#8546010 - 02/06/16 03:24 PM
Am I setting myself up to fail/death? Cycling shens.
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Riskhe Business
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I am in Portugal at the end of March for a global finance meeting and will have 3 days to myself to do whatever I want and will be bringing my bike. After talking to some coworkers who are based out of the area I was told about some common cycling areas, which I then correlated with Strava's heatmap to come up with a course.
My options are limited in terms of distance, in order to hit up all the worthy spots on this mountain ride I am pretty much committing myself of riding a loop around the mountain, which is 55 miles (this is the easy part). I have no issue with the distance, but it's 10k feet in vert elevation 
The most vert climbing I've done was on a similar ride in NorCal with my dad and that was 1/3rd of the elevation...it was rough. So three times the elevation in a butt fuck mountain with no one around I am not sure how I will fare. I have just under 2 months to prepare. My only goal is to finish this in a day without dying, straight forward. Obvious concern is that I am alone and have never done this much climbing in my life.
My current plan is to get at least 1k km on my rollers/outside if weather allows before leaving, aside from that it's also some of this:
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#8546044 - 02/06/16 04:08 PM
Re: Am I setting myself up to fail/death? Cycling shens.
[Re: Riskhe Business]
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stickaz_old
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Registered: 02/04/01
Posts: 56459
Loc: Nor Cal, Hella hurr durr
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It took me 3 tries to get up mt Hamilton last year, but both fails were dehydration based. I finally found a ater stop in a park along the route like a mile out of the way. Hamilton was a 34 mile loop with a vertical mile. It was rough but I lived when I finally made it. Could I have done that route twice/back to back like the route you're planning? Doubt it...even with a support vehicle feeding me water bottles lol
And my grade was easy as fuck, the road was specifically built so that donkeys yes donkeys could pull the Hamilton observatory up piece by piece
I figure you need a plan B around not making it :D, not sure what conditioning you can gain in 2 months, probably not that much but I know you're kind of an animal so who knows
_________________________
Swim->Bike->Cry "I can see that nurses head bobbing around going "I AINT CANCELIN MUH PLANS, FUCK A CDC. WHO DEY ANYWAY NAH MEEN? IMA GO SEE MUH BOO" -johnso 
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#8546046 - 02/06/16 04:08 PM
Re: Am I setting myself up to fail/death? Cycling shens.
[Re: Riskhe Business]
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gamby
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Compact crank, 11-32 cassette.
Do a lot of jumpsquats for the next month, too.
Still gonna suck doe. 
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___________________________________ gamby still have an EM1--go figure 
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#8546079 - 02/06/16 05:05 PM
Re: Am I setting myself up to fail/death? Cycling shens.
[Re: gamby]
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Riskhe Business
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I am glad I posted here, maybe I should talk myself out of it??? Biggest concern is that it's unfamiliar territory and I am alone.
Training aside I also decided to drop weight when I committed to do this, I am down about 8lbs over the last month, goal is to get down to 185 for this ride (15 lbs to go), then when I am back I will go back up to my "normal" of 200 which is where I am most comfortable.
My plan as it stands right now is to drive the route the day before committing myself to doing the ride. At that point I was thinking of leaving/hiding food and water in different areas (hopefully the animals don't take it at night  ) that way I would have some stuff stashed along the way and I will also know what to expect.
Here is the elevation profile...
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#8546082 - 02/06/16 05:11 PM
Re: Am I setting myself up to fail/death? Cycling shens.
[Re: Riskhe Business]
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Riskhe Business
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More pics of my potential burial site:
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#8546129 - 02/06/16 06:27 PM
Re: Am I setting myself up to fail/death? Cycling shens.
[Re: Riskhe Business]
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stickaz_old
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 02/04/01
Posts: 56459
Loc: Nor Cal, Hella hurr durr
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Does the grade really only peak at 5.3%? That's pretty mellow. You can probably make it but not sure it's a great idea lol. How about a nice little ride somewhere and a hike :p
10% IMO is where shit starts to ge real. A little 5-6 mile stretch of a 10% grade and I am done for the day lol
_________________________
Swim->Bike->Cry "I can see that nurses head bobbing around going "I AINT CANCELIN MUH PLANS, FUCK A CDC. WHO DEY ANYWAY NAH MEEN? IMA GO SEE MUH BOO" -johnso
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#8546188 - 02/06/16 08:51 PM
Re: Am I setting myself up to fail/death? Cycling shens.
[Re: robbbby]
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nato2377
Post Master Sr
Registered: 07/09/07
Posts: 3465
Loc: Denver, CO
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Youll be ok with some training and if you pace yourself right but damn thats a lot of vert in 55mi. Most ive ever done was 14.5kim 100 miles and that sucked. Have fun! 
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#8546190 - 02/06/16 08:52 PM
Re: Am I setting myself up to fail/death? Cycling shens.
[Re: nato2377]
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nato2377
Post Master Sr
Registered: 07/09/07
Posts: 3465
Loc: Denver, CO
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Also....fly me out and ill ride it with you/provide support for you 
Edited by nato2377 (02/06/16 08:52 PM)
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#8546577 - 02/07/16 03:12 PM
Re: Am I setting myself up to fail/death? Cycling shens.
[Re: nato2377]
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stickaz_old
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Registered: 02/04/01
Posts: 56459
Loc: Nor Cal, Hella hurr durr
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I changed my mind, if OP makes a really concerted effort to stay in zone 1 or at worst 2 he'll have no problems. Leave zone 2 at your peril tho haha. I assume it will take like 6 hrs and make sure you carry enough water, probably a ginormo camelback will do, also enough calories to survive, you know like 100-200/hr or so or whatever your body can take in without cramping/gastric stress
I'd figure you'll need 6 hrs for the loop/wild guess. I'd plan on stopping for lunch in the middle
The problem with staying in zone 1 on a climb is if it's steep you fall over lol
_________________________
Swim->Bike->Cry "I can see that nurses head bobbing around going "I AINT CANCELIN MUH PLANS, FUCK A CDC. WHO DEY ANYWAY NAH MEEN? IMA GO SEE MUH BOO" -johnso
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#8547136 - 02/08/16 07:34 AM
Re: Am I setting myself up to fail/death? Cycling shens.
[Re: stickaz_old]
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Riskhe Business
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I haven't looked at the specifics, but I know there are many 12% hills that stretch over a km in length with some topping out at 16% (is that even road legal?)
There is a little town 35 miles or so in that I was planning to stop in for lunch/rest.
I also dropped my bike on the weekend and bent the rear derailleur I bent it back by hand, but it's shifting all whack so it will need an adjustment. Wonder if bending it has weakened enough for premature failure or if I should roll the dice? Maybe I will pull an impulsive shortly.
nato, pay for your flight and food and you can crash in my hotel  This is the only thing that sucks about it, doing it alone 
(In other news, this location was rated as the top 10 places you need to ride before you die) - I am not sure if death happens in the mountain tho.
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#8547159 - 02/08/16 08:24 AM
Re: Am I setting myself up to fail/death? Cycling shens.
[Re: Riskhe Business]
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nato2377
Post Master Sr
Registered: 07/09/07
Posts: 3465
Loc: Denver, CO
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i would totally do that but im tapped out trying to get to california for 2 weeks of racing in april
id get a spare rear derailleur hangers juuuust in case.
i still think youll be fine, just keep it in zone2 and stay hydrated and fueled
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#8547382 - 02/08/16 12:17 PM
Re: Am I setting myself up to fail/death? Cycling shens.
[Re: stickaz_old]
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Riskhe Business
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#8547398 - 02/08/16 12:26 PM
Re: Am I setting myself up to fail/death? Cycling shens.
[Re: stickaz_old]
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dirtyS13drifta
dirtyS13drifta
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That seems like a lot of vert for that short of distance.
A LOT
I don't know shit about climbing, but that sounds brutal. Like my planned stupid event is 10k vert/150miles (nothing approaching a mile of 12%)
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#8562072 - 02/21/16 05:12 PM
Re: Am I setting myself up to fail/death? Cycling shens.
[Re: ]
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Riskhe Business
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I am kind of on track with my "training". Weight is still around 200, training indoors is fucking horrible. I am in Detroit this week for work and will be bringing my bike and rollers to live it up in my hotel room.
Pics of misery to follow.
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#8585860 - 03/12/16 02:28 PM
Re: Am I setting myself up to fail/death? Cycling shens.
[Re: nato2377]
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Riskhe Business
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Getting closer, almost at 800km so far this year sitting at 195lbs. Starting to feel a bit too lean at this weight, but will keep going down to 185-190 and take it from there. Went out for a 50km ride, passed a bunch of people, feelz good man. I guess it was the first ride of the year for many this time around. Speed was still shit, but it felt like I could keep going for a while. Averaged 147bmp (includes warm up/warm down) at just under 2 hours.
Should probably add more intensity over the next few weeks?
Planning on incorporating some hill repeats at 10% grade near me, that's about it.
Plan B is to decide if I should shorten the route as well. Then I feel I am cheating myself, but I've also realized at 32 I am not as brave as at 22 and I am not sure I've covered of everything that could go wrong in a remote place where I am alone, don't speak the language or know my way around at all
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#8587616 - 03/14/16 06:03 PM
Re: Am I setting myself up to fail/death? Cycling shens.
[Re: Riskhe Business]
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The Mighty BellRacer
Daps up men at the gym
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Registered: 05/03/00
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didn't read much of the thread, but the pictures look amazing.
living in downtown dallas = 
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#8587644 - 03/14/16 06:54 PM
Re: Am I setting myself up to fail/death? Cycling shens.
[Re: Riskhe Business]
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Sir Ironpool
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Getting closer, almost at 800km so far this year sitting at 195lbs. Starting to feel a bit too lean at this weight, but will keep going down to 185-190 and take it from there. Went out for a 50km ride, passed a bunch of people, feelz good man. I guess it was the first ride of the year for many this time around. Speed was still shit, but it felt like I could keep going for a while. Averaged 147bmp (includes warm up/warm down) at just under 2 hours. Should probably add more intensity over the next few weeks? Planning on incorporating some hill repeats at 10% grade near me, that's about it. Plan B is to decide if I should shorten the route as well. Then I feel I am cheating myself, but I've also realized at 32 I am not as brave as at 22 and I am not sure I've covered of everything that could go wrong in a remote place where I am alone, don't speak the language or know my way around at all
They have ubers with bike racks there?
You'll do fine man. Just remind yourself that it's an adventure and roll with whatever puches come your way.
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#8595500 - 03/21/16 12:11 PM
Re: Am I setting myself up to fail/death? Cycling shens.
[Re: nato2377]
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Riskhe Business
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Work has been hell lately, I haven't been able to ride much, the weather has been shit and the forecast for the three days that I will be there and NOT working it's calling for rain and wind, so probably even worse in the mountains.
Basically went from being super pumped about this trip to not giving a flying fuck at this point, I don't even want to go anymore (mostly due to work, secondly due to weather). If I wanted shit weather I might as well stay where I am.
Case of the Mondays 
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#8595790 - 03/21/16 02:31 PM
Re: Am I setting myself up to fail/death? Cycling shens.
[Re: nato2377]
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schtickaz.ai
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#8596131 - 03/21/16 08:38 PM
Re: Am I setting myself up to fail/death? Cycling shens.
[Re: schtickaz.ai]
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Riskhe Business
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I think i will do a week in the life leading up to this fucking failure of a "vacation" starting next Saturday when I leave. You can spend the next 6 days witnessing misery unfold. I don't give a fuck anymore, maybe i will take pics of rain for 6 days straight
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#8596154 - 03/21/16 08:51 PM
Re: Am I setting myself up to fail/death? Cycling shens.
[Re: Riskhe Business]
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Riskhe Business
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I am trying to come up with different poses for each day, any ideas?
I also have some ideas for the windy days:
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#8596157 - 03/21/16 08:51 PM
Re: Am I setting myself up to fail/death? Cycling shens.
[Re: Riskhe Business]
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Riskhe Business
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CANT
FUCKING
WAIT /BALBI
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#8598248 - 03/23/16 12:15 PM
Re: Am I setting myself up to fail/death? Cycling shens.
[Re: nato2377]
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Riskhe Business
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Rented a bike box, picking it up today.
Pics of failed attempt at packaging bike inbound.
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#8598915 - 03/23/16 09:25 PM
Re: Am I setting myself up to fail/death? Cycling shens.
[Re: Riskhe Business]
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Riskhe Business
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Has anyone ever packed a bike in one of these? Dude gave me a 30 minute instructional, basically:
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#8600964 - 03/25/16 02:20 PM
Re: Am I setting myself up to fail/death? Cycling shens.
[Re: nato2377]
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civic00sedan
Sr Member
Registered: 03/25/02
Posts: 1169
Loc: NY
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Why deflate tires?
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#8601493 - 03/25/16 11:12 PM
Re: Am I setting myself up to fail/death? Cycling shens.
[Re: robbbby]
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Riskhe Business
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Rental box guy told me tires have to be deflated and no co cartridges allowed.
Leaving tomorrow, going to pack bike in morning. Week in life about to start...I also found out I might end up spending close to 500 in baggage checks because of bike. Air canada to Germany is 50 each way but apparently Lufthansa is 200 each way and I have to take them from Frankfurt to Porto.
Please keep me company starting tomorrow. This won't end well.
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