Oh dear!! I have been 'lucky' enough to be selected to do the TransAlp event this summer. Now that the initial range of emotions - shock, fear, excitment - are over I need to get on and do some planning/buying (the best part!).
Has anyone out there done the TransAlp or another mutliday stage event and can give me some advice?
The sorts of things that I want to try and work out are
Training
How do you train for multiday events like this? Should I be trying to work up to a full 5 or 6 multiday ride by the begining of July or will this just knacker me out?
Tyres
Will the trail conditions allow light weight xc tyres? Should I be going tubeless?
bar ends
worth it for extra leverage/and grip options?
Shoes
Should I buy some super stiff light weight shoes or can I expect some serious 'hiking' and therefore be better of with shoes that flex
Eating & drinking
How much should I eat/drink before, during and after each day?
last but not least are there any top tips you would give if you were to do it again?
thanks
woody
I'll watch this thread with interest. I was thinking of riding the route for a holiday, so anyone's experiences wopuld be welcomed.
Ive done it.
Training: Road raced from March to July with some mtb thrown in.
Tyres: I used Maxiss crossmark (tubeless)
Bar ends: I didnt but i wished i did. I used riser bars and thought 4hrs a day no sweat. It was!
Shoes: I used carbon soled livestrong nikes. There was some hiking in snow on one day, great fun.
Eating and drinking: if it isnt nailed down eat it. I just ate and ate, when i had some down time i did some more eating. The watermelon on the food stips were the best.
Advice:I got ill in the middle and really struggled and nearly packed. My team mate was awesome. He helped me all the way and i just abused him verbally. Do as many races with the team mate before hand and keep with him. Whoever is the strongest has to wait for the other.
Get bike computer as they dont have count downs to the end of each stage.
Enjoy it, its an awesome event and should be how all events are done? Are you camping in the sports halls? take a small tent so you can pitch it outside for some peace and quiet. We used a camper and had brilliant support for food, bike cleaning everything was done for me so all i had to do was race. Goodluck with it. If you want to email directly: ipalmer83@hotmail.com
I've done it quite a while ago, in 1999 which I think was the second or third time they've ever organised it.
> How do you train for multiday events like this?
A couple of 2 or 3 day rides are okay, no-one runs 26 miles BEFORE running a proper marathon either, but train for more than 2 hours regualarly, more like 4 to 6 hours.
> Will the trail conditions allow light weight xc tyres?
Tubeless wasn't around when I did it and I have no experience with it, I would go for a lightweight 2.3 tyre and check the weather a week beforehand to see how wet it is likely to be.
> bar ends
Yes, no matter what the fashion police says.
> Should I buy some super stiff light weight shoes or can I expect some
Expect some hiking of at least 1 hour at a time, but I don't know the route for this year.
> How much should I eat/drink before, during and after each day?
That's up to you but I have to say the the food provided during the transalp was outstanding, especially during the stages, but breakfast and dinner was fine, too (if you don't mind pasta most nights).
Hope that helps
Sven
Thanks both for comments and advice.
Few last questions.
What was the weather like (hot, raining or cold or all three at once)?
Did the altitude have an impact on your performance?
My wife is thinking about coming and driving camper van. What were the roads like (narrow switchbacks through villages etc)?
Where did you park the camper van and did you have to book ahead if in campsites?
Eddie Fiola I might contact you directly.
I did it in 2007.
Training was two night rides per week and at least one 6 hour ride on the weekend plus as much enduro mountainbike racing as I could do / afford.
Tyres lightweight XC, I used tubes.
Bar ends yes you'll appreciate the extra position after 6 hours in the saddle.
Shoes, use shoes that you are [i]really[/i] comfortable pedalling in for 6 hours a day. The same goes for helmet, gloves, shorts etc.
Food - eat as much as you can before you start, eat all day, get off the bike at the end and eat until you feel sick, clean self and bike and then eat until you feel sick again, go to bed. Even following this strategy I lost weight, basically you won't be able to make up the calorie deficit no matter what you eat.
Weather - 2007 it was 35 degree on the valley floors every day. That said some years it snows. You need to prepare for everything.
Altitude didn't have an impact on me and shouldn't on you. In 2007 the highest pass was about 2,700m and altitude shouldn't affect you until about 3,000m.
Vans are a mixed blessing. The driver will have a sh*t time as it is quite a long distance between stages and you'll queue to get out of the stage start village and then queue to get into the stage finish village.
You need to take at least two different short designs (to rotate to avoid pressure points), wear lots of minty arse lard and keep sterile down there.
E-mail in profile...
Edd
Arse cream and clean your shorts
or it will be painful
The $64, 000 question. Did you shave your legs - not for any other reason than to facilitate the post ride 'rub and tug'?
Didn't shave my legs but if I was to do it again I would. I have unnaturally hairy legs and leg massages would be better without the hair...
Hi Woody
I did the Transalp in 04, 06, 08, and like you I'm signed up for 2010.
Possibly I should be certified.
Training: everyone differs, but long road rides through winter are a good base. I usually manage one long off-road ride a week from about now, gradually increasing the duration so you're happy with up to 9 hr rides by June. 2-4 short rides in the week if possible, working on intervals time goes on. Certainly in June you should try and string together back-to-back long rides (2000m+ climbing) on more than one weekend. Ease off in July. Look at the route profiles - where do you find UK climbs with 1.5km vertical?! Try and train on routes that have a similar gradient to the race - steep sided valleys and long climbs.
Tyres - if you're riding full-suss, 2.0's are great, conditions are usually reliably dry and dusty, there's a lot of gravel and asphalt too, though in 08 it was wet for a few days; 09 1st day was snowed off! I'll be riding tubeless this year
bar ends
Probably worth it but I've never bothered. Make sure grips and gloves are supremely comfy (ie no seams)
Shoes
There's not a huge amount of pushing and its usually short bursts. Stiff light race shoes in my book
Eating & drinking
As previous posts, eat as much as you possibly can in the evenings! Have a reasonable early breakfast, I take 1.5 - 2l high 5 in Camelbak, some gels for the last couple of hours. Pack in the food and drink at the feedstations and refill camelbak. I take some powder too 'cos the energy drink they provide is very dilute. You need to drink loads, esp toward Italy when it really hots up
Top tips? Assos cream and assos shorts. 04 - couldn't sit down by day 5!. 06 - discovered cream, much better. 08 - Assos top of the line + cream and no pain at all, unbelievable what a difference it made. Try to enjoy the fantastic views without falling off. It's a wonderful event
And no, I've never shaved my legs!