Distance -vs- climbing

I wasn't sure where to put this question, so it wound up here :) Sorry for the book, but it might help to put my question in context.

As some may remember, I am "training" for a 200k brevet in mid-October. Part of my schedule includes one long ride a week. I do not increase more than 15% a week, but I do not increase every week. For example, the last three weeks my long rides were 48, 49, and 55.5 miles. The 55.5 miles actually felt better after the ride & the next morning than any long ride ever has - it basically felt like I hadn't done anything. Time to bump it up to a metric :) I am also trying to work on hill climbing at the same time.

I have two real options for Saturday - one is go head for the southern Indiana hills which is a 50 mile ride. The other is to stay local for a club ride and get my metric century - one of the available loops on the ride does have some rollers and a few steep hills (though not like southern Indiana).

I do not know enough about the southern region to expand the route another 12 miles - and am unsure that my legs are quite ready for 62 miles of southern Indiana. My thought is that I need to go for the distance this week and get what hills I can and seek out more hills for my short rides Friday and Sunday.

I am mapping out my schedule between now and the first of October - as my long rides get longer they are requiring more thought about how to get the mileage done. The brevet starts on the SE side of Columbus (outside of Galloway, Ohio) so my assumption is that it won't be brutally hilly.

I recognize that I may not be able to fully unleash my inner hill-climbing beast in a single season - my fitness is much better but still developing - and I was in very bad shape for a great many years.

So, am I over-thinking this? I do that :rolleyes: Does it make since to focus on distance 3 out of 4 Saturdays and find a strong hill-climbing route one Saturday a month as my "long" ride? I do seek out whatever I can find locally on almost every ride.

I would go for the metric this weekend and then start your hill training but that's what I would do. Getting your metric under your belt is a big confidence builder--one you might need to remind yourself of when you are trying to get up some of those hills in southern Indiana.

I have no doubt you will do fine, Catrin. Is the brevet in southern Indiana?

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Originally Posted by Bike Chick

I would go for the metric this weekend and then start your hill training but that's what I would do. Getting your metric under your belt is a big confidence builder--one you might need to remind yourself of when you are trying to get up some of those hills in southern Indiana.

I have no doubt you will do fine, Catrin. Is the brevet in southern Indiana?

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I've been trying to mix hill and distance at the same time, but I was stumped about how to do that this week - hence this thread.

The brevet starts on the west side of Columbus though I do not yet know the route. It will be made available in mid-Sept as they are still developing the route. Chances are it won't be particularly hilly - southern Indiana just has much longer hills than we have around here so it is a good place to go. Lots more of them too. Have already been there a couple of times and am looking forward to my next trip :)

Catrin, that part of Ohio is pretty flat (downright boring, actually).

~She who has made far too many trips up I-71.

I would do the metric, also. Time In The Saddle.

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Originally Posted by Owlie

Catrin, that part of Ohio is pretty flat (downright boring, actually).

~She who has made far too many trips up I-71.

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Doesn't it get hilly in SW Ohio? I may be confusing SE with SW... but the ride does start in Galloway. You know your state, so this is pretty good to know.

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Originally Posted by Chicken Little

I would do the metric, also. Time In The Saddle.

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Thanks Chicken Little, that is what I was thinking for this weekend, and then started arguing with myself over the hill part :D

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Originally Posted by Catrin

Doesn't it get hilly in SW Ohio? I may be confusing SE with SW... but the ride does start in Galloway. You know your state, so this is pretty good to know.



Thanks Chicken Little, that is what I was thinking for this weekend, and then started arguing with myself over the hill part :D

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Southwest Ohio is hilly. The area around Columbus is relatively flat (Galloway's on the SW side, by the way), but the areas with rivers/creeks are a bit hillier. Southeast Ohio is also hilly because it starts getting into Appalachia. (It's a beautiful part of the state, though.)

I guess that I can get on MapMyRide and get a general idea what the topography is like about 62 miles on three sides of Galloway - one assumes the brevet won't be in the city :)

I don't think you'll be able to do 200K without getting into the hills, unless they head some pretty weird directions from Galloway. Not as hilly as southeast Ohio, for sure, but not as flat as northwest either.


This is cool: http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/


I don't have any useful input on your actual question though. ;)

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

I don't think you'll be able to do 200K without getting into the hills, unless they head some pretty weird directions from Galloway. Not as hilly as southeast Ohio, for sure, but not as flat as northwest either.


This is cool: http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/


I don't have any useful input on your actual question though. ;)

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This is seriously cool, thanks for the link! I have decided to focus on miles this Saturday - the southern route is too short for any of my long rides now - but I can certainly head down there on a Sunday and get in my hill training :)

I was just wanted to congratulate you for putting so much thought and effort into it--200k is a BIG DEAL. You're wise to plan in advance...no doubt you'll do great in the event!