Peaks Challenge Falls Creek - 13 March 2016

Road cycling & upcoming rides
Sim
Posts: 29
Joined: 08 Sep 2015, 13:32
Location: Annandale

Postby Sim » 26 Nov 2015, 13:55

Hi there

I know a number of DHBC members have ridden this ride (aka. 3 Peaks) in previous years but couldn't find a thread about the 2016 event.

A friend of mine who registered has had to pull out (after a bad riding injury ... that's another story) and I'm tossing up whether I'm crazy enough to take it on. Dougie's essay on his 2015 ride makes it all sound rather scary.

I'm guessing there are a bunch of people from the club who are riding it again this year and I'm interested to know what type of training you're doing to prep for it. I'm quite intrigued (and would like to do it on behalf of my friend), but not sure whether I'd be able to commit the required training time.

Cheers - Sim

Dave_Ranx
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Joined: 19 Dec 2014, 20:09

Postby Dave_Ranx » 26 Nov 2015, 18:59

hey sim

Just like anything you just need to do the conditioning for it. Start getting the endurance for the 100km out the way and then build up from there. After you get some legs you'll need to start to getting used to the big hill ascents for the physical & mental endurance so hitting up RNP, ( i.e. audley, garie beach, artillery hill, the infamous wall at otford rd and blad hill etc ), Three gorges ( its an area up near the galstone gorge area, ) Bobbin head and Akuna bay also offer good areas to get the Kms up. If you've got fresh legs i.e. haven't ridden much before you'll need to get crack'n on the training despite it being 3 months away. below is a form guide for training from the creators of the event .Peter Bownes, Paul Mayson & Eleri Morgan-Thomas are also good folk to talk to if you want some more specifics on a training regime. https://www.bicyclenetwork.com.au/media ... 281%29.pdf

regards
ranx.

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humanbeing
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Joined: 26 Feb 2013, 12:16

Postby humanbeing » 26 Nov 2015, 20:56

What Dave said!
Start doing the Sunday RNP ride immediately, also try and do some of the weekday hills rides.
There'll be longer rides posted on the forum - gorges, west head, etc. Do these :-)
Have a great ride,
Peter B

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Dougie
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Joined: 11 Jan 2008, 16:39
Location: Dulwich Hill

Postby Dougie » 27 Nov 2015, 08:43

Sim,

Ride your bike along way and up hill. In all seriousness, those rides as mentioned by others with a view to completing a couple of 200km plus rides by mid February. Also drop as much weight as you can. you can get about 1.5% improvement in performance for every KG you loose. Take it from me, by kilometre 29 on MT Hotham you will be glad you said "no" to that donut you were offered in January.

Happy to chat
Cheers
Dougie

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paul
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Joined: 03 Feb 2008, 21:43
Location: Leichhardt

Postby paul » 27 Nov 2015, 10:10

Start doing the Sunday RNP ride immediately...
Peter B
Might be better to wait until Sunday morning.

Paul

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p_mayson
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Joined: 10 Nov 2013, 16:46
Location: Sydney

Postby p_mayson » 27 Nov 2015, 11:40

Hi Sim,

Agree with everything that Dave, Pete and Dougie have said

If you can try to clock up ~300km on the road per week, every week, until the end of February, then I reckon you'll get your hands on a finisher's jersey

Cheers
Paul M

Neilm
Posts: 228
Joined: 06 Apr 2015, 13:08
Location: newtown

Postby Neilm » 27 Nov 2015, 15:48

cant agree more before tassie i was doing 250-350 a week, i would suggest getting 2 or 3 200km plus rides in as well

Sim
Posts: 29
Joined: 08 Sep 2015, 13:32
Location: Annandale

Postby Sim » 29 Nov 2015, 20:51

Thanks all, great advice, have to give some serious thought about whether I can put in that much training ... Freeing up the time is the biggest factor.

I did a 75k / 1200m climb ride today and felt well spent, so it has certainly given me pause for thought.

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Dougie
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Location: Dulwich Hill

Postby Dougie » 30 Nov 2015, 13:04

Sim,
Mt Hotham, the second "Peak" is 30km and 1,300 metres of climbing alone. if you can't commit to the training now do one of the one's later in the year or keep your powder dry for 2017.

D

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humanbeing
Posts: 709
Joined: 26 Feb 2013, 12:16

Postby humanbeing » 01 Dec 2015, 12:56

Sim,
Don't be discouraged. You don't necessarily have to ride hundreds of kilometres per week to perform well at the 3 Peaks.
I'm no expert but apparently there is a school of thought which is "train smart". Riders with a properly worked out training regime can achieve the same results as those who ride thousands of kilometres in preparation for these events.
The link which Dave Rankin provided to the 3 Peaks website has a more structured guide to a training programme. A little research on line will turn up lots of possibilities for "time poor" cyclists.
Have a great ride,
Peter

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Stuart
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Location: Dulwich Hill

Postby Stuart » 01 Dec 2015, 15:03

Sim - From a position of never having ridden more than 125k's and having no desire to, might I suggest you could register to do the 130k or 200k Audax Alpine Classic ride at the end of Jan which is in the same area with some of the same climbs (I think) and see how you go.

Sim
Posts: 29
Joined: 08 Sep 2015, 13:32
Location: Annandale

Postby Sim » 06 Dec 2015, 15:26

Thanks all.

I agree with your advice Stuart, the best next step for me is a more moderate distance (~130-150km) before I try to crack something like the Peaks.

Maybe a goal for 2017 :)

Sim
Posts: 29
Joined: 08 Sep 2015, 13:32
Location: Annandale

Postby Sim » 12 Feb 2016, 15:14

For anyone interested in this ride (and is less of a chicken than I am), my friend is selling his entry on eBay for face value ($335).

If anyone is interested in making an offer, I'll happily put it to him.


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