First Hill Climb Road Race (Mt. Evans)

[TronnyJenkins]

I'm feeling crazy this summer. I'll start by doing my second 100+ mile mountain ride at the Triple Bypass this summer, but I think the following weekend I will try the Mt. Evans hill climb race. Being as how I'm a flatlander, my 20 or so races have all been crits, flat road races, and maybe a couple you could call "rolling" road races. I'm a Cat 4 by the way.

Is there any wisdom anyone has for me?
As of right now, my plan is basically to try and stay with one of the guys in the top five. I have no real aspirations to podium, but it was either this or the rally, so I figured what the heck...

[old fat man]

If you buy my wheels (that's why you posted in the Classifieds, right? :)), you'll have a better chance in the hill climb: http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=199532&highlight=hed+stinger

[joev]

I'll weight in... I do a bunch of "flat" fast rides on the weekends and we have Mt. Lemmon here that I do occasionally. If I hadn't done that mt in awhile, boy can I feel it. You should be OK with the triple the previous week to gauge how you will do. If I had a lay off from the mt, here is what I do:

- break the total distance to manageable chunks, say 4th's,and concentrate effort and focus on those.

- look at the profile for small recovery areas and anticipate those and take advantage of a brief rest/fuel/water.

- you probably know this...don't blow early.

- the altitude can really sap power if you're not used to it. Make sure you have a bail out gear.

Good Luck!

[TronnyJenkins]

Crud! Didn't mean to post in classifieds. Sorry mods, feel free to move.

[rodcad]

If an admitted "flatlander" can hang with the top 5, you will have my utmost respect.

[icepick_trotsky]

Altitude is a bigger issue on Mt. Evans than grade. Do everything you can to acclimate prior to the race.

[rodcad]

Altitude is a bigger issue on Mt. Evans than grade. Do everything you can to acclimate prior to the race.

Or bring an oxygen bottle :)

[TronnyJenkins]

Haha, maybe I should lower my expectations to just finishing.

I'll be in Denver for 9 days before, is the elevation there enough for any acclimatizing benefit?

[rodcad]

I'd say not. You'll be starting roughly 2,000' above Denver then climbing another 7,000'. My guess is you'd be light headed driving up there. I hope you do it and give us report after!

[deluxerider]

Denver will help. But Mt. Evans is the highest paved road in NA and tops out over 14,000 feet. quite a bit of elevation difference.

Haha, maybe I should lower my expectations to just finishing.

I'll be in Denver for 9 days before, is the elevation there enough for any acclimatizing benefit?

[TronnyJenkins]

Thanks for the insight. I'll give a full report following.

[gdw]

Altitude effects everyone differently. Hopefully you'll adapt quickly and enjoy it but you might want to reassess your strategy. Hanging with the top five seems rather optimistic for a cat 4 flatlander.

[Mr. Pink]

Haha, maybe I should lower my expectations to just finishing.

I'll be in Denver for 9 days before, is the elevation there enough for any acclimatizing benefit?

No. Try moving to Summit County for a few days. Bike Vail and Loveland pass. Then, remember, the top of Evans is still another 2000 ft higher.
I don't race, but, I ski a lot out there, so, I was kinda prepared, attitude wise. Still, I was sorta hallucinating above 13000.

[jumphigher]

Sounds like a cool ride, OP. Wish I was gonna give a go myself. Good luck, though!

[Climb01742]

Have gearing higher than you'd ever imagine. A 34x34 wouldn't be crazy. I've done Mt. Washington twice. Whether you ever use a 1:1 gear ratio, having it could help mentally and physically.

[Mr. Pink]

Have gearing higher than you'd ever imagine. A 34x34 wouldn't be crazy. I've done Mt. Washington twice. Whether you ever use a 1:1 gear ratio, having it could help mentally and physically.

It's really not that steep. Colorado passes are relatively mellow, grade wise. It's all about the altitude. The roads leading up to the Blue Ridge parkway are much steeper.

[45K10]

Like mentioned previously, the altitude will be the killer. I used to bring my bike every time I went to Colorado to visit friends but man did it hurt. Even just climbing around Denver and Golden.

Mt Evans is a sweet ride, I would suggest just going with no expectations and don't put yourself in the red. If you pop at that altitude you'll pretty much have to get off the bike to recover.

Have fun and good luck!

[fignon's barber]

Is there any wisdom anyone has for me?
As of right now, my plan is basically to try and stay with one of the guys in the top five....


No! This is absolutely the opposite of what you should do. You have to ride at your own pace the entire time, as if you were the only one on the road. Take a page out of the Froome handbook, and manage your efforts with your Garmin (either HR or power).

[chuckred]

In any of the cat 4 groups, you are an amazing climber and it's a great strategy.

Otherwise, since it's your first try, you may want to go grand fondo. In any case, it is a great race and worth doing just to get the ride without traffic at the top.

Don't underestimate the need for warm clothes on the way down, and a wicked rough decent.

Don't underestimate need for rain gear on triple by pass, either. 90% chance you will get wet, and it's not a refreshing shower when it rains! Start EARLY!

[Mr. Pink]

No! This is absolutely the opposite of what you should do. You have to ride at your own pace the entire time, as if you were the only one on the road. Take a page out of the Froome handbook, and manage your efforts with your Garmin (either HR or power).

Yeah, I wound up catching about six people who motored by me on the lower parts, and, trust me, I'm slow. They were hurting. Best lesson I got from an experienced friend was not to try to keep up, and just find your zone. I was pretty amazed I made it.
And, yes, come prepared for quick changes in weather. You're going to be above tree line for about 4000 feet, and it's a long way down. Don't be fooled by a nice, warm, sunny day in Idaho Falls.

[TronnyJenkins]

It's really not that steep. Colorado passes are relatively mellow, grade wise. It's all about the altitude. The roads leading up to the Blue Ridge parkway are much steeper.

Like mentioned previously, the altitude will be the killer. I used to bring my bike every time I went to Colorado to visit friends but man did it hurt. Even just climbing around Denver and Golden.

Mt Evans is a sweet ride, I would suggest just going with no expectations and don't put yourself in the red. If you pop at that altitude you'll pretty much have to get off the bike to recover.

Have fun and good luck!

No! This is absolutely the opposite of what you should do. You have to ride at your own pace the entire time, as if you were the only one on the road. Take a page out of the Froome handbook, and manage your efforts with your Garmin (either HR or power).

In any of the cat 4 groups, you are an amazing climber and it's a great strategy.

Otherwise, since it's your first try, you may want to go grand fondo. In any case, it is a great race and worth doing just to get the ride without traffic at the top.

Don't underestimate the need for warm clothes on the way down, and a wicked rough decent.

Don't underestimate need for rain gear on triple by pass, either. 90% chance you will get wet, and it's not a refreshing shower when it rains! Start EARLY!

Yeah, I wound up catching about six people who motored by me on the lower parts, and, trust me, I'm slow. They were hurting. Best lesson I got from an experienced friend was not to try to keep up, and just find your zone. I was pretty amazed I made it.
And, yes, come prepared for quick changes in weather. You're going to be above tree line for about 4000 feet, and it's a long way down. Don't be fooled by a nice, warm, sunny day in Idaho Falls.

Just saw all of these posts. Pure gold. Also read this (http://www.sonicboomracing.com/mt-evans-hill-climb-strategy/). I also bought an 11-32 for this trip, even though I'd never use the 32 here (even in the big ring, LOL).
I'm nervous, semi confident, and excited to try this. Yeah, I could do the Gran Fondo, but it's $30 more, so what the heck. I've got enough jerseys. Haha. If I come in dead last... I come in dead last.

Definitely glad I read all the stuff about taking warm clothes for the descent!

I wonder which group would ride smarter... Cat4/5 or Cat3/4? If it's like a race around here, the Cat4/5 would get super strung out, but the 3/4's who are supposed to be more experienced will still burn all their matches first half...

[bigreen505]

Use a heart rate monitor and keep yourself in an aerobic zone. Going anaerobic when the road pitches up above Summit Lake will take even an elite athlete a while to recover. You don't have to spin like crazy if that's not your usual climbing style, but mashing all the way probably isn't smart. Consider the 11ish miles from Idaho Springs to Echo Lake as a warmup. The road only goes up, but after every steep pitch it flattens back out. Don't harass marmots and don't assume all white furry things are friendly. The really big ones are not.

[godfrey1112000]

https://triplebypass.org/home.php

[TronnyJenkins]

https://triplebypass.org/home.php

Yeah, I just saw this! Majorly bummed. My jersey doesn't even fit.

[Mr. Pink]

Colorado, the skinniest state, btw, will probably see a per capita increase of a few pounds after all that carb loading and no burn off.

Actually, the events now planned around Evergreen are plenty challenging for most riders. There's even talk of a group ride up Mt. Evans.

[TronnyJenkins]

Colorado, the skinniest state, btw, will probably see a per capita increase of a few pounds after all that carb loading and no burn off.

Actually, the events now planned around Evergreen are plenty challenging for most riders. There's even talk of a group ride up Mt. Evans.

Hahaha

Yes, we are making the best of it. The rides listed on the official email sound cool. I think we are doing the Copper Triangle which should be pretty awesome in its own right.

[chuckred]

Did you race it? Enjoy it? Hope you got the chance!

[TronnyJenkins]

Did you race it? Enjoy it? Hope you got the chance!

I ended up doing the "citizen's race" Gran Fondo. We Triple Bypass goers got half off registration which saved me $30 off of the race plus a free jersey. I didn't know how competitive I would be in the race anyway. Ended up with 2:56 official time which I'm ok with. Comparing my time with the men's 4/5 I would have done would have put me in 35th or so out of 50 if I rode an identical race. Average heart rate was 154, so I could have pushed a bit more theoretically. Maybe next year I'll try the USAC.

That summit was freezing cold! Haha.

[deluxerider]

Good work there. Hope you enjoyed it.

[chuckred]

It's an accomplishment and a great ride!