Safe Speed Forums

In a couple of months - am off with the family on a charity ride.

We are trekking up some rather horrendous Austrian and Swiss passes and quite frankly - I've scoffed far too many doughnuts and not ridden enough hilly rides.

Now - telling me to quit me doughnut intake is not the advice I wanna hear here.

How do I get fit enough for a set of real biggy big steepies in - er - just 7 weeks or so is what I am interested in. These are the real "McCoy" steep and hard passes - on a par with Izoard and Tourmalet and Huez. From the Vorlarlberg to Carinthia is gonna be an epic as this route takes in all the passes on the way .. on a b-bike! This is "Tour of Austria" with a vengeance - how the hell did I allow myself to sign up for it... must have been the claret! Yeah Ted's - riding with me along with the usual riff-raff with Wildy on car support of course We are riding for Leukemia Research this time.

CW tells me to build my leg strength and hit as many hard hills as I can - at my threshold cadence fir a half hour or so -resting for ten minutes and then repeating. Sounds OK in theory - but in practice? I can see me resting for twice the time with doughnuts..



Er - CW does say "lose weight" = Um - despite my doughnut intake, love of real ales, decent, matured clarets with a "nose to proverbially die for", love of strong black coffee - fresh ground beans from a local specialist shop , real butter on baked potatoes, crispy bacon and so on - am actually right weight for my height and build.

But we are talking here of several climbs up to 1300- 2000 metre in a fortnight and I just don't think I am at the peak of fitness I should be.

So Ed and John et al - any quick fixes for me and Ted? A 7 week regime to get to level I really need for this. Ted simply rides up and down the passes between him and Buttermere.


CW tells me not to panic brake in a hair pin descent. and to be wary of tight corners (Have no problem with that waya - hey! )

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well I'll get the bad news out of the way first - nothing prepares you for 10 mile mountain climbs. They're the work of
If you're already sort of fit then my suggestion would be to map out a nice hilly circuit near you. On tuesday and thursday do 20 miles or so around your circuit as fast as you can. Treat monday and wednesday as easy days and do an easy, flat 20 miles in a low gear. On saturday or sunday try to do a longer ride at a sort of in-between pace. That'll at least get you nice and fit.

Now I'm no expert on riding up mountains but I think where I went wrong when I did my climbs was judging the climb on previous experience and therefore riding way too fast in the first few miles.


easy to say until you discover your front tyre has suddenly gone flat as you turn in... If you don't have discs then it's very important to use your brakes as little as possible (or stop often on the descents) otherwise you'll discover, like I did, that lots of braking heats up your rims enough to cause your tubes to release all their air.

tarnation Mind you - have done some climbs in the Voralberg in the past.. The Vorarllberg climb is our first one and I think probably the worst with the one into Carinthia towards the end of this little epic perhaps a close second.



Yep . in fair shape on whole .. but not done much in the way of training up over the summer.. was just too hot in July and afraid I chilled out with drinkies in the garden instead of getting the bike out. Hence I feel I've not ridden as much as I think I should. Do always ride out just before breakfast each day - but you can't really go too far as - er work - er. Ho -hum!
And then inevitably something fairly urgent usually crops up....

But - been out most of this weekend riding out in the local hills .. seem to feel a little better and more relaxed as result.




Yep .. will be a problem as we come down into St Anton I think and also Heiligenblut... I recall being on another hols with the riff raff when a coach's brakes smouldered on the descent and we ended up escorting it to the nearest garage for safety.. lot of tourists on board Was a UK coach...

_________________
Take with a chuckle or a grain of salt
Drive without COAST and it's all your own fault!

A SMILE is a curve that sets everything straight (P Diller).

A Smiley Per post
FINES USfor our COAST!

Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon - but driving with a smile and a COAST calm mind.

Right - been riding around the hills of Weardale to get myself in shape for the epic.. Has 17% gradients around here. Think it's been helping as last ride I did there did not leave me gasping for breath as was the case on the firt one..


Also been at the gym - spinning but not as good as actually riding as you don't actually - go anywhere

But nice to have a swim and a sit in the sauna afterwards...

_________________
Take with a chuckle or a grain of salt
Drive without COAST and it's all your own fault!

A SMILE is a curve that sets everything straight (P Diller).

A Smiley Per post
FINES USfor our COAST!

Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon - but driving with a smile and a COAST calm mind.

Come back to 'endon where the police training college is - that's in aerodrome road. then cross the A41 and head up Greyhound Hill.

I'd then suggest that having reached the top of the hill, round to the right into Church Row, left into Church Road then right at the lights into Brent Street and just follow the road up to Hampstead.

Then enjoy your downhill via East Heath Road and go round the Heath or even cut across one of the decent cycle paths then up Highgate West Hill to the top of Highgate.

Down North Hill then A1000 up to Tally-Ho Corner, then left into Nether Street, follow round until you turn right into Lullington Garth and right into Partingdale Lane (past the barrier) then follow Bittacy Hill until Hammers Lane. Off there turn right into Daws Lane, probably cut through Victoria Road and Albert Road and Lawrence Street to avoid crossing A1 at Daws Lane, then across into Mill Hill Broadway, up to roundabout, Bunns Lane, Grahame Park Road and then back left into Aerodrome Road.

Then do the journey in reverse.

Ahh.. but that 'ill up in Weardale tha knows Not for "big gurls' blouses" - as "Illdah" use t'say

Seriously - been in heavy training . Them Swiss have no mercy!

Besides.. we are trying to raise cash for a good cause and we have a very sound pledging. (Oh - Paul.. no worries... if all goes well - Swiss have instructed Santa to direct our "surplus" . After all - we got some pledges by just mentioning on your board and you are more than entitled to that surplus and we have the agreement of those who have committed pledges to the ride that you get the "interest" accrued between the ride and the PAY OUT as slef and Mad Cats use this site and our pals may not post - but read us and support mthe call for MORE cops )

_________________
Take with a chuckle or a grain of salt
Drive without COAST and it's all your own fault!

A SMILE is a curve that sets everything straight (P Diller).

A Smiley Per post
FINES USfor our COAST!

Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon - but driving with a smile and a COAST calm mind.

Of course our hills tend to be steeper and/ or more undulating than what you find in the Alps etc but nothing like as long and without any respite.

I would suggest that Hartside from Melmerby is the nearest we've got to a mini-Alpine climb in this area, so going up and down a few times in succession would be good practice.

You could get yourself a fixed wheel bike. I bought one on Sunday and rode it to work and back today and I can already feel myself going up the hills faster. Having to keep a reasonable speed without the option of changing down a gear helps a lot. Using your legs to brake builds up muscle too.

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We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the kerb.

uggg... fixed wheel on the road ... nasty

Ja.. I tried one to "build me up a bit"... I gave up!

But I am the back up.. with the hot drinks und the TLC in the car. We have three vehicles (including one camper van) going as back up und I und the twins will be driving one of them - with other relatives in the others.

I will ride one short stage of this .. a nice gentle bit und about my limit of 15 miles at one go.

Have been practising around here... und have used my "mumsy" bike with the bell, mudguards und wicker basket at front to get to the shops for small items. Ist a heavy bike - especially if shopping in basket. But it seem to build my stamina. (This bike ist very old by the way .. belonged to my Mama when she was a girly I call this bike my old Edie! Ist an old fashioned name to suit an old fashioned bike - nicht? )

My normal bike.. a trendier racier und trustier Diamondback That is the one I will ride for my 15 miles!) Have a few now though - including a fold up version und one which perform wicked-like on sandy beaches for hols, a hybrid und a mountain bike)

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Not long to go before we go off on this epic! Am getting there - I think.

Been around the Hartside-Melmerby route a few times - Ta AC!

Been down to Kriss and ridden around the Dales with her as well - and on a trip to the Mad Cats "over the border" - Ted lost me over Honister .

Think overall - I'm now well fit and able to manage these rides - they reckon between 40 to 60 miles per day in our "currency"

I note Wildy has volunteered to join in "only at the downhill bits for speedy matters!"

_________________
Take with a chuckle or a grain of salt
Drive without COAST and it's all your own fault!

A SMILE is a curve that sets everything straight (P Diller).

A Smiley Per post
FINES USfor our COAST!

Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon - but driving with a smile and a COAST calm mind.

So how did it go...

Weather was kind to us.. nice crisp sunshine most days.

Entire family joined in too. It was quite a get -together

We set off from Bregenz und made way to Silvretta High Alp Pass - where IG had puncture und MM went all goose pimply at the sheer drop at the Zeinisjoch (He ist a right wus! ) Ist really very steep und I was following them all in the car Ist a very sheer climb up there.. but a fast drop on the other side It was then down into South Tyrol und up through Brenner Pass ( which we cheated on.. as we loaded bikes onto cars und took the cars up Grossglockner .. from where we have the toppest views und a rather scary descent on them bikes (Ist rather a lot of tight hairpins on way down .. und too many tourist coaches on the way up

We then rode along Inn valley und then loaded bikes on the cars to St Anton .. where they decided to do the Flexen Pass up to Lech und I chickened out of this und took the Post Bus halfway up Und then back by car back to Bregenz where we loaded back to cars und all returned to Appenzell for a rest.


We are still collecting our cash for the charity..

By the way .. this makes a very seriously enjoyable drive too

_________________
Nicht ganz im Lot!
Ich setze mich immer wieder in die Nesseln! Der Mad Doc ist mein Mann! Und ich benutzte seinen PC!

UND OUR SMILEYS? Smile ... und the the world smiles with you.
Smiley guy seen when you read
Fine me for Safe Speed
(& other good causes..)

Greatest love & Greatest Achievements Require Greatest Risk
But if you lose the driving plan - don't lose the COAST lesson.
Me?
Je ne regrette rien!

Am not a wus.. it was over 10,000 feet down

Was an enjoyable experience overall and am pleased to say .. we think we raised a few bob for a good cause or two too.

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Well - reckon all that training paid off The Silvretta Pass which Wildy 's on about ..

it was hard going on the way up... and I sure felt that pull on my thigh. Air's thinner at high altitude as well .. so I also felt the thinner air in my lungs as well. Scenery was just simply spectacular and I am pleased to say I had a good time as well as do something for a good cause.

How did I fare amongst the Swiss riff raff? Well... - as predicted - they turned it into a competition between themselves and I was no match for them... but I did not finish last ... that honour went to to Ted

Am not sure how much the gang raised yet.. but a decent sum is predicted as they are still counting cash.

However, as Wildy mentioned - route is an ideal ride for cyclists and and also makes a very pleasant drive for motor enthusiasts.

_________________
Take with a chuckle or a grain of salt
Drive without COAST and it's all your own fault!

A SMILE is a curve that sets everything straight (P Diller).

A Smiley Per post
FINES USfor our COAST!

Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon - but driving with a smile and a COAST calm mind.