KeatonR

Hi,
Because of weekend rain and some other things, I've found myself with a little more than a month to train for the Triple Bypass (for which I'm still looking for an entry, if anyone has one). Is this crazy?

I'm in pretty good shape generally and have done one ride from Boulder (where I live) up to Jamestown at a decent pace. My current thinking is that I'll basically ride as much as possible during June: two rides to work per week (44 miles round trip), then a long flat ride on Saturdays and long hill climbing on Sundays.

Hoping to finish while feeling pretty good. Will this do? Any more specific training ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks!

dark13star

This weather has me in the same boat. I am way behind on my training plan and I have two weeks of business travel between now and then. One is to Australia and eating up both weekends as well.

That said, I am down to just riding as much as I can. I have no doubt I can finish the ride. I just don't want to be miserable at the finish.

KeatonR

Two work trips got in my way, too. It has been a little distressing to watch the weeks go by without being able to ride much. I have supplemented with a lot of running, which certainly can't hurt (better than nothing), but it's not riding.

merlin55

1. Make sure you have low enough gearing, you will need the little stuff in the last 40 miles after you are tired (think COMPACT CRANKS)
2. Keep the pace really easy on the first pass, and sorta easy on Loveland Pass so that you have something left for Vail pass which was a struggle for me both times
3. Eat and drink, blah, blah,blah
4. It is a long ride, and not an easy one, so don't kill yourself try to hang with faster rider for the first 100 miles, but after Vail Pass find a paceline and enjoy the downhill and flats into Avon
5. Fun, this is supposed to be fun...in that twisted Roadie way (Oh, it hurt so good)

valygrl

Forget the flat ride, do the Ward-Raymond-Lyons loop both days every weekend. The weekend before do some real altitude training - copper triangle, independance pass, something like that.

If Jamestown was at all hard, you might want to do it next year with more training, or just do it at the end of the summer self-supported.

I haven't decided if I'm doing it myself - no registration yet, and some friends are doing it, but... the logistics are such a bummer on that ride, it kind of takes some of the fun out of it for me.

KeatonR

I didn't find the Jamestown ride to be hard at all, for what it's worth. I love that ride, in fact, and sometimes forget that I'm climbing. After dropping back down to that fork, I even decided to throw in a few miles toward Ward, but then the voice of reason kicked in and I realized I had no food with me and still had to ride all the way back to Boulder.

I'm going to look into the loop you mentioned -- thanks. I've also considered trying a 2x Ward, although loops would probably be less boring.

Kickin off this weekend! Thanks for any continued advice.

DataJunkie

If you can handle a century you can ride the triple. It really is not that hard. Just take your time if you have not had enough training. Once you make it over vail pass you are home free.
Now if you want to do it fast....
You can always cheat and grab onto a paceline.

My 2 cents.

mr-howdy

I agree, if you can do a century you'll be fine. For local training I like the ride Lee Hill - Ward - Brainard Lake. I think that's a harder climb than any of the passes in the TBP (though of course it doesn't go as high).

For me, the mentally hard part of the TBP is always the long slog from Georgetown up to the top of Loveland Pass. I don't know why but that always gets me. At Loveland Pass you're only 60 miles or so into the ride, but the worst is behind you. Swan Mtn Road is hard but short, and Vail Pass is pretty tame but it comes at the end so you're tired.

Good luck!