J
Jeff Pooter
Guest
OK, I just now started my spring riding. I'm coming into the season in fair shape from XC ski
racing. 41 yrs old, 10 lbs overweight. I haven't done a bike race in a couple years but I end up
each riding season feeling pretty fiesty in the big gears.
I plan to do the Tour de France Road Race, FRANCE, on July 5th. A *VERY* hilly 2130 miles. They
usually average 22mph and finish in a field sprint in Paris. On the flats they swarm along in the
biggest gear pretty fast. They stamp up the hills good, too---it seems like they're mostly bike
racers. Most of them have a humorous mashing pedal style that I don't recognize from recumbent
riding. They're strong but I bet short on the top end, even up the hills.
I did this same race in a dream and was very satisfied to finish with the front group, then had leg
cramps (at the finish I also noticed I still had my pump and spare on the bike and that my chain was
rusty: bummer). I think I was much less prepared all around.
It's such a GREAT COURSE that I want to do it again and so I have it as a goal BUT IT'S SO SOON!
I want to see if I can get kind of ready for this race somehow. I'm feeling fiestier so my goal now
isn't just to finish like it was last time, but it is to SMASH THE FIELD! ... : ) How's that for
fiest. However, the kids are crazy. They'll chase anyone and always finish as a field. I'm wondering
if there's any chance for a Cool Move to make the race turn out differently. If I could pull
something on them that would be great.
My idea is that I think I can go up the hills better than they can. Especially LANCE. And if I could
get away alone or with small group we could take the corners and U's faster. There's a 1 km very
narrow, rough, gravel section that the group softpedals which I/we could just BLAST. But I think
they'd just swarm like crazy on the straights. Is getting away from Cat 5's a hopeless thing? For
only a slightly better rider?
The XC racing has me in fair TT mode I think. The race is 1:30 hrs. I think I could get ready for
that much pure suffering.
I'm thinking to train twice a day. I don't have much time, but I figure if I do at least a half hour
in the a.m., same in p.m. that that would be better than an hour a day.
I guess I'll try to get in at least a handful of really hard hill outings.
I started today with an hour of small gear fast spinning. I plan to do a couple days of that, two a
day. I'll do some core-strength circuits in the yard, too.
Well, we'll see what happens!
If I can get into the big gear by then plus get some 'pop' for the hills, I'll be happy. But I dunno
if that's really possible. 63 days? Usually it takes a month or so to get rolling. I suppose it's
just not enough time and I should have just finishing as my goal.
Maybe I could try to conserve the whole time and if I have some 'pop' left then just go ape on the
last charge into Paris. And hope to not cramp up afterward. And remember to take off the pump/spare.
--
Jeff Pooter [email protected]
racing. 41 yrs old, 10 lbs overweight. I haven't done a bike race in a couple years but I end up
each riding season feeling pretty fiesty in the big gears.
I plan to do the Tour de France Road Race, FRANCE, on July 5th. A *VERY* hilly 2130 miles. They
usually average 22mph and finish in a field sprint in Paris. On the flats they swarm along in the
biggest gear pretty fast. They stamp up the hills good, too---it seems like they're mostly bike
racers. Most of them have a humorous mashing pedal style that I don't recognize from recumbent
riding. They're strong but I bet short on the top end, even up the hills.
I did this same race in a dream and was very satisfied to finish with the front group, then had leg
cramps (at the finish I also noticed I still had my pump and spare on the bike and that my chain was
rusty: bummer). I think I was much less prepared all around.
It's such a GREAT COURSE that I want to do it again and so I have it as a goal BUT IT'S SO SOON!
I want to see if I can get kind of ready for this race somehow. I'm feeling fiestier so my goal now
isn't just to finish like it was last time, but it is to SMASH THE FIELD! ... : ) How's that for
fiest. However, the kids are crazy. They'll chase anyone and always finish as a field. I'm wondering
if there's any chance for a Cool Move to make the race turn out differently. If I could pull
something on them that would be great.
My idea is that I think I can go up the hills better than they can. Especially LANCE. And if I could
get away alone or with small group we could take the corners and U's faster. There's a 1 km very
narrow, rough, gravel section that the group softpedals which I/we could just BLAST. But I think
they'd just swarm like crazy on the straights. Is getting away from Cat 5's a hopeless thing? For
only a slightly better rider?
The XC racing has me in fair TT mode I think. The race is 1:30 hrs. I think I could get ready for
that much pure suffering.
I'm thinking to train twice a day. I don't have much time, but I figure if I do at least a half hour
in the a.m., same in p.m. that that would be better than an hour a day.
I guess I'll try to get in at least a handful of really hard hill outings.
I started today with an hour of small gear fast spinning. I plan to do a couple days of that, two a
day. I'll do some core-strength circuits in the yard, too.
Well, we'll see what happens!
If I can get into the big gear by then plus get some 'pop' for the hills, I'll be happy. But I dunno
if that's really possible. 63 days? Usually it takes a month or so to get rolling. I suppose it's
just not enough time and I should have just finishing as my goal.
Maybe I could try to conserve the whole time and if I have some 'pop' left then just go ape on the
last charge into Paris. And hope to not cramp up afterward. And remember to take off the pump/spare.
--
Jeff Pooter [email protected]