Hill Climb Training

Perfect. Just get some decent rides in and make sure you've either got a compact on or your legs are as big as mine. ;)

Ah yes ratios! Road bike currently set up as compact 12-27 IIRC so will need to remember to have that again.

Llama drama!

If it's not even your bike, then it throws it all into the imponderables. You need to get out there on what you have, and then make sure you get the bike set-up as well as possible when you're there.

How long is the whole ride?

Basically its a charity event organised by my company. We will be heading to Belgium for a training camp in April at a top sports clinic and then heading to the Col in August. I reckon in that time the question about bikes and set up will come up so will definitely make sure the bike I use will be as closely set up as my own.

Not sure how long but I think we are out there for 4 days. Obviously not going to take 4 days to get up the Col though! (hopefully)

^^ If you're not taking your own bike, I'd recommend making as accurate measurements as possible before you leave to try and get set up right.

On a totally different effort, had to remove my seatpost to transport my bike to my longest ride, but didn't have a torque wrench with me and had it slip down about an inch. The first 60 miles before I'd had a chance to sort it were grim (4am start meant I didn't really realise at first and thought I was just having one of those days). Small differences can have a massive impact.

Also might be worth taking your saddle with you?

Its not the best saddle at the moment on the Scott so I'll see what is up for grabs later. Last trip we did we used top of the range Mercx's bikes so think they should be the same again.

I could never understand doing something you enjoy for charity, it seems wrong somehow. Maybe I'm just archaic in my ideas that in order to do something for sponsorship it should be horiffic not a holiday disguised as a charity do. Surely just donate the cost of the training camp to charity, then do a sponsored 40 laps of Swains in a monkey costume

Get your bike set up properly and do what max and dubtap suggest. Also, don't forget to learn to descend properly without dragging your brakes.

Basically every year the company donates a dollar for every mile run, cycled or swam to charity. It has organised the full trip at cost and will then be donating on top of that. It simply chooses its 'ambassadors' from whoever applies to represent the company and take part.

Its not strictly a sponsored event in that sense. Obviously I will attmept to raise a little for charity myself but there will be no obligation to donate.

Once you have a base of fitness down you should also try some structured workouts where you simulate the extra efforts you will need to make on steeper sections and let your body adapt to recovering quickly from them.

Climbing mountains is easy.
Just keep on pedalling, you'll get to the top eventually.

Says the skinny dude.

Even a fat 12 year old girl could ride up most Col's without any training.

well im pretty skinny too so I figured I wouldnt need much training but judging by the how tough Im finding commuting right now I definitely think I need some training!

People who less than 70kg - your opinions are irrelevant :-)

65kg?

goonz... hippy's covered it but...

Just do rides in and out of zone 3 and 4 for two hours every other day if you can. If you get bored mix it up. Start out easier if you want. Take an allen key with you and sort your road bike out.

If you're not sure about heart-rate zones have a quick read. You don't need a HRM – but zones make it easier talking about effort over the internet!

I didn't have a road bike till a month before last year's trip to the alps so did all my 'training', such as it was, fixed. 50-80km rides taking in some hills, laps of Box Hill, etc. I also did a few sessions of an hour to an hour and a half doing repeats around the Crystal Palace cols. Also start to push yourself on your commute - don't dawdle.

You can't replicate alpine climbs here so I reckoned getting some strength in the legs was the next best thing. I didn't have the time for longer rides, but (in my mind at least) fixed distance is worth a bit more than geared (though not sure SS necessarily does the same). Worked out OK for me.

The more you ride the better off you'll be - if that means riding your langster fine. Also start to push yourself on your commute - don't dawdle.

I dont really dawdle but recently legs hurt more than usual. Its only 10miles each way so nothing too strenuous, definitely need to get out on the weekend. I am building up a Mash in time for summer as a fixed ride, might need to hurry that along and get training with that.

I've got a marmotte entry for this year. Subscribed.

Have been doing low-med intensity long rides so far and aiming to pick up the tempo a bit to high Intensity hour long efforts followed by recovery followed by a further hour. And repeat.

Think I've underestimated how difficult it might be to finish given the nibbling my legs took on the ashdown last weekend - and that was taken at one pub stop short of a jolly pace.

Very jealous of your trip goonz. Don't fret and just enjoy the mountains.

.... ashdown last weekend - and that was taken at one pub stop short of a jolly pace.

That was way harsh Tai.

Audax pace then?

How about notcomplainingaboutthelackofenergyproductsatfeedstops pace?

Don't fret and just enjoy the mountains.

This is great.

Moderate fitness, bit of patience, lots of steady pedaling.

Ha too much of a competitive streak to just ambly pedal along! Got to have the bragging rights in my company! And the tag 'fittest guy in the company'