How much climbing is there on this course?
Where does the climbing take place?
Is the climbing bunched up in only a few miles or is it spaced out?
Descending: where, how much, when?
Should my training be heavily weighted on climbing? Descending skills? Long hours of steady riding?
What kind of lights should I have?
Cold weather, rain?
Sweating makes for wet clothes. What kind and how many?
Hydration?
Nutrition?
Cramping?
Where should I expect to lose / gain time?
What will the long stretch of climbing do to my average MPH?
These are a few of the questions that need answers so that proper training and accomplishment can take place.
CLIMBING:
There are 16,800 feet of climbing over the entire 300 mile course.
80% (13,700 feet) of the climbing occurs within the first 191 miles.
Though there is a `shock' climb of 13% grade at mile 13 of the HD300 it is only 3/4 miles long. Thereafter the climbing is more moderate. Until mile 156.
At mile 156 the grades become more steep (4% to 9%) and continue on that way for 31 miles. An increase in elevation by 4,500 feet (to a top elevation of 10,600 feet).
So the most challenging part of the climbing starts at the halfway point of the event.
DESCENDING:
In the last 95 miles of the event end there are 10,250 feet of descending.
More than half (5,300 feet) of the descent takes place in the short distance of 26.7 miles (immediately after reaching the highest elevation).
The last 95 miles will take place in the dark of night, on empty and desolate roads.
Ambient temperatures will be in the 40F range. When descending at speeds of 20 - 40 mph the windchill will drop that another 15F - 25F degrees.
Within this 95 miles there are another 3,100 feet of climbing.
STRATEGY:
From `the neck up' it is easier to do twelve 25 mile stages than to do one 300 mile stage.
TACTIC:
Two bikes. One for climbing and one for descending and the flats.
CLIMBING BIKE:
Bacchetta Ti Aero
front double rings: 50/34t
Rear cassette: 36/11t
Railgun carbon fiber hard shell seat (Kent Polk)
Tiller and Zipp/SRAM R2C levers on a mini-bullhorn handlebar
DESCENDING AND FLATS BIKE:
Bacchetta CA2:
Double front gears: 58/42
Same rear cassette, Railgun seat, tiller, levers and handlebar
TRAINING:
I live in the Arizona mountains so it is a matter of choosing the `best' set of training courses. Comparing the mileage, cumulative climbing and average feet of climbing per mile I've got excellent ("no excuses") training terrain.
Failing to plan is a plan for failure.
Every time we breathe in and breathe out we get another chance.
Action defines us.
Behavior precedes awareness.