MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
So 9 weeks until my first Enduro - RD4 of the Welsh Enduro Series.
I have no illusions about taking a podium as I'm a 44 year old MTB'er with average skills - but I'd like to not feel dead half way though and actually enjoy it.
My fitness at the moment is crap though with having 5 weeks off the bike with a knackered hand (yes I could have gone for a run or to the gym but my depression kicked in too which left me with zero motivation.....).
Now I have 9 3/4 working digits again I can get back out on the bike and try and regain some of my fitness.
So, from what I have seen it's a natural course and I have no idea how much elevation etc. - thinking the best thing to do is get out and ride hilly bits & do some intervals and pick some sections on the local trails to try and smash out fairly quick runs.
Thanks
I vote some sort of indoor trainer and intervals. That's how I prepped for Ard rock from a fitness of basically nothing, and I saw massive improvements.
Run and bike on alternative days.
Focus on sprints under a minute or so.
I'm doing a round of the Southern Enduro in about 6 weeks time.
I've been focusing on going as fast as I possibly can on descents - sprinting where possible - then doing long steady climbs. I've also tried to replicate the sort of descents I'll be riding (3-4 minutes long, natural stuff) where possible.
Also doing running on other days.
JP
Still struggling with injury - however as an unfit middle aged bloke who eats and drinks too much and has done a couple of the WES rounds I’d agree sprints and intervals deffo the way to go, but bear in mind if you’re as unfit as I am then you may be ‘sprinting’ for well over a minute (3-4 mins probably) and you may be surprised by how pedally some of the stages are! You will undoubtedly be blowing out your backside whatever you do, but you will have a brilliant time - it’s a very friendly series.
Thanks all.
Will break out the running shoes and get pedalling.
Based on the weather forecast currently, I'd take swimming lessons.
2 interval sessions during the week, A3+ max for four of those weeks, 8 sessions in all, then four weeks of a3 threshold twice a week. Long hilly easy (relatively) ride at weekend, don’t forget rest days, rest the week before. Will make a big diff. good luck!
As others have suggested, do plenty of hilly rides and go for it on Strava sections of two-to-three minutes.
And maybe some weight training as well.
Ride similar descents to the enduro stages, and try to focus on keeping smooth and carrying speed through stuff.
You'll make up far more time by this than any marginal fitness gains.
Eat clean from now until then.
Get yourself a wee routine for start of each stage, check helmet, suspension knockouts, right gear, clipped in, dropper in right position. It's amazing how many folk start stages with helmet no clipped or in wrong gear etc, pickles your head for the rest of the stage.
Enjoy, it's the best feeling when you nail a stage, especially when you overtake someone!. 😊
Thanks all.
Another question for those that have done WES - I know full face helmet isn't mandatory,but is it worth using one?
Run and bike on alternative days.
And unless you are very careful about the running, you'll be lucky not give yourself an injury at just the wrong time.
I’d say definitely use a full face. Plenty don’t but you won’t look out of place at all.