Virginia 300...too ambitious?

colm_gti

So I stumbled onto the Audax Ireland website (rather foolishly) this morning having seen the Ardattin 200 thread on here and spotted the Virginia 300 listed on the calendar.

To date, the most I've done in one spin is knocking on the door of ~100km distance and ~1200m climbing. I've not yet done more than this, not because I've been too tired to, just because I've not had the chance to, and reckon I could always push on a bit more if time allowed.

I looked up the Virginia 300 route, and while it's substantially longer than any spin I've done before, there's not a whole lot more climbing.

Am I far too ambitious to think about taking part? I'm raring to get started with a few sportives, and this one starts just down the road from me. Would I be better off holding off on this one and starting out with the Ardattin 200 the following week?

lennymc

when is the virginia? Im plannig a 200+k spin soon enough - no idea where,but your welcome to come along.

seamus

You probably won't die. Just to note that audax events aren't the same beasts as sportives. Although they're organised, you generally don't have a lot of competitors, the route isn't marked and you have few, if any prearranged stopping/feeding points.

Essentially the challenge is to complete a set route within an allotted time, rather than put in the best time you can. It's a little more relaxed and involves stopping to look at scenery, dropping into pubs for big meals (and sometimes a pint or two), and generally just enjoying the road rather than getting around it. It's much more of a solo event than your average sportive, so it may be a bit daunting for a newbie, especially if you don't have someone to ride it with.

rottenhat on here is the organiser for that one, he should be able to advise best.

Plastik

Don't discount the amount of plain ol time needed in the saddle to do a 300km cycle - 12 hours cycling at 25k average, plus stops. Hang on for the Sportives, they'll be here soon enough!

daragh_

Start off with something easy like the Mick Byrne or the Orwell Randonee and work your way up from there.

colm_gti

Yeah, I definitely need to set the sights a little lower to start out with, 300km is far too ambitious :rolleyes:

Plastik

The Lap of Laois is on next weekend ... if you hadn't traded your car for a single speed!!

colm_gti

Plastik wrote: »

The Lap of Laois is on next weekend ... if you hadn't traded your car for a single speed!!

Spotted that, going to look into getting out for that! Sure rental cars are cheap these days

mh_cork

Definitely too far if you only have 100k done. A lot of weekend cyclists can handle 150-200k route (even a hilly one), but would struggle with a 300k event - its the sheer time that you are in the saddle.

These events dont have the support you would have in some sportives - you might be on your own for awhile. Make sure you can do basic repairs (change a puncture, handle a broken spoke, etc.). If you go ahead, make sure you have a bail-out option, either someone you can ring to collect you, or a friend's place to stop.

Whats the rush? Do a 200k event, or plot a 50k loop near your home and do it 3-4 times.

wanderer 22

Hey Colm

I'm planning on doing this on 1st April - Be good to get a few more Thinkbikers in on it:)

http://www.southeastroadclub.com/2012/03/08/serc-3-peaks-challenge-2012/

CramCycle

The other way of looking at it is that it is only 5euro entry, maybe PM RottenHat to get an idea of numbers, the more people, the easier it will be, quite flat as well.

rottenhat

I have 8 or 9 entries so far, so I'd say we might be about 15 on the day. The Virginia is in the calendar mostly to provide training for anyone planning on doing the Fleche, so I'm expecting mostly well-seasoned randonneurs, and judging by the entries I have so far, the pace could be a bit unforgiving. There will be absolutely no support on the Viriginia as I'll be riding it myself on the day so if you conk out or have a serious mechanical, you'll be walking to the next town and taking the bus home.

I'd be inclined to say that unless you have a background in other endurance sports, you should probably hold off, build up your mileage, and do one of the many other 300s later in the season. For instance you could reasonably plan on doing the Ardattin 200 (Bray, April 1), the Blackstairs 200 (New Ross, April 29th) and then either the Quiet Man 300 (Westport, May 5th) or the Three Provinces (Slane, May 18th). There's also the Surf & Turf 300 (Clonmel, July 7th) or the Three Rivers (Midleton, July 21st) which are both splendid routes, and, if you're feeling saucy, the REK 400 (Dundrum, June 2nd) which I think is the best audax in the country.

You will have plenty of chances to do a 300 this year, so I wouldn't feel the need to rush into one. It's partly about building the endurance, partly about doing enough long rides to really sort out your bike fit, how you'll carry your gear, navigation, roadside repairs, what to eat etc.

daragh_

CramCycle wrote: »

The other way of looking at it is that it is only 5euro entry, maybe PM RottenHat to get an idea of numbers, the more people, the easier it will be, quite flat as well.

colm_gti, don't listen to these guys. They'll entice you into their deranged world and the next thing you know you'll find yourself half asleep on a bike in the middle of Holland suffering hallucinations.

CramCycle

daragh_ wrote: »

next thing you know you'll find yourself half asleep on a bike in the middle of Holland suffering hallucinations.

Too true but we usually try and get you to do that before you finish your first 200.

RottenHats advice is good though, if your uncertain of your readiness, then it is probably best to leave it, get a few 200s under your belt and then push it all out for the REK400 or the brownstuff later on in the year.

When there are no events on over a weekend Audax Ireland usually have local spins, so it might be a good idea to try out one of these for an idea on pace and necesseties for a ride, sage advice is always waiting on these.

They have a google mail list if you PM your e-mail to Rottenhat he should be able to add you when he gets some free time.