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Official 2013 Blue Ridge Bike Camp thread

Starting this thread to get some banter going for next week's Blue Ridge Bike Camp.  

I'm psyched for this camp...will be a heavy dose of much needed early season mileage for my legs.  My longest rides thus far are just under 50 miles so I expect to be shelled come Sunday.



I'm driving in on Wednesday from Cincinnati and will arrive around 8PM.  Training for Racine 70.3 in July and IMMOO in September.

Comments

  • Right there with you Jeremy. Longest I have road this year is 50 miles, so I am ready to get some work in. Hoping I can make it up and over the mountains.

    Looking forward to meeting everyone!
  • Aside from Tucson, my default rides have been under 80 minutes...going to be a blast!!!

  • So is there anyone that is attending that will be in the ftp range of 200-220?

    Are most folks riding road or Tri bikes?
  • Patrick said to bring the roadie. And I always listens to da coach. See you Wednesday
  • Bringing my road bike too image I've logged several 70-80 milers so far as part of full training. I'm driving up from northern alabamer as well.

    I'm excited to take off work. Even more excited that I get to goof off and ride a bunch. Looking forward to logging a bunch of miles. Goal race is cda so this camp works out nicely. It's almost like someone designed it to be that way...hmmmmm..... image
  • Driving down from Buffalo NY....road bike....just finished Jan OS 2 wks ago...a few 2-3 hr rides....wanted a few longer rides but weather has been uncooperative....I just started IMLP prep.....last nite was supposed to be bike testing.....did some nice Z5 hill climbs instead....@ Scott I'm in the 2.9 w/kg range.....my wife and son will be attending as well....day 1 looks like the most fun....I did this camp last yr and had a blast even though I was the slowest...see you guys next week
  • P - 80 minutes for you is like 50 miles so that's not fair!

    Also...what is the plan for Sunday? Assuming it will be a shorter ride so folks can set off for home?
  • Hello everyone, late to the party here as a recent job change has had me slammed. Road bike all the way for this one. Past 2 years we've been on the Parkway all the time and either would work. But this year, day 3&4, we will be off the parkway and its much more technical. For those of you who we're on our camps the last 2 years, you probably will never forget the 13 mile climb up Thunder Ridge from the James river crossing. I now live 20 minutes from there and climbed it yesterday evening. At the top, 4000' ft elevation, it looked like the dead of winter and was 51 degrees. Mt Mitchell is about 6500'. Bring some cooler weather gear just in case. Also, we have a hot tub at the camp, so if thats your thing, bring your swim suit.

    All days will offer a shorter option. But 50 miles in these mountains can take time. For the most part, we rarely average more than 16mph.

    Make sure you have good rubber on your wheels, and your brakes work well. CoachP, I finally changed out that front tire last night you were giving me grief about last year on the camp. Didn't want to descend Thunder Ridge at top speed on an old dry rotted tire. Didn't check out the brakes though!!

    This is going to be an EPIC Camp. See everyone next week.
  • Sounds incredible Dave. I've done some riding in the SW part of NC and sounds very similar.

    I'm really looking forward to this. As if a full day of riding isn't enough cycling...I'm bringing my iPod which has two of the best cycling movies ever made...Breaking Away and American Flyers! Fire up the TV!
  • Jeremy, I was going to bring both of those CDs but you got it covered.

    I had to shut off Groupme till next week.  Someone started that too early before the camp and too late at night for those with early bedtimes.

  • I'll bring Skyfall cause somewhere along the way, were going to need a break from biking!
  • Sounds good Dave...I also have a number of non-cycling/tri movies on my iPod so we should have a great selection!
  • Thoughts on gearing for the trip? I have a 50/34 with an 11/23 on my road bike....usually fine for mountain riding but thinking with some of these killers I may even want to swap for my 11/26? Thougts?
  • My road bike also has a 50/34, but I'm still bringing my 11/27 off my tri-bike. I climb a lot better on my road bike, so I haven't found many situations where I needed something smaller than a 25. But I'd like a 27 just in case, and to have that bailout if (when) I get tired in the latter days.

    For what it's worth, I'm bringing a spare wheelset in my car. The rear will have a 27 on it, so if you want to keep your 23 on but swap in a 27 for one (or multiple) day you could.
  • Guys, if we end up riding up Snake Mountain on theSaturday, its about 3-4 miles long and finishes with about .75 miles at around 20% grade. This will be the day after Mt. Mitchell. Unless you are Alberto Contador's identical twin, you will get off your bike with a 23 on the back and walk. If I had time, I'd hunt down a 30 and a new rear derailure. But, I'll go with my 50/34 and 12/27. Bring all the gears you have!
  •  

    Hey all Blue Ridgers great meet up with you all and get to ride in God's country. Many thanks for your patience in answering all my elementray IM questions along the way. Could one of you lead studs bring bread crumbs next yr?

    Will be working from my standing desk position for a few days. Joe

  • Yikes.  Anyone else feel like they left their legs in NC?  Went out for the first bike since Sunday in NC.  Was supposed to be a short 60 minute ride....10 minutes of "ON" time then balance at Z3.   

    What it ended up being is a 50 minute JRA ride.

    It started badly...I had a hard time even holding Z4 on my 3x1 warmup.  Then....I had a hard time getting within 10-20 watts of Z5 for the "ON" intervals...and even knocked them down to 30 sec vs. 1 minute.  I have never had such a difficult time holding these short intervals.  It was like I had a Musk Ox tied to my rear wheel.  

    Hoping I feel better for my Saturday 2.5hr ride.





  • Yeah went for a group ride yesterday and barely could hang on!

    Dead legs for certain. The long run today should be fun.

  • Yeah,

    Although not as smart as you, I tried to go back to the GF plan on Tues morn with the hill repeats- got through 5 of the 10 when my left calf hubbled me, limped back to an ice pack. Latter in the day I got the post from PM to lay off for few

  • Didn't ride as far or hard as some. Took Monday and Tuesday completely off, got a massage Wed, hit the lake for a swim tonight. Felt really good. Will run 13.1 Sat morning, then Assault on Mt. Mitchell Monday. Hope the legs have fully recovered and some fitness bump has hit by Monday. Sat run will be a VERY EASY recon run on the Raleigh 70.3 course.
  • Did anyone else see major improvements after recovering from BRP Camp? My last FTP test yielded 275 watts. I haven't tested since BRP Camp, but did a 3:06 minute ride on Saturday with pNorm of 285 watts so a big FTP bump is certainly in store! Best ROI I've ever had! Hopefully everyone else saw something similar.
  • I love BBWs for this EXACT reason, Jeremy!

    About 1.5-2 weeks after significant mileage (even low IFs), my cycling always takes a big bump! I try to do as many BBWS and/or BBWknds, leading up to each of my IMs.

    It's even more fun if you go to altitude (ex, Casa Truscott), get in a BBW, then come back down to sea level - then you crush EVERYONE!!
  • Keep us posted Jeremy. I rode the assault on mt Mitchell last week and felt good. Will race the Raleigh 70.3 this weekend and looking forward to seeing the fitness boost from the BRP Camp
  • My power data s showed a huge jump in fitness. The fatigue has been beating me down lately, but still I had a small bump in FTP yesterday. So I'm happy to say the least with the camp's result.

    If nothing else, mentally it redefined what's hilly and what constitutes a long ride.
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