[training only]

If possible it would be great if this was a training only thread.

I'm racing the TD in 2016 and wondering if anyone can give some details of what their training programs are or were.

Having read all the old forums and race threads, multiple blogs and all the Cordillera's, so far I've gleamed:

Ride a lot (with no definition whether this is 10 or 100 hours a week)
Ride hard
Ride with a loaded bike
Do some back to back 100 milers in race conditions (fully loaded and camping) and race pace
Stretch (and/or do yoga)
Do core strengthening exercises
Mike Hall did hill reps
JayP did 6x300w for 3mins each

The knowledge of the route / resupplies / gear & bike selection which is available is fantastic - but training programs and tips are thin on the ground.

So, with 10 months to go - does anyone have some suggestions for all of us who are going to race the TD?

Cheers,

KiwiDave

I was wondering what everyone brought for a lock...if any. 

There's a whole thread on securing your bike here ....

http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/question-and-answer/securing-your-bike/

How long does it take for a 52 year old to recover.

http://lwcoaching.com/recovery-time-required-for-ultra-endurance-racing/

From Lynda Wallenfels:

Full recovery from these races can take 2-6 months! Volume of sleep deprivation is a large part of the fatigue accumulated. A loose rule of thumb is to start with 2-4 weeks for recovery then add one day to recovery time for every hour of sleep missed during the event. Scheduling one multi-day self-supported race per season is reasonable. Racing more than one of these events per season puts you in the manic category ;-) I do know a few of those guys…

I would appreciate input on nobo vs sobo.

I've been looking at the same option, and NOBO hits the Gila very early and the big climbs and high altitude also very early. SOBO gives a bit more time to acclimatise to the altitude and build into the big climbs. In terms of weather, it seems that NOBO has a better chance of avoiding thunderstorms and fires in NM and snow in the north.

Good luck with 2016 - third time lucky I hope.
 

Hi,

For a TD custom built Ti running a Rohloff, what is the best option for chain tensioning: EBB vs Horizontal vs Sliding vs Rockers?

I'm looking for a bombproof build with lowest risk of mechanical problems.

Cheers,

KiwiDave

Big Congratulations to everyone who competed in this years race. Wow - what a race it was this year. From the amazing trio at the front though to Hal Russel knocking three days off last years ride. Standout ride from Josh to win, and Lael's woman's record was an amazing accomplishment.

Thanks as well of course to Matt Lee & Scott Morris for keeping this event so alive and interesting, Joe Polk for the MTBcast updates, and all those along the way who make efforts to keep the racers racing and the watchers watching. It was great to see a greater number of pics posted this year.

To all those racing the TD in 2016, happy training and see you in Banff at 08:00 Friday 10th June.

For the GDMBR a 27.5 would have the same issue that a 29r had a few years back - no replacement tires readily available. 

I'm riding a 27.5 in 2016 so I hope there's something in stock at Orange Peel in Steamboat Springs or Absolute Bikes in Salida.

Looking at the post finish photo's of Josh, Neil and Jay I can see that they are all wearing watches. Why?

Everyone is seeming to want to get their gear weight down as light as possible, so why wear a watch when their GPS and/or telephone should be sufficient? There must be a reason as these guys are all top level racers.

Steve Fuller looks to be the last in under 25 days. So many in so fast this year.

How often does the AW finish time in the Leaderboard update?

Peggy Marvanova is coming up to finish in 21 days. Have any 20 year old women ridden faster? Is she the youngest female finisher?

Congratulations!

Go Zbynek! 30 miles to go and he's going to crush his target time. Awesome ride from another Czech rookie.

Congratulations.

Marshall Bird is at AW!!! Well done Marshall - great time and all the prep has paid off. Congrats.

Congrats to Martin Vit - first Czech home in 18:17:16 and second European. Great rookie ride for 14th place overall.

Gratuluji Martine!

Big congratulations to Rob Davidson for finishing as first Kiwi in approx 18:04:00 and 10th (11th) place. Awesome ride Rob - you must be stoked to be in under 19 days.

Last year he was 6th place in 21:01:21 and had goal days this year of under 20. I think that shows the depth of the field this year and the impact of better weather/trail conditions.

He was chasing Michelle Miani pretty hard from Lima, but some time delays around Gold Van Rv Park and Ponderosa (curious if anyone knows what happened? Overheating? Fighting off dogs? Gear issue?) perhaps cost him too much time. I'm not sure if they even got a glimpse of each other - perhaps in Salida. Great that two guys can race so far and so hard and still be alone.

Well done.

I got ripped a new one by Toby Gadd, who freaked out at the idea. He basically said that the only people who would want this are those not tough enough to do the real race. He and about two other guys were amazingly insulting about it.

I read the exchange of ideas last year and I don't think anyone was "insulting" - they just said that the TD is the TD, and if you want another event then simply try to start one. Remember that the TD is the successor event to the GDMBR as Matt Lee came up with a better format which was more accessible. I miss Toby Gadd on this forum as he was fearless about pointing out breaches of the rules as he saw them. 

Sleep strategy: I completely get the safety issue, but you've got to let people race their race and choose their own risk levels. Some will ride down Fleecer Ridge; some will walk. Some will free camp with the bears; some will sleep in motels or camp grounds. Some will hang their food; some will fall asleep with half eaten food on their chests.

I've just noticed that fellow Alberta resident Tom de Vries is listed as scratched as of 20-odd hours ago and 85 miles north of Del Norte. Does anyone know why and/or if he's OK?

Gary

He's OK. Doesn't want to continue it seems ... listen to his MTBCast.

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td15/

Amazing ride in an amazing event. Dylan will beat the ghost of JayP and Alex is going to have to keep up his awesome pace to beat the old record - here's hoping he can do it.

Lael's ride is also of the same level of these top guys - she'll smash the old record when she finishes.

Maybe these new records will give motivation to Matt Lee, Kurt, Jefe, Olly, Craig and Eszter to have another shot.

Josh Kato - the everyman's hero! WOW dude - you nailed it. AS they say, "Some days you're the hammer, some days you're the nail." Last year was a "nail" year, but this year you were the HAMMER.

The open question for the riders still out there is to find out which pie Josh chose in Pie Town ... if there is one called "Josh Kato rocket fuel" then make sure you order three slices!!!
  

Neil and Jay grinding it out to catch Josh .... Jay's 100m in front of Neil.

https://www.facebook.com/dejay.birtch/videos/vb.621278766/10153423547248767/?type=3&theater

Allez Allez! Josh has pulled out to a 10 mile lead with 57 miles to AW - incredible riding. Surely that is a winning gap - to ride 20% faster than him for the last 67 miles to catch him is a Herculean task. I can't wait to hear the stories of the top three guys about how this all went  down - fingers crossed they'll contribute to the Cordillera.

Josh just flew through Separ with enough time to fill up his water bottles and then gone. What will Jay and Neil do - isn't this the last food/water stop apart form the drinks machine at Hachita? (I know the ACA maps put a store in Hachita but many posts seem to say that Separ is the last stop).