cyclo-sportive
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7th Jan '04, 5:06pm
Hi I'm Michuel and I train for cyclo-sportives. These are road cycling endurance events usually in the 6hr-10hr range in hilly or mountainous areas, for me mainly in France. They're similar to city Marathon events taking wide ability range in participants.
My training is usually long slow distance type (4-8 hr cycle runs) until a couple of months before June/July events where I try to introduce some intensity using 15/20minute intervals. This is quite succesful but I believe I should introduce more structured intensity sessions. Because the principal difficulties are mountains I try and focus on hills in training, fartlek style. Problems other than fitness come from feet, stomach, 38C and 0C, rain.
I'm an average rider for instance finishing Marmotte (174km, 5000metres climbing) in 9h2m against winner's time of 6h5m (young Dutch neo-professional).
I'm very aware specialised cycle training is good for circulation but leaves back and bones probably weaker than running or weight training would. But my knees hurt when I try to run.
