Attakwas 2020

[Warrenlee]

Training for Attakwas 2020

[Warrenlee]

Any training advice for a first time attempt at the Attakwas? Will be doing plenty Pain Cave sessions.

[Wayne pudding Mol]

Find a hot steep rocky hill with a few puffadders and ride up and down it a few thousand times

[taito]

It's hot its long and the hills don't end.Train hills lots of them.

 

Beware the last 40k has lots of painfull hills

[Mamil]

I'm scared

[BSG]

I'm scared

Don't be scared, it's all downhill from Oudtshoorn, you're finishing by the sea. [emoji1787] Edited November 3, 2019 by BSG

[Mamil]

I'm not comforted. Hills I don't mind. Hills in heat I do

 

 

Don't be scared, it's all downhill from Oudtshoorn, you're finishing by the sea. [emoji1787]

[Help.Me.]

Don't be scared, it's all downhill from Oudtshoorn, you're finishing by the sea. [emoji1787]

Just like the K2C ALL downhill......(disclaimer)

[BSG]

Just like the K2C ALL downhill......(disclaimer)

That's what I've been told with my one and only K2C that I've done. Came stone last, like in stone last. Even the finish arch was down already.

[W@nted]

The most painful part is paying the R1k entry fee. Then it is downhill from there????

[Warrenlee]

How important is it to put in a few long slow rides early in the training to build a solid base?

[Skubarra]

How important is it to put in a few long slow rides early in the training to build a solid base?

 

I assume that is a rhetorical question?

 

No idea what your goals are and what your current fitness levels are, but for most the Atta is a 7 - 9 hour ride of which the majority is hard on the body. From personal experience 3 - 4 hour long rides (while better than nothing) don't fully prepare you for that. If you can get in a few proper long rides over the December holiday, it's the only way to prepare your body for the long hours in the saddle.

[JanJan]

How important is it to put in a few long slow rides early in the training to build a solid base?

 

My experience was that the first climbs are too steep and rocky to allow you to get into a rhythm, so either you walk, or chase up your heart rate quite quickly. 

 

There are a few races that is easy to complete, but hard to 'race' such as K2C. Attakwas is hard to 'just' complete and race.

 

My advice for a first timer: During December holidays, do a training ride and quickly burn all your matches, and then ride another 60-80 km. This make sure your legs are ready for the climbs and don't cramp up.

[Mamil]

I think this is good advice. Multiple max efforts in context of endurance rides. In the heat.

 

Fun?

 

My experience was that the first climbs are too steep and rocky to allow you to get into a rhythm, so either you walk, or chase up your heart rate quite quickly.

 

There are a few races that is easy to complete, but hard to 'race' such as K2C. Attakwas is hard to 'just' complete and race.

 

My advice for a first timer: During December holidays, do a training ride and quickly burn all your matches, and then ride another 60-80 km. This make sure your legs are ready for the climbs and don't cramp up.

[Jewbacca]

Atta is fun if you go with the right attitude.

 

It's a grind, there is little to no technical descending and the headwind is often heartbreaking. If you roll those into a ball, swallow them and look at the event through different eyes, the breakdown is rad. 1st 45km up, up, up with flat bits and sweeping descents interspersed with amazing scenery.

 

The middle section is just intervals, and the last bit is a gravel ride with some rolling hills.

 

You get a free spur burger, you get to enjoy a swim in the sea afterwards and the middle to back of the field are usually all dying a slow death so as Michael Jackson once said, 'you are not alone'...

 

There is great camaraderie in suffering with strangers.

[Warrenlee]

Jewbacca I love your approach mate! Alot of guys talk doom and gloom and try scare the poo out of us. Yes its a hard ride, we know that. But like you say its all about having the right attitude towards it. If you ever in George let me know (081 018 2552), would be awesome to ride with  you and learn from you. Much respect bro.