Training with the Pros, it sounds like fun but it can’t be. Pros are genetic freaks; they put more kilometers on their bikes than any of us civilians do on our cars each year, they ride around whole countries at an average speed greater than 40km/hour and they can dish out such Rule V style day-after-day-after-day. We all dream about it but we don’t have it.
In an earlier life I came close to landing my dream job in Monaco with the IAEA. Serious people counseled me not to take the job, they said it was a bad career move. How could I explain to them I didn’t give a shiet if it was a bad career move, the chance to live, and more importantly to be a cyclist near San Remo and La Madone was all I cared about? Yet I knew if I even saw Tom Boonen or one of the many Aussies who call Monaco their home out on a training ride, I would only be seeing their lycra-clad asses disappearing up the road. Could I at least catch up to Stuart O’Grady to chat him up for a minute before my inability to talk and breathe would force me to lie and say I was turning right HERE? Maybe I could drink beers with the Aussies, I could keep that professional pace, actually no, I would get dropped there too.
Oh that job fell through and my dreams of commuting into work on Merlin on the Cote d’Azure disappeared like those watery mirages on a hot highway, but I digress. I have some good and funny direct video evidence why training with the Pros would be a cruel lesson in our mortal failings. One such Pro is Ted King, an American racer living the dream; he is based in Lucca, riding for Liquigas, riding in support of Ivan Basso and Peter Sagan. He is tough, he has finished every Giro d’Italia he has started. He broke his collarbone this summer racing in Philadelphia when his front wheel dropped into an inexcusably lame drain grate (thank you very much, oh third-world infrastructure that defines the USA).
To bring his training back up to speed he did the 200 on 100 with fellow Pro Tim Johnson and amateur racer Ryan Kelly. The 200 on 100 means 200 miles on Route 100, riding North to South from the top to the bottom of the state of Vermont, the Green Mountain State. Unless you are Marcus, 333 km seems like an impossibly long ride to do at once, I would be in broom wagon long before the end of such madness.
And by madness I refer to the 338 km at 34.1 km/hr average speed with 3,197 meters of climbing thrown in for good measure.
Video credit to Chandler Delinks
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@huffalotpuffalot
Did you sign up and manage to get a place? I did but didn't see the email telling me I'd got in until too late. Gutted!
Sorry I'm a bit late to the party. Have lurked for a while, but decided to register once I started reading through the comments to this post.
I live in BTV, and depending on how well my training plans go over the winter, I might very well join y'all for the ride. If not, I may still be available to drive in support of the group. As a former bike mechanic and current physical therapist, I think my skill set is uniquely suited to the SAG role.
The only hitch is, the proposted dates fall very close to a milestone for me: the big Four-Oh. So I'm not sure yet what my plans are going to be around then. Time will tell...
And, on a bike fitting note, the route rolls right past my old wrenching grounds, and one of the best places to get a fit anywhere - Fit Werx, in Waitsfield.
@slow eddie
Welcome! It would be great to have you in either capacity. As for your birthday plans, easy: just tell your family you'd like to celebrate your birthday by being on a fucking epic ride! Can't think of a better way to sail into the forties...
@slow eddie
Perfect! I am turning the Big Four-Ohhhhhh this January. At least someone will be near my age on the ride!
We are still looking at mid week 12-14th of June sometime. Which of those days would work best for you? We have not nailed the date down yet but would love to soon so we can all plan accordingly and I do not see any reason why we cannot accommodate you if one of those days is better than another.
@Mikael Liddy
Some reflections after completing the ride yesterday.
Beautiful day riding on a very well organised event for the main 100k ride including a crack at a climb that gets used a couple of times in the TDU queen stage, then a nice 50k push back through the hills with a mate to get home with both in agreeance that speed was well and truly secondary to getting home...
Feeling pretty good today with the legs suprisingly fresh & only a little stiffness in the neck & shoulders really reminding me of the 163k's covered yesterday.
1st ever century important stats: 162.9km covered, 5:57:29 riding time, 1,752m vertical & a fuck-ton of fun.
@Mikael Liddy
Nicely done!!! Excellent effort! Sounds like a truly great day and a strong ride.
@Buck Rogers
Yeah was a great day out, gonna shoot @frank a proper write up to see if he wants to put it up here.
@Mikael Liddy
well done indeed Michael - I assumed you were a seasoned veteran at this malarky with your tastic Stava contributions - nice one - looked tough, so the time is very respectable indeedy
@Dr C
Nope, became a "cyclist" as opposed to a guy who rode for fitness & commuting occasionally about a year ago, haven't looked back (metaphorically, tis always best to look out for the metal death machines) since.
@frank
Found this late, but Frank you'll be happy to know that only Mt. Washington is ranked higher in the book "Best Cycling Climbs in the US". Check it out here.
Of note, #4 is a cruel bitch of a climb as well. For your viewing pleasure: Horseshoe Meadows Rd. The actual ride starts from Lone Pine, CA at 1136m and climbs to the thin air at 2895m. Beautiful view, glorious pain.