Vatternrundan

cc308

Have signed up for this event next June, 300k around a lake starting at 9pm!
Anyone completed it before? Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/vatternrundan

cdaly_

First thing is check out http://www.audaxireland.org/ to get an idea of what's involved. Then sign up for a few 200k audax spins in the first half of 2013.

In the meantime, get out on the bike frequently and start pushing your distances until you can happily do 100k and head into work for the day afterwards.

These spins are all about endurance. You would be pacing yourself and not rushing off at the start. You also want to be self-sufficient on the bike. You need to have spares and know how to use them.

Best of luck!

Reager

I did this last year and recommend it! It is very well organised. We had a start time of midnight. Plan was to have a sleep first then start. Of course too excited to sleep. We stopped at all the food stops. Swedish meatballs yum. Great roads and amazing scenery as sun comes up. At some points no one around you and then groups of cycling clubs whiz zing by. Certainly the cycle of a life time. Unfortunately next year has sold out. It usually does so within a week of opening.

budgie001

I rode it in 2000. A great event. There is such little darkness that time of year buy cheap lightweight lights that you can drop in anon. The roads are really fast to ride on too. You will have a great time.

cc308

Thanks for the replies guys.

Have done Wicklow200 a few times so hoping a similar level of training will see me through. Have heard many good things about Vatternrundan so really looking forward to it.

auldcodger

I brought a gang and did it in 1999. It was absolutely magnificent. We started at midnight and the sun popped over the horizon at 02:00, in the north!

It's fairly flat, a few hills at the south of the lake but nothing to worry about. I made the mistake of sitting down at the last rest stop and fell asleep for an hour!

emtroche

Race Around Ireland would be a natural progression after that!

Greyspoke

There's a feature on this event in this weeks Cycling Weekly.

cc308

Thanks for that Greyspoke, read it today and it really seems like a great event.

Pennycomins

Hi,

It is a great event and congratulations for signing up to do the event. You will have a great time.

Firstly - sort out your accommodation. Motala is a smaller town and so accommodation in the town centre is snapped up quickly. Many of the towns around the lake have accommodation on offer, so get that sorted first. A good starting place is the event website. Many homes let out rooms too, which is a great way to see the Swedish way of life and have nice meals and a shower, which you will feel like at the end!

http://www.vatternrundan.se/Default.aspx?module=4&content=67&lang=SV&fwsite=2

Training is the next important thing. Riding long audax and sportives is great practise for how your body will respond to being in the saddle for that long. Make sure you do all the right things like wear the shorts, top, gloves you will wear on the day to ensure no chaffing and you are comfortable. A ride over 200k every second weekend for the previous 3 months should be enough, depending on what your level of riding is. It is important not to just be a weekend warrior though and get rides in during the week to bump the milage up. Try riding to work or riding to a family gathering. It will mean early starts but well worth it. You will be riding through the night anyway, so best get used to it. Great way to test your lights too as you will need a front and rear one.

Nutrition is key. Practise on your long rides what you would like to ride with on the big day. The feed stations are fantastic though, so you won't need to take ALL of your food for the entire ride with you, unless you don't like Blueberry soup or sweet bread rolls. There is something for every taste. The feed stations start at 40km intervals and as the ride goes on are every 30km and then every 20km, just when you need to have a few more stops. It is brilliant. There are two main stops with hot foods such as porridge, meatballs and mashed potato, lasagne and toast. I stopped at them all and came back with all my gels still in my back pocket.

There are a few hills, so don't be fooled in to thinking it is flat. Especially after 200k, any bump seems huge! Riding through the dark is an amazing experience. You will be in a group as each pen is set off. The roads are almost clear, and this year some sections will be closed to traffic. You won't need a huge light, enough to see in front of you though. There is a bag drop half way round where you can ditch your lights and warmer clothing so you don't have to carry it the whole way. Don't forget to keep a light rain cape with you the whole time. I was caught out last year and it rained really cold hard rain for a few hours and with 200k to go, you want to be as warm and as dry as possible!

I hope this helps, you will have an amazing time!

Penny

cc308

Thanks Penny. Flights are booked and accommodation sorted too. Now all I need to do is to train for it. Unsure if I will swing a 200k cycle every second weekend. I have done Wicklow200 before and also a few Etapes so am hoping that a level of training slightly higher than I did for those will see me through. Thanks again.

Pennycomins

cc308 wrote: »

Have signed up for this event next June, 300k around a lake starting at 9pm!
Anyone completed it before? Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/vatternrundan

No problem. I hope you enjoy all of it! Feel free to ask any other questions you might have too.
Penny