@Rupert.H Challenge done but I do have a question for you which is how do “workouts” like Mt. Ventoux Dénivelé Challenge best fit into a training plan. Clearly it is more like an event or race with the potential for similar levels of fatigue.
Poking around the plan builder I do see that ProRides such as Hammer Chase and Strade Bianchi and UAE Tour 1 are in the plans but two of those are around an hour and it seems that they often come up on the higher volume plans.
Would you consider Ventoux as a possible substitution for something like ISLAGIATT? What about an Endurance ride? Clearly the intensity is higher but what if the swap was for a 3 or 4 hour ride?
Just trying to get my head around how best to use these workouts without going too far into the red. Thanks!
I think I kinda like the July challenge. Other than it is thematic, one long session per challenge is nice. At least in my awards section, I noticed I tend to put the long sessions at the back of my priorities. If it is included in the monthly challenge I will have more motivation to do it.
Also, if There is No Try is easy, I think it’s time to get back to the cave for that Full Frontal
I wasn’t sure when I’d be able to fit these all in, but suddenly I’ve found I’ve finished 3 of the 4. Just have the Ventoux Challenge remaining. Will get to that closer to the end of the month.
I would actually have done Ventoux first because I like to do long rides on a Friday or especially a Saturday, but my back was still recovering so I did some shorter and less taxing rides to see how my back was doing. My back was still a bit tender, so was glad I took it easier. Then this week I’ve been feeling better and didn’t have anything planned and it worked out great to get the first 3 done. My mom is now visiting, and we have plans for these next 2 weekends, so I will be riding a bit less until after she leaves. But, hey. That’s how things work sometimes. I now know what I’ll be riding the last weekend of the month.
Exactly my issue. I took yesterday off. It’s getting better but not ready for Ventoux. Plus it is getting hot here, Sat is going to be 100F. Maybe in another week the back will be better and the weather is supposed to be 10-15 degrees cooler.
Interesting. I actually did the Ventoux the first one so that I can just to get it out of the way. I also want to seize the opportunity when I don’t have any agenda. It makes the other challenges feels easy when I’m about to do it. I only miss the Provence one now, which I can easily fit in before work.
@henindhi I did the same as I had a day where it fit in but I can see how others might delay given that it is a big effort and it might overload their training plan.
Mt. Ventoux - what can I say? I don’t think I have sat on the indoor trainer that long since one of those crazy last stages in a Tour of Sufferlandria many years ago. An hour is about the limit these days for my derrière! Super hard workout that one. Made harder as I forgot the chamois butt’r……
Perhaps a wise move saving the “worst” of the 4 until last. Badge is in the bag but man, that was soooo difficile! Now I have some sense of what the Pros go through and I was thankful to only join with 40km to go!!! Doubt I’d have made it otherwise. I have to admit that having the noise from spectators did motivate especially in the last 20 minutes… aimed at the actual rider of course but I conveniently chose to ignore that fact.
Thanks to whoever came up with the idea of these monthly challenges. I have only 1 request: Please make August’s challenge kinder?
Mt. Ventoux is such a hard workout. It reminds me to do more long rides on the trainer that I have been neglecting. All the things hurt after this one. Only one more ride to earn this badge.
There Is No Try… oof! I’d apparently only done it once before and had no memory of it. Since I was right on the limit, I couldn’t tell you anything about the France allegedly featured in this video. I do know the final cool-down is the last bit of the descent down Monte Grappa. I tried to climb that once and cracked about 4km from the summit in near 100F heat and descended a battered shell of a rider, which triggered some deja vu (hey French!).
