Has anyone on here done it?
I put in for the lottery this year not expecting to get in but lo and behold I got an email 2 weeks ago saying that I have got a place!
So after a flurry of booking flights and accommodation it is time to get down to training. We are making it the main family holiday in the summer so we will arrive a couple of days before hand in Denver and then do a trip around Colorado afterwards. My wife and son will be with me although they will likely stay at the accommodation on the day (there is a pool in the complex) and then head to the finish hopefully around the time I will finish.
Training wise I am doing around 8-10 hours per week - mainly indoors at the moment with work commutes added in. I will start doing these on the MTB once I have got some bits for it and fitted them in a couple of weeks. I currently have an FTP of 323 and weight of 93kg. I am hoping to get in the region of 330w ftp and 85kg before the event which will put me at about 3.8 w/kg. That puts me in reach of a 9 hour finish although that is very much a stretch target and just completing it will be my main goal.
Link below if you arent sure what it is:
Leadville Trail 100 MTB – Leadville Race Series
What bike you taking?
Looks amazing, some good videos on YouTube which I'm sure you've seen, from the Lifetime event covering the front racers to mere mortals with a view from the back.
Would love to see updates on training and kit choice! If only there was a magazine who could do an article on it....
arrive a couple of days before hand in Denver
This worries me a bit. Assuming you live close to sea level I think the altitude is going to be your biggest problem.
Is there a way you could make it the end of your holiday so you'll have had 2 weeks at Colorado altitudes before the race? You know the town is at 3,000m elevation?
That would be my biggest concern. Denver is high enough for it to be used for altitude training, and going up to 3000 makes a bit of aerobic work very difficult.
Which is tiresome as it looks a great event and there's a ton of stuff to see and do in Colorado so you should get an amazing holiday.
Yeh arriving a couple of days before hand is a conscious decision. Normally altitude affects you most on days 3-5 so the hope is that I wont be too bad on the day and perhaps start suffering the day after. Unfortunately school holidays don't allow us to arrive earlier. We were in Canada last year at similar altitudes (to Denver and up to Leadville - not to columbine) and I didnt have any affects. I am limited on options so just have to make do! The worst thing would be to arrive a week before.
Bike is a Trek Procaliber 9.5. Currently it has a 12 speed deore but I am about to push the button on a SRAM AXS upgrade kit to take it to electronic shifting. I wont be running a dropper post it isnt very technical as a race so a dropper isnt necessary. I will get a remote lockout for the forks. I dont have the funds to go to a full sus but I like the Trek and the iso speed coupler helps with fatigue. I will likely get a cushcore or similar for the rear tyre. Currently running XR2s which are fast rolling but the tyre of choice seems to be a Conti Race King so I may have a look at those. I have XT brakes on it as an upgrade I did previously.
Sorry didnt reply to you DrP. The raffle opened about the 2nd December and closed around the 14th. There are other ways to get a sport. I really didnt expect to get in to be honest - they dont say how they do selection so I do wonder if they put overseas entries into a different pot so you are getting selected from a smaller pool.
Well done Robbo for getting a place, it's going to be an incredible experience.
As others have said, it's the altitude that would be the biggest issue. The overall route stats are similar to doing the South Downs Way (100miles, 12,000ft) but in a very different profile with more flat but bigger individual climbs. There looks to be a climb mid-route which gains ~1000m in one hit, but then there are a couple of other 300m+ climbs later on too.
Keep us posted on the training, kit and the event itself and enjoy the holiday too!
Yeh its an out and back race so you ascend the Columbine climb whilst people are descending (stick to the right!). From what I have read it is likely that I will be walking parts of that climb anyway just due to the traffic on the course in that area. So I am doing a once weekly gentle run so that the body is also used to some weight bearing exercises as well.
If I get to my FTP of 330w (more than doable- I was at 330 in November before I reduced over December with the hope of getting in so I needed a mental break from grinding away from the training) then I would be looking at an FTP of about 264 at altitude. I would then work on an IF of about 0.7-0.75 for the race which would mean a NP of 185 to 200w.
Considering that the 2024 Leadville 100 winner won riding a Santa Cruz Highball HT with drop bars ala Tomac then your Trek HT sounds like a sensible bike choice.
Tempted to put drop bars on it though? 😉
Wow, sounds amazing. Deffo keep us updated, I would love to hear how it goes.
You should easily be able to increase your FTP by that amount given the time you have (unless I misread)? I'm sure you might find you outdo that target.
I know absolutely nothing about altitude training but I randomly heard the guy on the Roadman podcast (Anthony Walsh?) talking with one of the US gravel pros earlier this year about exactly the same thing and the pro he was interviewing had opted to avoid acclimatising and arrive a couple of days before, just as you say. I think they were talking about Leadville but unfortunately cannot remember which rider it was being interviewed (or if his plan worked).
Have you converted your MTB to drop bars?
Congrats on the entry.
We did a 3 week Colorado biking road trip just 15 months ago and included Leadville (not the race) - amazing terrain. I did chuckle a little with the comparison to the SDW.
Yeh FTP wise more than 330 should be achievable but I am 41 now so there has to be a ceiling to what I will be capable of achieving and I want to make sure I can press on the pedals for a long time at high levels of my FTP rather than worrying about the ultimate number. I also wont get newbie gains on the FTP so more than 2-3% would be optimistic I think. The one thing that might help will be increasing the volume and how I react to that.
Yeh its a strange race in some ways. The distance or the climbing doesn't worry me - the numbers on their own aren't to scary but the challenge comes from doing at pace in a crowded environment. My first worry will be making the first cut off 40 miles in, in under 4 hours. Not because I am not physically capable but because of events outside of my control. Add in the unknown with the altitude and it starts to become a lot more challenging.
Re: the SDW comment - clearly a very different race but stats wise quite similar if you look at the headline numbers, and it wasn't intended as a direct comparison but something that many UK riders will be aware of and could reference against. Imagine putting that at 10,000ft upwards?
Amazing, congratulations! That will be the ride of a lifetime, if not exceptionally hard work. It will be awesome to see Keegan Swenson and the rest fly past you on their way to some ridiculous time. Hopefully they don't come past you again too soon...!
An all time bucket list race for me as well.
On the altitude point (this used to be my day job) I would consider renting a hypoxic unit to either simulate sleeping at altitude, or using it on your turbo for a month or two beforehand. You can then arrive already acclimated to a large extent and take out one of your biggest unknowns/ fears.
Compared to AXS and flights to Colorado rental for 2 months is not expensive at all.
I went to Leadville (not to race!) about 12 years ago as part of a long Colorado mtb/hiking road trip. I'd already had about a week in The Rockies so partly acclimatized, but I could barely walk without being short of breath*.
So, unless you acclimatize quickly [I don't 🙁 ], be prepared for slow and steady. Realistically, I'm not sure whether improving your ftp a couple of percent will make a material difference (though it's nice to improve your ftp anyway)
Out of interest, what's the max altitude you've ever done strenuous exercise?
Good luck either way!
*Edit to add: I'm shit at acclimatizing. I remember struggling for breath for a couple of days when first arriving at various European ski resorts (so 1000-1200m sorta altitude).
If you've not cycled at that sort of altitude before you'll be completely ****ed. Have fun anyway! Even 1500m on the plains (Denver) is very different to sea level but once you're much over 2000m things get really tough. We rode up to the continental divide last year (Rollins Pass), it was a hell of a day out. And that was after a couple of weeks in Boulder, not fresh off the plane like you're trying.
From what I've heard it's not really the most exciting route in the world (or even in the area) but it does sound like a fun event to have a crack at.
Just a minor shout out. Flights to Denver for summer on BA booking around December/January it was cheaper to fly business class than premium at some times.
I think we're economy one way and business coming (purely cos it was a stonking deal) for around £1100
Not sure whether those offers are still on.
Rest of the year it tends to be way pricier.
You can take a bike as part of your luggage allowance too as I understand it.
Congratulations on getting in, this is an event I would love to do.
When I have been training for other European events I have used the ask a cycling coach podcast from trainer road and they have several really useful deep dives into Leadville. There is one from 5 or 6 years ago when they spend over an hour talking to one of the elite riders about the event and there are quite a few more recent episodes where they discuss course and tactics and even down to how they arranged the support crew at the various stops when one of the founders raced the event.
Would be great to hear how the prep for the event goes.
When I was considering doing it quite a few years ago (it would have been with my wife on a tandem) I was googling hypoxic chambers for using the month or two before flying over 🙂
Flights are already booked and we looked for BA upgrades in the sale but nothing for the dates we want I am afraid.
First month of training has gone well. Holding the volume nicely - will end Jan with about 39 hours in total on the bike so getting the volume up. Weight has gone down 4lbs as well which seems a sustainable rate with the amount of training that I am doing and not burning out through undereating.
I looked into hypoxic options - the results seem mixed. Im on the cusp of 9 hours depending on coral placement but to be honest I will be happy to complete the event so if it takes a bit longer due ot the impact of altitude im not too concerned - as long as I make 12 hours. Plenty of examples of people coming from sea level and doing so. You can tie your self in knots over these things and the impact of the stress can be worse than the issue itself.
As mentioned above, Leadville is really high! And unfortunately it isnt true that altitude tends to have an effect after 2 or 3 days, it's instant. You dont have enough red blood cells on arrival to cope with the lower oxygen levels. You might want to get hold of some Diamox before you go, or ask at the event if you can take some. Sure, it affects some people more than others, but if I was racing I'd want the advantage of proper acclimatisation (or drugs!). 3800m is proper high (that's the height of the Aiguille du Midi in Chamonix if you know the area!).
I've hiked there, but not ridden. I think the 1000m climb referred to it up Hope Pass (assuming the bike ride follows the same route as the foot race). The area is beautiful, surrounded by the Colorado 14,000ers. You should see it in the Autumn when the Aspens start to change.
If your family are looking for something to do in town, there's a salmon hatchery just outside which is actually pretty interesting. It also has short waymarked hikes in the grounds. Or there's the historic mining trail around the perimeter of Leadville. For the evenings, there's a microbrewery at the south end of the main street.
Have an amazing time, I hope it all works out for you.
Have done Steamboat Gravel and stopped in Leadville on the way from Denver. Just to echo what has been said, Leadville is high. I would love to do the Leadville MTB, but the acclimatisation would worry me based on the time we spent there.
Steamboat is around 2000m so a bit more reasonable, but I found efforts burnt me up much quicker. So find your pace and stick to it would be my advice. Nice thing is less air resistance at altitude so you go faster.
Folks in Floyd Landis' dispensary are super helpful, just remember to take your passport.
It is such a great part of the world to visit, especially if you are into outdoors sports. Enjoy it, it is going to be awesome.
...unfortunately it isnt true that altitude tends to have an effect after 2 or 3 days, it’s instant.
I remember going for a cycle in Colorado the day after I arrived and the disconnect between the relatively gentle climb I was riding up and the amount of effort it was taking. I didn't notice such a noticeable effect after a few days.
This paper has some interesting stuff on competition at altitude, and suggests the optimum period of acclimatisation is 14 days and the first day is the worst for the performance hit, but things get better with every additional day before competition (even a few extra hours will make a difference). I think the idea of arriving close to the event (referenced in the paper) is about minimising other potentially negative initial effects of high altitude, rather than improving performance.
Interesting. Less drag from the thinner atmosphere at that height can mitigate the other disadvantages to a non acclimatised athlete!
Yes, but lower air resistance is going to have the most significant effect for high speed activity, and the benefit will be small compared to the big initial hit in physical performance when first arriving at altitude.
The biggest advantage in performance comes from taking advantage of the lower air resistance after full acclimatisation, the approach that Chris Hoy took when he was attempting to break the km record in La Paz.
Lower air resistance helps sprinting but you need good acclimatisation for any significant aerobic performance.
Seriously, going straight to Leadville and expecting to do anything more than grovel is pretty unrealistic. Especially if the person has no prior experience of high altitude performance.
Biggest issue I had in Colorado (going from place to place) specifically Fruita / Palisade was it was 44 degrees the year we went.
But that's not the bigger hills really, although it's well above 1200m so assume mostly cooler for the Leadville event.
I felt a bit of elevation wonk at Crested Butte climbing and pushing.
I think ultimately with this stuff you just have a crack and see what happens.
Hoping to go to few more places this year Steamboat Springs etc.
Training is going well. Was averaging 10 hours per week, now upping it up to 12 hours per week (coming off a recovery week last week) until Easter when I have 2 weeks off for holiday (will be off the bike for 2 weeks so will do a bit of running but not worry too much - the time off will prob help). Weight is down 8lbs which is good.
Currently my schedule looks like:
Monday: 30 min each way bike commute (very easy) and then a 90 min hard workout in the evening (vo2 max at the moment).
Tuesday: 30 min each way bike commute (very easy) and then an easy hour later on in the evening
Wednesday: 90 min hard intervals workout in the morning then WFH so rest of the day is easy (currently 90 mins SS)
Thursday: 30 min each way bike commute (very easy) then an easy 20 min run in the evening (just to get some weight bearing and realising I might have to hike some bits)
Friday: 90 min easy workout in the morning then WFH so rest of the day easy
Saturday: 2 hour hard workout (threshold) then a bit of easy endurance afterwards if I am up for it
Its not perfect but it fits around family and work time with minimal impact on both. Helps that my zwift set up is in the corner of the lounge and relatively quiet so on endurance rides in the evening I can sit and chat to the wife whilst doing it.
My C2W order turned up so I have an NX eagle upgrade kit plus some slicker tyres to fit to the MTB then I will start using that for my commute as well and once the weather improves/it is getting lighter then I will start doing longer rides on the way home. I also got a new aero road helmet (majority wear one on leadville as there are some long road stretches), some new Specialized Recon 3.0 (had the old ones and so comfortable so didnt want to swap brands) and some other bits likes gloves etc.
Sounds like an amazing adventure.
Make sure to try out those Rekon 3s shoes. I had some from a few years back, upgraded to the latest ones... and found they have changed the shape! Less room in the toebox. I sent them back and managed to pick up some of the older versions.
Yeh I have started using the Recon 3.0s on the turbo (ill keep them on there until a couple of weeks before the race) and noticed there is less room in the toe box. They seem comfy enough for me luckily. I went up a size. My current ones I use for commuting with a pair of seal skinz when it is wet/cold but I wouldn't get those on with the new ones but a normal pair of cycle socks is fine.
good luck with the race 🙂
Bit of a training/race update from me.
Been increasing volume recently and hitting 12-13 hour weeks but I am going to struggle to get much more than that with work and family responsibilities. Had an AI FTP detection and was up 3w to 331w (not really worth bothering about!). Since Jan the 8th my weight has dropped 24.5lbs, so I am currently sitting at 3.93 w/kg.4.5lbs more will get me to 4 w/kg for race day so it is achievable (although will likely make little difference in reality it is nice to hit the number). I don't think the FTP will increase much more before then. This should put me comfortably in the 9-10 hour region with a couple of hours leeway for any issues.
On Sunday I did my B race which was a bit of a nutrition/equipment test. It was a 6 hr XC endurance race of a 4 mile circuit at Cannock Chase. I went for 120g per hour from 80g of Beta fuel in my bottles per hour plus a gel. This worked fine and no issues with gut etc but I will prob dial back to 100g on the day (with the same products). The bike worked fine and it was good to get some technical biking in as well as racing in close proximity to other people. Loved the electronic shifting allowing me to change under load etc and felt really strong on the hills. I exceeded the 31 miles I managed last year and hit 39 miles (both in just under 5 hours). I pulled out on 5 hours as it was getting a bit sketchy with people pushing to make up places in the last hour and I really didnt fancy a broken collarbone this far out.
The bike (Trek Procaliber 9.5) is pretty much ready to go but I am going to swap out the brake discs from 160mm to 203mm front ant 180mm rear. We don't have any long descents here which justify those disc sizes but I would rather have some reserve for Leadville. Will also be fitting some inserts and 2.4 Dubnitals later in the week ready. That will pretty much be the bike ready to go (apart from having to replace the rear hub bearings which have a bit of a wobble). Ill post up some pics once it is done.
Training wise I am back to the same plan although I have a bit more free time next week so I am having a mini training camp with 3 days back to back hard rides. One day will be 5-6 hours on the MTB, one day will be 4 horsemen on Zwift and the final one will be a long endurance ride (maybe Zwift pace partners).
Feeling good about the day and I have worked out a plan for nutrition which I will post up another time. Also got a prescription of Diamox to help with any affects of altitude sickness and we are now arriving 6 days before hand which should also help.
Good luck! You deserve it with the practice you’re putting in!
we are now arriving 6 days before hand which should also help
Glad to hear this. As others have mentioned this was the only thing that worried me originally...IME 6 days should be enough to get past the worst of the altitude effects. Other preparation seems great! Good luck.
Good luck with the race.
mini training camp with 3 days back to back hard rides. One day will be 5-6 hours on the MTB, one day will be 4 horsemen on Zwift and the final one will be a long endurance ride (maybe Zwift pace partners).
I don't understand why you'd do long rides indoors, unless you live somewhere that's crap for biking. Surely more benefit and more fun to do an outdoor ride?
I don't understand why you'd do long rides indoors, unless you live somewhere that's crap for biking. Surely more benefit and more fun to do an outdoor ride?
Good luck!
Out of interest, is Diamox considering "doping"? 😃😃😃
Glad to hear about the 6 days, it should help you get used to what you will be feeling like at least 🙂
Just back from Fruita ourselves, it was lovely. Though we seem to have missed a chunk of summer here too!
Love the latest update. Looking forward to watching the Lifetime coverage with more understanding of how much work goes into getting there as a non pro rider.
