Fitz's Challenge 2009

[Ross]

I know it's not a race but...

I entered the 165km event and was going strongly in the leading bunch (as were Ben, Julian and Michael Carr) when my chain came off on the downhill past Point Hut turn-off and it twisted and generally fcuked up and I couldn't fix it so had to DNF. I got a lift to Tharwa with a nice guy who also happened to own a turbo Falcon similar to mine and Leigh's (had to tell about the Ford bit just to stir up Lee!:p). Waited at Tharwa for a while, saw a few familiar Vikings people and then eventually got a lift back to Stromlo with a girl who's partner was also riding Fitz's. Luckily I had driven out there and not ridden from home.

I must of known that something was going to go wrong as I had packed my cleat covers in my jersey pocket "just in case". I usually never take these with me. The other annoying thing was that I had my bike serviced and chain replaced by Ian D earlier in the week. :(

[Steven]

Your unlucky cleat covers! There you go. Sorry to hear of the mechanical, Ross.

Is it pub time yet?

[Bean]

Bad luck Rossco. I hadn't noticed your absence until Fitz where I expected you to do the usual burst past me on the climb! I ended up with 2 flats, the first of which was just as I left Rendezvous Ck. After fixing it I took off and all was OK until I realized gear changes were now all skew-iff. I'm not sure what went wrong but took the wheel off again to check but still didn't help. Unfortunately this meant about a 90k ride on my own with only the 27 to use on most hills. Not too quick, but at least it was a bit easier. I was also suffering quite badly from back and neck pain which I thought was going to end it for me... but I just thought of the poor bastards doing the Epic and that gave me the impetus to maintain a forward motion!

Well done to all who showed and had a go. I take my hats of to the Epic riders. It's not just another 42 k's over the Classic, it's another level altogether. Well done just for signing up!!

[gsavage]

Well I had a bash at the Fitz's Classic and trialed one of the Valhalla squads tactics for this year, riding backwards through the pack to try and slow everybody down. :) It worked well for me, but didn't seem to slow anybody else. Will have to consider training for next year's, it may help. :D

[bosworth*]

Ross, sorry for being a bit vague when you were trying to talk to me at tharwa - I was a bit confused about what I was supposed to be doing.


I won the 105km race today. It was very tough. I hate hills!

One of the guys in the bunch did the bridibella road checkpoint extremely quickly, while I was still fumbling trying to get the card out of my back pocket. I chased him up Mt Mcdonald, and I don't think I've ever ridden that hill that quickly before.

[pm0203]

All I can say is 29 rear Cog and 39 Front Chain ring is the ONLY way to do Fitz's challenge.

It was magic. Knees felt crap, Ankle felt like I twisted it, and the balls of my feet were on fire but I made it.

And now my finish average is 5 out of 10.....

[idol]

, and the balls of my feet were on fire.....

Hey, I had the same feeling in my feet too. Any idea what causes it (lack of circulation to the feet, shoes too tight, etc) and how to prevent it in future?

[Andrew]

Hey, I had the same feeling in my feet too. Any idea what causes it (lack of circulation to the feet, shoes too tight, etc) and how to prevent it in future?

+1


I had my foot hanging out of the shoe at the start of Corin, it hurt that much =[

[Bean]

I got the foot burn too for a short while. I put it down to body meltdown. The two events seemd to coincide.

[idol]

http://www.cptips.com/footsyn.htm

http://www.bikefitting.com/English/FAQ/FootAnkle.aspx

[Bean]

Yep Dan, this would be the reason

"too much climbing (which puts continuous pressure on the bottom of the foot)"

[idol]

I'm going to experiment using those cushy running shoe inner soles instead of the rock hard ones in my Sidis. Anyone know a good place to get a pair of those?

[dadcram]

You could use cushy running shes. Just shoulder the bike and run up the hill.
Glad to be of assistance.

[Frances]

I'm actually glad you guys posted about your sore feet - I got off my bike before Tharwa on the way back and took my shoes off for a while, and stopped with about three lumps to go before SFP cause my feet were so sore. And yes OK I cried at the Tharwa stop. But it's a relief to know it wasn't just me :). Probably except for the crying part.

[SSSimon]

Hot soles - can be caused by crap pedal and/or shoes, later day carbon soles shoes and the use of the new style pedals with a generally larger cleat area have cured a lot of the equipment sources of this problems.

In my experience this problem is more likely to come from poor pedaling technique. Generally NOT moving your feet in circles. You know the saying 'try to stick with me I'll have you pedaling in squares' - what's that about? Too much stamping and not enough of a circular motion.

When pedaling efficiently because you are driving the pedal around the entire pedaling circumference all weight is taken off the sole of each foot when the foot is coming up and over. When pedaling in squares there is ALWAYS weight on the soles of your feet - the leg stamping down is also lifting the weight of the lazy leg up, and the weight of the lazy leg is being supported by the sole of its foot. Unlike walking, where you HAVE to lift the foot going forward, in cycling your can leave weight on the sole of your foot 100% of the time - this is what can lead to hot feet.

What can you do about it? Little exercises of pedaling with one leg (this doesn't work if you are riding on a fixie/track bike), also practicing at super high cadences to try to program your leg muscles into moving in a circular motion.
Try this and see you you go. Obviously it takes a very long time to program legs to move in circles, and the programing work has to be continually practiced.

If you find your feet getting hot while riding, ensure your shoes are not overly tight then really concentrate on pulling each foot up in the shoe during the up stroke.

Regards,
SimonC.

[Frances]

Awesome. I love you guys! Am sure it would be technique as well as my cleats not quite in the right position. One problem easier to solve than the other, but will be working on it nonetheless. Thanks :)