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Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Monday, March 17, 2014
New handlebar?
I have found this YouTube video clip from Lightweight Facebook site. Pretty funny from Czech Republic. I am wondering if the new handlebar stem combo is new stuff?!
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Friday, March 14, 2014
3 Peaks Challenge 2014 and review of my Lightweight Urgestalt
I have been riding the Urgestalt for a while, but I have been waiting for this past weekend to confirm my feelings about this bike.
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| Glad to see the finishing line and the official handing out pasta as a post-ride snack |
I had been training for 3 peaks challenge this summer and this was my third time doing this epic ride. 3 Peaks 2012 was my only other time doing this traditional route. I weighed similarly but was not as strong on the bike, and I was riding my then relatively new Specialized S Works Tarmac SL4, with Shimano 7970 Di2 group set. I even fitted it with the Lightweight Standard III Clincher. In 2012, in the perfect weather conditions, I crossed the line in 10 hours 39 minutes and nearly died from exhaustion. I would like to repeat these feelings and mixed emotions. I WANT TO ENJOY THIS RIDE!
Looking back the fitness level when I was 2 years younger, I was not that much different from now. I am even possibly heavier this year but I have gained a lot of bulk in my core muscles and legs. In terms of climbing, I am just a bit faster on big mountains. I was doing 1 hour 6 in Donna Buang 2 years ago, but this year I managed 1 hour 2 in December.
Dandenong time was not dramatically faster either, from mid 17 mins to high 16 mins on 1/20. The major difference is my flat speed and I mastered my speed in the rolling hills, and I thought: I have to take this to my advantage.
This year field was very fit and Bicycle network who hosted 3 Peaks 2014 said so as well. All people from Victoria and interstates looking fit and experienced. Not to mention there were 2 Colombian look alike riding this year!?!? Out with the pro-muppets who just mucks around with their bling-a-ling gears and in with the determined with skills and etiquette to match.
Now my new bike. The Urgestalt is a climbing machine. It's strong in the front end and at the bottom bracket, with every ounce of the pedal stroke being utilized. The feeling is quite satisfying. It may not make me faster than the Tarmac but it feels good. The Urgestalt and Specialized S Works Tarmac is similar beast. Both have similar characteristics. The major difference is when you load the power down. The crank of the Dura Ace is ever slightly stronger that S Works crank. Aerodynamics, however, is not a strong point for Urgestalt. Particularly on shallow wheels like Gipfelsturm, I think the roll of the Urgestalt is lacking behind the Tarmac (now on a set of Enve Smart clincher and training tyres)
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| What are you looking at? At Mt Hotham. |
The significant difference from the Tarmac is how the Urgestalt descends. The rubber simply planted to the slanting slope. I am a big fan of the Falls Creek descend. There are no blind corners and the surface are better than any other nearby mountains. With the road being closed from the top of Falls Creek to Mt Beauty, the limits of descend is my ability and not the bike. The bike is never be a limiting factor as it just fly down with the rear so stable that I don't need to brake as much. This is a highly predictable rear.
Well going up hill is a problem though. No matter how good the bike is, you still have to pedal the damn thing. But I have a secret weapon this year. I have a power meter. Well since I chose the Dura Ace crank. The option was simple - Stages Power. Any power meter training menu will tell you. A power meter is useful for a century ride. Since I am doing a longer than century ride in the Victorian Alps (i.e. 3 Peaks), this is vital.
The power meter menu tells you to keep the power steady during long rides like 3 Peaks and try to keep the intensity factor (IF; percentage of Normalised Power [NP] of the ride against your FTP) to 0.70 or 70%. That means to keep my eye to the power output of around 200W (as my FTP is about 280W). And to keep my Normalised Power as close to my average power. And my aim is to limit my surges, even on the steep slope. This is perhaps not the fastest way to ride this because if I don't surge sometime I will miss a bunch (which happens a number of times). I have to play my card well.
The day started after that lovely descend. Goran and I started Tawonga Gap - the first peak. It is only 900m high but still a 27-28 min climb. We have done this climb for a few times and it is not that hard. I keep my power high just to limit my loss to Goran - the assassin in the mountain. I averaged 260W. Maybe a mistake but I am very fresh then. I did a PR on the climb :p.
Managed to see a few people on the top with us and promuppet they are not down the hill. We soon zoomed down the other side of Tawonga and started the flat section - a 20km from Bright to Harrietville.
How can I keep my epicness under cover so long. I was doing turns and encouraged the other to do so. No hero the other said :(. From Harrietville's water stop, we started climbing the big monster, Mt Hotham. I think I need to train on this for next year. I remembered this as the horrid climb. Some sections are way too steep and it was. It was hard to get rhythm, even I remembered the climb. I am in the protecting 200W mode and limit the surges and keep loses low to other riders that blasted past me.
I was glad to see Diners Plain this year. Only 115km into ride, I already feel like in round 10 of 12 with Danny Green. This is my first planned food stop and after a few packs of gels I am glad to have something solid. It was time to put all my lights, jackets and long gloves to the return valet pack that Bicycle Victoria provided and had a fresh pair of gloves. Next year I may even get a new base layer packed so I can change from merino based to nylon based.
I joined the Drapac boys for a brief descend but as soon as the rolling hills started I knew I cannot hold the 400W required to stick to their back wheels. Goran lovely danced away and I didn't want to be much to the red. I backed off... this proved to be a very wrong move. I was isolated and soon I was losing big chunk of time.
I got caught only 30 minutes later with a group of 15 behind me and I was determined to stay within the group as much as I could but not surges as much. It was a matter of survival even it was just rolling hills and twisty corners. I think next year I will be aiming this 80km of road from Diners Plain to Omeo as an attacking point, putting all my candles to be burnt as well as on the last part of Hotham.
At Anger Rest, I was ready to give up but I know the climb ahead so I know I can tough it out. My mind just saying it would not be pretty but I just have to apply rule number 5 to myself. I rested for about 20 minutes to get as much nutrition on board. I rode very slowly until the WTF corner and just tough it out. Sprinted away to be alone and bang - back to the 200W mode. I think at that point I could feel there was still reserve in my legs and keep saving and saving, telling myself not yet not yet. I also enjoy a few postings from Andy @ Hells 500.
The rest of climb from the last drinking station to the Falls Creek dam I can use up all my energy. There is still 200m to climb, finishing at 1730m in altitude. I think people riding 3 Peaks for the first time should know that. Although it is just enough that I can even get away from my companions on the top get to finishing line on my own for a solo picture haha.
This is a more satisfying 3 Peaks challenge compare with the last because I can finish it strong. I manage 40 minutes better than 2 years ago and I achieved my first sub-10 hour (9 hr 58 minutes) ride. I am sure I can do better next year.
What is going to be different next year?
I want:
- Improve on my FTP on climb.
- Withhold my candle until 3/4 stage so I can hang on the wheels of the faster boys.
- Attack halfway up Raspberry rather than from the start and die for the rest of the hill.
- Use less gel and give variety to power food.
- I am going to train on Hotham before next 3 Peaks.
This is a unique ride and I can't wait for next year.
My next challenge is the upcoming Rapha Gentlemen's race. It will be fun.
Strava file (yes I did happen): http://www.strava.com/activities/118921135
Below is video from Bicycle Network Victoria.
Friday, March 7, 2014
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