[Closed] How are you training in the last week and a half before Kielder?

Is that your plan to get to race weight 😮

Got my camping sorted. On Bogglehole overflow (Field C). Only 7 more spots left, apparently.

My final week is being spent catching a cold/virus thing. Fab. 😕

just had 2 toffee crisp bars. Training done

Don't forget - it's likely to be quite cold at the start it's been down below 5C at 6am for the last couple of days around there

leg warmers needed for me I think

Empathising with Andrew and Mike. Andrew - brave route the week before. I think that you can only write it off - bad day, steep hills, wind etc. Might be easier on he day you never know? Mike - D&V is never good but should lighten the load. New bike excitement should get you round.
Any ideas on where my dad could set up to get pics still gratefully appreciated.

Two toffee crisps - you'll weigh as much as me come raceday.

Maybe I'm just fortunate to have the CVMBC route as one of my training routes. If I'm bored and really CBA to plan another route then the CVMBC is the tried and trusted practice loop, in both directions. What staggered me was how I hit a wall of fatigue and it came on so suddenly. I've not experienced that, at that point in the loop, for years.

I'll also put it down to finishing a course of antibiotics. Judging by some of the comments on this thread there might be others in need of my left over course of tablets - I shall bring them to Kielder and offer them to the highest bidder 🙂 (I did complete one course, but it didn't clear things up completely, so I've got a second course to take - but ONLY if necessary says the doctor, so I have some spares).

Hmmmm. Had a good weekend and some nice training rides there, now have flu symptom so early to bed for me 🙂

so early to bed for me

bed now and wake up for kielder. NOW, thats tapering at the very best 😉

Had a pish weekend, managing 6 minutes of Laggan SXC before going home in the huff.

Got this cold thing coming on too...

Early night and hopefully ride to work tomorrow and thursday then rest.

MikeT - last race I did I was chucking up the Wednesday night (mussels, ugh) before a Saturday enduro.

You'll be reet. Se you on the start line 🙂

Is it very bumpy/rough? Never having been to kielder before.
I'm riding rigid, albeit with big 2.5tyres at low pressure. If it's rough to the point it could be fatiguing I'll whack on my fat front?

Some bits are bumpy. I used 2.2 tyres on my ridig last year.

I'm running 2.1s this year. Doing 100 miles on low pressure 2.5" tyres will be 'interesting'.

I went up two weeks ago and in my opinion it is rough enough to justify
a 2.1 tyre - even some of the fire road descents are quite loose .

Mike, Wide low pressure tyres off road have less rolling resistance than narrow tyres at a higher pressure, especially on a rigid or hardtail, less noticeable on a susser.

The tyre manufacturers did a fair bit of research on it a while back, quite alot of info on the interweb, Schwalbe were one of the pioneers I think.

The reverse is true on the road, but it's smooth there unless you live near me where potholes are the norm 🙂

It's all to do with a wide footprint and deformation over small bumps.

I'll find a link to all the reasearch and post it.

The key is the low pressure though, which to do properly you need wide rims otherwise you get lots of tyre squirm which is a waste of energy.

Found it

http://www.schwalbetires.com/wider_faster_page

What's in your drop bags then?

one of mine below, I like variety & I need savoury after that long 🙂

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Chainline - Member
Found it

dont fall for that crap. Stick to a skinnier tyre if you wanna go quicker. I cant remember last time a xc racer won a race with 2.5 at 20 psi. Thats for a reason

Feed stations have been updated so you'll have to do some relaminating.

Feed & Water Stations (tbc)
•12 miles - Water station
•21 miles - Feed Station 1: Accelerade energy drink and gels, water, bananas, crisps, nuts, cakes, dried fruit etc
•37/44 miles - Water station
•48 miles - Feed Station 2: same as Feed 1
•65ish miles - Newcastleton Feed: tea, coffee, hot soup, sandwiches, homemade cakes from The Olive Cafe, bananas and the usual snacks
•80 miles - Feed Station 4: same as Feed 1

Bugger

37/44 miles - Water station

Stupid question.. but does that mean a water station at 37 miles and another at 44 miles? Or does it mean that somewhere along the route, between miles 37 and 44 there will be a water station but location is yet to be confirmed?

This is great stuff people - thank you. I'm going to copy the drop bag ideas, print off the feed stations (simple idea - buit I ha dnot thought of it!)

Bike is main concern rather than fitness, my lub efforts went in to a set of pads, and a new chain has led to serious chain slip - so waiting on a new cassette in the post... Not the best prep.

Everything else ready...

well that's just great. Went to bed with sore throat last night and now feel really weak and fatigued (no this is not due to training either)

I really want to feel good for saturday.

Bike serviced yesterday and sorted new brakes.

Stupid question.. but does that mean a water station at 37 miles and another at 44 miles

Last year, we visited the same water station twice, at about that point. In between we dragged our bikes through headset-deep 'puddles'.

So, I assume, we'll hit a water station after 37 miles, then head out on a 7 mile loop before arriving back at the same water station.

Got a bit of a cold but expecting it to be gone by the weekend. Really looking forward to this now and am planning my drop bag for near the end.

Raggodair, I ain't gonna win anything, too old and with family and job, not enough time for serious training!

I've uploaded an updated version of my pace bracelet spreadsheet thingy: https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AuKOuAY2FWIzdGZ5dVBoalplb2laVUJJWjJvZWQ1Qmc&hl=en_GB

@miketually Thanks for the update. Can you update the sheet to show final arrival time at 100miles - currently shows elapsed time. Then put the elapsed time at the end of the clock times?

Sorted that - came from deleting a row in the 'source' table on the left and not from the rest, when they consolidated two points into one. Thanks for pointing it out.

Currently having a "training" glass or two of wine - that allowed?

glass or two???? I'm nearly finished the bottle with a slice or two of battenburg.

I'm on my 4th big bottle of Peroni

I've just turned down a glass of red. I'm clearly still ill.

5th now

you could be walking if this carries on 😆

I've a feeling the glass of red is still sat on the table in the living room. I may have to drink it to help me sleep and rest/recover...

Have you done your bag drops yet mike? What did you put in them last year?

I've a feeling the glass of red is still sat on the table in the living room. I may have to drink it to help me sleep and rest/recover...

I'll tell you what, drink it, - if I finish, I'll buy you another

Found some Buzz bars in Waitrose today. Very good, might have to put them in a drop bag.

Had a lovely ride round Allendale common tonight and can report it's dry in complete contrast to this time last year!

I drank it. Would have been a shame to waste it and it helped me go to sleep early. Which is good, right?

Haven't sorted drop bags yet, and didn't use them last year. There won't be anything amazing in them though, just food that I know I like on long rides.

I blew up on the approach to Newcastleton last year, which I think was down to not eating enough earlier on, so I'm probably going to put a hot cross bun and some dried fruit in each bag, along with half a bag of jelly snakes. My plan's to have the same in my pockets at the start and to have made sure I've eaten them by the next bag drop, plus a bit of whatever's on offer at each feed station.

I've also bought a couple of gels with caffeine that I'll stick in the one for 80 miles as insurance.

Since I'm awake stupidly early, other things I wish I'd known last year:

Make sure you have all the required equipment with you at sign in, otherwise you'll have to go all the way back to wherever you're staying to collect it.

The T-shirts sized up a bit small.

If you're wondering whether to change your pads at Newcastleton or not, change them. By the time you [i]have[/i] to change them, you'll be too knackered and you'll end up riding the last descent with no brakes.

If someone manning a feed station tells you they [i]think[/i] it's just a little loop into the forest then 10 miles or so along the river bank to the finish, they're wrong. If you believe them, it'll make the rest of the race seem worse than it is.

The riders at the water station who are warning you about headset-deep puddles ahead are telling the truth.

I [i]can[/i] do it.

A nervous excitement has set in. Can work from home today. Kids back at school so house will be quiet. Probably go out for a short ride with my wife who is going to do the Great North Swim on Sun. To dos: (1) pork pies - the small ones - for drop bag. Thats it? Also have a selection of Mulebars and Torq gels. Will drive up from Brum tomorrow, stopping at my folks place in Durham before hitting Kielder. Staying at the YHA. Will get out on the bike once I arrive. Probably 15 years since I rode there.

Two lots of flapjack baked already today. Bike needs washing after last night.
Out for a walk with the children today but might pop and get a set of brake pads later. Need to dig out my sleeping bag.
Pasta for tea!

ooooo, sleeping bag, good call, might be adjusting the sleeping arrangements in the campervan for the early get up (baby in with mum).
Got most stuff ready I think, but it is spread out so will just have to pack up and go, today, at 1.00pm is the plan.
About 5/6 hours in the camper with stops for nappy changes etc (yes, I am that worried 😉 ) so up a day early to relax/fettle/faff for a day.
On the main campsite, look out for the tall VW campervan with brown stripes called "Sven Hedin". Come and say hello and check I have everything if you want, bring me something I have forgotten and there is a cup of tea in it for you!

Yes, getting very excited here. Last (first) time at Kielder was about 15 years ago when I did a mountain duathlon. Run up that big hill, do some mountain biking (on a solid Raleigh Dyno Tech), run up the hill again.
Still looking good on the weather.

Glad it's not just me who's excited/nervous.

Bike is clean and I've decided to use my camelbak (2l bladder)for water - tubes stapped to frame.
As for the drop bags, I'm sticking gels,cereal bars,nurofen and a lovely sausage roll(with a satchet of brown sauce!) in each of mine.
If there are any cakes & 'nanas left then I'll eat that too.

On the down side the brake pads i ordered haven't arrived yet!
and the rear tyre that was looking perfectly worn now has a slight tear in the sidewall.A$$cheeks.
Dead chuffed the weather looks like being kind - in the back of my mind I was dreading a wet one.

I'm up on friday afternoon.
Can't wait.

J.

Don't forget your midge repellent of choice
if they're out, there's not many places as bad as Kielder

If you don't know what works for you, I'd pack Deet rather than chance anything like Avon as it doesn't work for everyone but Deet does

Midges will be out unless the wind picks up!

Tracker - have you got somewhere to park your van?

Speaking of midges, whats best for keeping them out of your tent? Apart from keeping the dor shut obviously - any spray/odourisers or whatever they're called

[url= http://www.greenfingers.com/superstore/product.asp?dept_id=2603&pf_id=DD7121D&co=fr ]This is what you need.[/url]

We used to have one of [url= http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160475429430 ]these[/url] - seemed to work quite well

Make sure you have all the required equipment with you at sign in, otherwise you'll have to go all the way back to wherever you're staying to collect it.

The riders at the water station who are warning you about headset-deep puddles ahead are telling the truth.

Gutted I can't do it, getting very jealous. I'll be back in 2011

A short pootle round Glentress this afternoon, having come up yesterday to Scotland from Somerset and staying with my bro-in-law (who is also doing the event). Nothing heroic, more a chance to meet with some mates I don't get to see often (and consume cake at The Hub!).

Will spend a few minutes this morning bedding in a couple of sets of spare pads so they don't disintegrate in the damp. 💡

Other than that, just controlling the butterflies and getting a positive groove on.

Hope everyone has a fun time, all will be well. 8)

Still trying to refuel and rehydrate after Tuesday morning's sickness.

Last few things to sort tonight, the getting picked up by some random internet bloke at two tomorrow.

Excellent richmars I presume you have one I can borrow?

I'm not going to ask what tyres but....I assume that despite the dry few days we've had it'll still be too wet for the dry tyres I bought specifically for this event? (I gave up all hope of using them a cpl weeks ago but not so sure now)

The highlight of last year. being warned, going through a hub deep puddle, thinking "thats not a big puddle", sinking up to the bars 5 seconds later. brilliant!

and then doing the same again with the next puddle 10ft later 😛

Also, remember your chamois cream and nuun tablets

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a big thanks to miketually for the race pace spreadsheet. printed laminated and fitted. all i've to do is turn up and pedal 😯

@martyc Your steed is WAY too clean.

new spanky bottles and tyres make it look super clean but it'll not stop like that for soon 😉

a big thanks to miketually for the race pace spreadsheet. printed laminated and fitted. all i've to do is turn up and pedal

Ooh, you made it pretty. Mine's black and white, coated in sellotape and looped round the bars.

And I've only printed the 8MPH average:)

This sounds ace! i'm totally in for next year, better get training!!!

This sounds ace! i'm totally in for next year, better get training!!!

Heard that soooo many times for this years event before the bottle got to people

Just had an hours full on sports massage followed by a good stretch, feel ready to go!

radoggair - if work allows i'll be there. it's only 100 miles after all! 😆