the bags as far as my training goes. Tomorrow shall be a recovery day from the bike, maybe take my dog running a few miles. Started the week installing a new Niner full carbon fork.... WOW what a difference it was even on the same trails I traveled last week. The steel fork, I can feel the jack hammering through the entire frames, down to the pedals. With the carbon, it's all muted up front and can't feel the harsh ride through the pedals leaving me more relaxed the rest of the ride. Plus the front is now 2lbs lighter and easier to lift and wheelie over stuff both up an down hill. Bike comes in at 21lbs.

Time limited so I had 4 short MTB rides, nothing long but had a a OK week as far as numbers goes, 36.4mi _ 4hr 25m _ 5,585ft. Two solo and 2 were social paced and more resting in between the climbs. One of the solo rides I finally broke through to my old LT level, where last week I had a max HR of 175, this week I had it up to 188 and didn't feel like the legs were going to fall off. felt like I finally unlocked that last zone and can use that as a better buffer zone since it took some REAL effort to get there. Feeling strong on the climbs, back is getting stronger, I can pedal more seated while on the grades. couple weeks to go, just gotta stay healthy and not crash

photos from the week...

tunavic

TH, please explain a bit further. I'm one of those challenged folks.

Doesn't the northern hemisphere tilt towards the sun and therefore create more hours of daylight in the spring through summer? And we do go to daylight savings time in the spring.........so what am I missing?

Wooden Tiger

'Tis the season to feel ambitious! My last ride was on 03/10/13 due to bad weather, plus going on vacation, and finally...a bad cold. Gotta love it! I get sick every single time I get on a plane.

Anyway, I had this wild hair about joining a MTB race this year prior to this going down but I've lost a valuable two weeks of training. Not sure I'll be able to do it but I guess just finishing a race would be a victory for me. What have I got to lose, right?

I think you should go for it, physically ready or not!

TrojanHorse

Sorry missed that. Yes, as we move into summer we do get more hours of daylight but the simple act of moving your clock up an hour doesn't add any daylight to the equation. It just moves it later in the day. Don't get me wrong, I prefer day light savings time 1000:1 over standard time and I wish we'd do away with standard time altogether.

jsigone

today was my last chance for a proper shake down. Not really miles/time wise but climbing wise and with the singlespeed. Figured if I can get through today and all the climbing in 10 miles, I should be able to handle it spread over 60+ miles. 21 miles 4692ft of gain all in one lump sum. I didn't see the garmin go below 10% grade often enough, maybe can count those moments on a single hand. It was HARD to stay ahead of my gearing, I spent most of the time in 30-50rpm range. https://app.strava.com/activities/47774217

only about at 2000ft here, started at about 800ft down by the large green fields below


got to the tree line around 3600, bit of shade and grades dropped off a bew percent but still grinding along



somewhere around 4400ft was this nice sign


this bluejay flew past me and I was able to get the camera out and zoomed out before it flew off. Love this panasonic Z19!


at the top of boucher look out tower at 5438ft up



looking down at the road traveled below


floating here

TrojanHorse

6 days! Good luck!

Hey, um, we're riding up GMR on the 20th if you want to join us and get off the LAST page of that strava segment. I saw that and about fell out of my desk chair. You can blast up and then come back down and find us, just saying.

jsigone

Wish i can do gmr but can't ride til noon on saturdays cuz wife teaches a zumba class at 9. Her parents are watching the baby this weekend so i can race. You guys would be coming back from the village by the time i get started at noon.

TrojanHorse

Nope, just going to the shack. Leave at 8, you could be at the shack by 9, down by 9:20. Of course, not many people would be keeping up with you!

Nah, I understand the give and take when kids enter the equation.

jsigone

whats the fun of a group ride if I still end up riding alone?

TrojanHorse

You could hang out at the start and look cool?

You haven't seen my fancy new bike either.

jsigone

Tee minus 18 hrs til count down.....I'm contemplating changing the gearing out from 32x22 to 32x20 to give me a bit more top end but the last two major climbs out of the desert is 8-10% grade for about 45min each
https://app.strava.com/activities/25619689#458106177
https://app.strava.com/activities/25619689#458106204

The last Sunday's climb up Palomar was that grade for 10 miles, so it might seem easier but I'll have more miles and elevation in my legs at those point. Here was sunday's climb as reference to the two above.
https://app.strava.com/activities/47774217#834432882



here's the entire Julian Death March route.... https://app.strava.com/activities/25619689

PhotoJoe 

Insane. That's all. You're an animal!