Need Help Figuring out if Finishing CSTR is an Attainable Goal for me

[michael1]

[x-post from beginner Q&A since there were no replies]
Would probably need 8-12 days. I've never bikepacked, but I'm an experienced ultralight backpacker and mountain biker. I'm not very fast. I can do 10-11k rides, but they take me about 10 hours. I've been able to do 10k rides for a couple years now, but only started "training" this past fall when I started XC collegiate racing for the first time. I did threshold training by mountain biking on a fixed loop (12mi, 2k) and brought my time down from 1:25 to 1:10 from fall to late winter. I also worked on getting in some base road miles. Longest road ride was 240 miles, +22k over 2 days (avg. 10-13 mph). More recently I built a singlespeed mountain bike, which seems like it would be good training for multi-day mountain biking. I've been doing back to back rides of 3-6 hours on weekends with a regular mountain bike or road bike and one singlespeed ride 2 hrs during the week.

If you're not familiar with the CSTR, here is the website. http://www.californiasierratrailrace.com/The_Route.php

Does anyone have advice for me? Particularly anyone who was ever in a similar position, I'd be interested if you tried something too ambitious and how it ended up going. Does anyone think it is a conditionally good idea, such as if I were able to do ride X 3 days in a row I'd be fine?

Also, I was thinking of hiking the Sierra High Route (~10 days) late June, which would give me 2-3 weeks recovery and I don't know if that would have a positive or negative impact.

[Done]

My first bikepacking experience was the CTR. Before that, I hadn't bikepacked even once. I hadn't even been in a bike race. It worked out, and I had a great time. So, it is possible.

But there are some caveats. First and foremost, staying safe is the primary objective. Anyone who attempts a big event like this needs to know how to thrive in remote alpine conditions. That means lots of navigational, bivying, first-aid, etc. experience. Ideally, being able to self-rescue whenever possible is good. Before racing the CTR, I had decades of wilderness and mountaineering experience under my belt, so while I was a bikepacking newbie, I knew how to live and travel safely in the mountains. Sounds like you also have lots of outdoor experience, so you've already addressed the most important factor.

The second factor is how you deal with failure. Without bikepacking experience, you are more likely to bail out. Personally, I don't fear failure, since it's a great way to understand limitations--and then to overcome them by trying again. That which doesn't kill you, makes you stronger, and all that. If pulling the plug won't devastate you, then you don't have much to lose. In fact, you'll probably have great adventure--and you'll be just that much more knowledgeable and experienced for a re-try the following year!

I find the most value in attempting things where the result in uncertain. Makes it more real. Which is why I raced the CTR. Success was far from guaranteed, so finding myself in Durango was pretty cool.

As far as whether you're fit enough, only you'll be able to tell. Get out there and ride. You'll find out soon enough. Eat and drink all the time, ride hard (but leave a little in reserve), and see what happens. If you end up not being strong enough to maintain your desired speed, slow down. If you find that you've got extra energy, ride faster. If you finish the racer more slowly than you like, then train harder and try again next year. Regardless of what happens, you'll learn how your body and mind deal with stress, exhaustion, and elation.

[sherpaxc]

I'll echo Toby.  My first attempt at a "race" was the CTR.  I failed.  Big time.  But since then I've found that just being out there and doing it, you know, bikepacking, you learn more in a couple days than you'll ever learn looking at a screen.  Since then I've been on countless multi day/week rides. 

It's not whether or not you CAN do it, it is just whether or not you WANT to do it.  From the looks of your post, you certainly have the physical ability. 

One of the big things I've learned over the years is to not compare myself to anyone else's ability or "finishing time."  There are some super bad asses out there (many of whom are involved on this board) that are amazingly fast.  They are not the people to compare your time estimates too for a first time out. 

Good luck and most importantly have fun.  That is what this is all about.

[tubeSSnapper]

Fitness will effect your finishing time, but bike 'fit' will determine if you finish at all. You really need a practice run to determine if you'll have nerve issues, back issues and of course butt issues. Most importantly you'll find out if you like riding from dawn to dusk (actually way more if racing). Everyone feels crappy at some point in a race like that, the question will be, can you still have fun when feeling crappy, all the same, the feeling passes. But numb hands won't heal for a long time and a painful pack can feel like a torture device. Iron out those 'fit' issues before lining up for the start. And as for the CSTR, don't try to keep up with Sean

[Sean Allan]

I think you'll be just fine with the time you have allotted. It is really a riders race, meaning you can ride a vast percentage of the course if you don't overpack and have decent fitness. This years course will go back to the original course, meaning a bit harder and longer. There is a lot of climbing in the route so if you are a strong or even a decent climber you'll do great.

 I think you'll find that 8-10 days will be a real doabale and beyond that, enjoyable. It sounds like you're plenty fit and you may find that you can ride much more than the 60 mile days that an 8 day finish will put you at. There is a lot of climbing front loaded into the route with the middle section being somewhat easier along the Tahoe Rim Trail, if that can be considered easy. Not a ton of walking or pushing, although you will do it, which means your hike will be great training.

The route will be up on the website this week. I had knee surgery a few weeks ago and should have done it then but work has been crazy, even with only one leg