Karoo2coast sub 4

[Acerunner]

Sup Gents,

 

Really wanna do a K2C sub 4 this year, any of u done it before? Any idea what it will take training wise?

 

Regards,

 

Ace

[Dicky DQ]

Not too much, just enjoy riding your bike. The rest will come. Just make sure you do a few 100km rides before the time.

[Acerunner]

erm dude, thnx for the advice, but its not that easy..

[GLuvsMtb]

If you've done an Argus in 2:45 and managed to get an A seeding you have a chance. Good luck!

[GreatGusto]

Sub 4 is about 24km/hr average. 3.25 hours of climbing 45 mins descent. Train for that.

[NeverEnder]

If you've done an Argus in 2:45 and managed to get an A seeding you have a chance. Good luck!

 

Think it is slightly more attainable - a 2:45 Argus is really hammering it...

 

I have not done the K2C for many years, but I did have a look at last years results & some of my training/team mates completed it around the 3:30 - 3:45 time range. (They mostly race Argus VA with times of about 2:50 on a good year)

 

Ensure you have a good starting seeding and work on your climbing. If you climb well, you are able to take it easier on the flats working together with a stronger group. You do not make a lot of time on the downhills, but you lose big time if the legs give way on those last steep climbs towards the end.

 

So go as hard as possible on the climbs (without completely going into the red) and race clever on the downhills & flats to make the best of the groups around you. Do not hammer it alone into the wind trying to catch up. It will just sap you with small gains.

 

How to climb strong? - Well its all down to power/weight ratio; unfortunately...

[Guest Smimby]

I have never done a sub 3 argus but did 3:57 K2C. You make up most time on the climbs. You can go only SOOO fast downhill.

 

So as said here, train to climb. Work out where to eat and where to stop.

 

For excample, I start with only one bottle full to be as light as possible up the first climb. Then quick stop to fill up at first WP. and only stop again as last WP. Every second counts :-)

 

Pm me if you would like to have my garmin file from last year as a pacemaker????

Edited August 19, 2014 by Smimby

[Skubarra]

I have never done a sub 3 argus but did 3:57 K2C. You make up most time on the climbs. You can go only SOOO fast downhill so it's the climbs where you make up time.

 

So as said here, train to climb. Work out where to eat and where to stop.

 

For excample, I start with only only bottle full to be as light as possible up the first climb. Then quick stop to fill up at first WP. and only stop again as last WP. Every second counts :-)

 

Pm me if you would like to have my garmin file from last year as a pacemaker

 

Also a newbie to the k2c, how important is sticking with your group or did you manage it by riding on your own for long sections?

[Acerunner]

Shimby, Neva & Gusto, thats leke advice! Will use it, thank you!!

[Guest Smimby]

Also a newbie to the k2c, how important is sticking with your group or did you manage it by riding on your own for long sections?

 

There is no "real" groups..... depending on where you start (groupwise) I would say burn a match from the start along the tar to the wapad climb so you are in the frontish as you hit the climb, you rather want to be overtaken than burn matches trying to overtake......just keep left so fast people have a way to pass you and ride that first climb at YOUR tempo....

 

Then as you go into the downhill just go at your speed.....no group needed still unless you can tuck in behind a master decender / corner specialist.....and keep to their line.

 

K2C is either UP or DOWN not much flat except for the last 3rd in that valley where it is nice to pickup a group....but I found that 3-10 guys sort of come together......pace it / and then disperse again up the climbs...and nother small group forms and so it goes....

 

Once into the last forest section, do your own tempo and BURN the matches...:-) Simola is all downlhill HOME.......:-)

 

Here is the files I was talking about....ONLY JUST sub 4 but you would rather want your garmin to tell you "Ahead"

 

GXP.zip

TCX.zip

 

Just unzip to use...or get it from here

 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/380639941#

 

Ohhh and say "HI" when you pass me...I am the slow one this year in Taurus kit on a Niner.

[Skubarra]

There is no "real" groups..... depending on where you start (groupwise) I would say burn a match from the start along the tar to the wapad climb so you are in the frontish as you hit the climb, you rather want to be overtaken than burn matches trying to overtake......just keep left so fast people have a way to pass you and ride that first climb at YOUR tempo....

 

Then as you go into the downhill just go at your speed.....no group needed still unless you can tuck in behind a master decender / corner specialist.....and keep to their line.

 

K2C is either UP or DOWN not much flat except for the last 3rd in that valley where it is nice to pickup a group....but I found that 3-10 guys sort of come together......pace it / and then disperse again up the climbs...and nother small group forms and so it goes....

 

Once into the last forest section, do your own tempo and BURN the matches...:-) Simola is all downlhill HOME.......:-)

 

Here is the files I was talking about....ONLY JUST sub 4 but you would rather want your garmin to tell you "Ahead"

 

Ohhh and say "HI" when you pass me...I am the slow one this year in Taurus kit on a Niner.

 

Thanks for the advice, downloaded your file, will study it vigorously before the race

 

Sounds similar to the Hell&Back (ie no straights just up &down), no use trying to aim for an average speed or sticking to a certain group.

Edited August 20, 2014 by Skubarra

[Guest Smimby]

Thanks for the advice, downloaded your file, will study it vigorously before the race

 

Sounds similar to the Hell&Back (ie no straights just up &down), no use trying to aim for an average speed or sticking to a certain group.

 

Correct

[Brian Fantana]

This ride does not have that much climbing in total, but the climbs are long, and if you are going to "spin" in granny gear up all the climbs, that sub4 will slip away quickly.

 

My best time was 04:00:15, which was on a single speed rigid 29er. I started very conservatively and gradually went harder on the hills passing lots of riders up every climb and got a strong finish going on the last 40km. On all the downhills I tucked in, and freewheeled down using the brakes as little as possible (free speed). With about 2km to go, a guy swerved in front of me causing me to fall on the tar. I did not keep track of my time, so I straightened my bars, got back on and pedaled to the finish. When I got there I was quite bleak when I realised that I only missed sub4 by 15 seconds.

Edited August 20, 2014 by Brian Fantana

[Jaco-fiets]

I also think it is important to latch onto a strong group when you go down wa pad on other side. If you are in no man's land here or catch a slow group your hopes for good time is gone. This was basically what happened to me on both occations I did the race.

 

Essentially that means hammering it at the start

Edited August 20, 2014 by Jaco-fiets

[nonky]

This ride does not have that much climbing in total, but the climbs are long, and if you are going to "spin" in granny gear up all the climbs, that sub4 will slip away quickly.

 

My best time was 04:00:15, which was on a single speed rigid 29er. I started very conservatively and gradually went harder on the hills passing lots of riders up every climb and got a strong finish going on the last 40km. On all the downhills I tucked in, and freewheeled down using the brakes as little as possible (free speed). With about 2km to go, a guy swerved in front of me causing me to fall on the tar. I did not keep track of my time, so I straightened my bars, got back on and pedaled to the finish. When I got there I was quite bleak when I realised that I only missed sub4 by 15 seconds.

That SUCKS big time...still flipping fast, though