Tour of Bright course profiles vs local climbs

[Chris]

I have uploaded three files that compare the Tour of Bright stages to local Canberra climbs. Since we don't have any climbs that are long enough to compare I have put together several synthetic climbs from my Polar data to give you a feel for the length and gradient. In particular I have joined three Stromlo reps to give you the feel of the Gap and added the climb from Corin Dam onto the top of the Corin Forrest climb for Mt Hotham.

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[LynV]

Chris, which direction is considered to be the Corin Forest Climb - to the Forest from the main road or to the Forest after the Corin Dam climb?

[Chris]

Corin Forrest Climb for want of a better description is the climb up to Corin Forrest from Tidbinbilla Rd.

[LynV]

Yeah that's what I didn't want to hear

[j_young_80]

Was Rosewhite really this long? admittedly I was left to fix one of the many punctures i'd be enduring for the tour half way up - but I don't remember the climb being that long. I do remember people having a huge crack at it though - probably partially due to the slow pace enforced by a couple of riders wanting a pi$$ break. And that was all before we got neutralised by M2 - oh the humanity!

[Chris]

According to my Polar yes it was that long. I have to agree it didn't seem that long when I did it although I did get dropped as the A grade masters stormed to the top after embarrassing a sad looking C grade.

[j_young_80]

C grade wasn't sad - well not initally, more confused. I thought we were getting pulled off for a bollocking on not staying inside the white lines - it wasn't until M2 rolled past that the shame set in.

[bluebike]

Omg

[idol]

Chris, would be interesting to see the figures from your Polar for the Fitz's Epic this weekend too.

[Chris]

I will happily obligue.

[SSSimon]

Nothing will prepare you for the Mt Hotham ascent - its long with 2 exceedingly steep bits.

The closest you might get is doing 6 reps of Fitz's hill.

The key to the ToB GC is to NOT lose time on the hills on Stage 1 and gain some time in the ITT. A humongous attack on Rosewhite can get a small group away for stage 1. If you can pull this off it can knock a lot of riders out of GC contention and give you a few seconds buffer over the specialist climbers for the Hotham stage.

Training program for ToB = climbing, climbing, climbing * 7 * 50 weeks of preparation. Any less and you'll be watching the masters bunches go past again ;)

[Driver]

I had no problem allowing masters to go past, I had an empty bladder :) and a clear run at the sprint primes. You can have the hills.

[anla]

[QUOTE=SSSimon;2256]Nothing will prepare you for the Mt Hotham ascent - its long with 2 exceedingly steep bits.
QUOTE]

Cheers for the encouragement but simon, i feel really good about myself and my training now:rolleyes:

[j_young_80]

I had no problem allowing masters to go past, I had an empty bladder :) and a clear run at the sprint primes. You can have the hills.

If you go for a tinkle this year Sparky the V-Train will fire up and you might as well head for home. Bozzie also rates his chances of taking you down in the Sprint primes - he has been not pulling turns all year in preparation.

[bosworth*]

That is part of my '6 month taper' strategy.

[Driver]

Simon Dwyer Vikings Cycling Club ACT ELITEM
Bradley LOVELOCK Vikings Cycling Club ACT ELITEM
Jeremy RHIND Vikings Cycling Club ACT ELITEM
Andrew Thaller Vikings Cycling Club ACT ELITEM
Ross MACPHERSON Vikings Cycling Club ACT MMAS4
Michael DE BOER ADF Cycling ELITEM
David MCGRATH Canberra Cycling Club ELITEM
Bruce NORTON Canberra Cycling Club ELITEM
Felix PIRIE Canberra Cycling Club ELITEM
Jason PYE Canberra Cycling Club ELITEM
Joshua QUILLIAM Canberra Cycling Club ELITEM
Scott SPARKMAN Canberra Cycling Club ELITEM
Stephen TERRACINICanberra Cycling Club ELITEM
Callum Heiner Canberra Cycling Club M23
Mark TERRACINI Canberra Cycling Club MMAS2
Nathan SPILLANE Canberra Cycling Club MMAS3

You'll need more.

[SimonD]

I don't think that list is up to date. That's a big local field!

[j_young_80]

Quite a few names missing from our ranks there....

[katev]

looks like there might be a blue train...

[Driver]

That's just the Canberra contingient that I could identify. I cut and pasted.

Some of them might get bumped to Masters, as could some Masters get bumped to C - maybe.

Couple of QUON stompers in there. Better be on your toes Bossie ;)

[Driver]

That reminds me.

I probably should start training.

[bosworth*]

I thought you did 2000k's last week?

[Chris]

Sparky

Based on our number there should be at least 12 V-Mobilers in C grade. I certainly have an Elite lic now so you can add me to the list. This of course doesn't include the other ring ins.

[SimonD]

But being an open, we're of course riding as Vikings Cycling Club.

[j_young_80]

I heard they renamed Bright C-Grade to the "Do Sparky's 3-peat Sprint over Collective"