O.K. I admit it, I can’t quite make it all the way up Old Stage hill yet. For anyone who has done this race in the past, are there people who have to walk up the final stretch? I have ridden this course twice now and really try to sit and spin until I have to come out of the saddle to keep momentum, but come up short about 100 yards from the top. Currently riding a 9 speed Cervelo One with no more gears to get over the top and am actually a little disappointed in myself because I can’t quite pull it off.
So questions are:
Has anyone had to walk part of it or seen others do this?
Any advice? With so many riders on Sunday, weaving the course is not really an option.
Thanks all. Never realized a hill could scare me so much in one race.
I will be there on sunday for the first time, and I understand that many of the racers have to walk their bikes over the top. Just keep up the high cadance and let the race vibe carry you over the top. you will see me there getting CPR.
jengel, there are people who walk and last year I passed people who seem to be walking most of it. Don’t let the hill scare you, just do what you can and I am sure you will have company on the walk. I will be out there Sunday too. Have a great race!
Dude, don’t feel bad…I walked up that damn hill two years in a row before I finally made it on the third try. My advice…take it easy all the way there…its pretty much all uphill from the rez. Once on the lower slopes, shift down early and spin…try to stay seated as long as possible. Once you are out of the saddle, try to regain enough momentum to sit back down for a second…this will let you catch your breath. And if you think you are about to blow, get off and walk…I passed lots of people who made it the whole way up, but cracked at the top, while I walked and conserved some energy. Bottom line, don’t let walking up the hill ruin your race.
There is an athlete I coach who will most likely take 30 minutes from the bottom to the top of Olde Stage. Don’t feel bad about walking at all. This athlete that I coach has graduated from Danskin to her 3rd Boulder Peak. When she told her other friends that she was going to do BP a few years back, they all thought she was nuts. But, I think that inspires her to do it, and her doing it and being out there for 4.5 hours inspires me as well. if you have to walk, don’t worry about it, just get to the top. Once you do that, the race gets much easier!
Not only do people walk, the photographers are usually there to take pictures I have to ride the whole damn thing because I’ve only got a double and if I tried to unclip to walk, I’d fall over.
Hello. I rode the course for the first time about a month ago and have been riding it once or twice a week since then. I have tried to ride the course several ways to see how it works out for me. So far, this strategy is what has resulted in a decent pace for me without blowing up my legs.
Coming out of transition and spin in a moderate gear. spin out to 36, stay low and start putting some force on the pedals (by this time I am starting to feel like myself again). Turning onto Lee Hill Road, I take a gulp of water, keep even pace, focus on breathing and try to get my Hr down. One the road goes steep, spin spin spin trying not to get out of the saddle too much. I won’t attack old stage. Just get over it with as little damage as possible. It isnt that long of a climb, but long enough that I can blow up if I gave it 100%. Work the flat portion of the road before the crest, down shift and spin to the top. Once there, Get aero and hammer. Keep pedaling, but gravity will do most of the work. Now this is where not working the beginning of the course pays its dividends. From here I stay low, ride one gear easier than I think I can handle and concentrate on even-effort. Nelson road is a blast. You really get moving. I ride 63rd somewhat hard. There are a few small hills, but nothing to worry too much about. Diagonal always seems to have a headwind. I have a tendency to grind when I get tired so I focus on staying low and spin.
The first time I rode the course I put too much effort into first 1/3 and wound up coasting down the hills. At least for me, the 1-2 mph I would get by working the hills costs me 3-4 mph on the descents and 1-2 on the rollers. But I am not a strong climber.
Good luck to everyone. No doubt this will be a great day.
Jengle: Don’t let Old Stage scare you: Look at it as a challange. There will be people doing this race who can just blaze over it, and there are people doing this race who have to walk it. Each one of them views Old Stage differently, but all view it as their own challange. No one views it as an easy task, everyone is working hard - all in their own way.
The descriptions that Mike and Orbillius wrote are both very good. Just get out of the Res, and spin up to the top. Save some force for the steep part, and remember, it’s not very long, just steep!
I walked it the first time, made it the second time in 42x21 and thought my head was going to explode…
For this race, I use a 38t front chainring and a 13-26 cogset, which just about allows me to get up without falling over. Mostly I run 39t and 12-23, but I can’t do Old Stage on that gearing anymore. I’m going to a 28 rear next year, but will need a new rear der. I’d recommend changing at least your rear cogset to get another tooth or two…
Good advice from all - basically ride a medium effort from the res to the bottom of the hill. This is itself a fair little climb, so concentrate on keeping effort low and sparing your legs for the climb. Once over, the rest of the ride is a blast.
Last year some guy tried to shift up to pass me on the hill, I didn’t see but heard what happened - 'clunk! shit! ’ <fx: sounds of bike falling over hard /fx>
This will be my third BP, after moving to CO from the flat, sea level in Miami. First year was a challenge, but I found that with a 12-27 on my 650c P2 I can get up without leaving the saddle.Don’t know what gearing you have on your One, but a new cassette might help if you have the standard 11-23. If you have a 53/42 in the front, pop on a 39 to give you some lower gears. I can climb it seated now in the 25, but having the 27 for a bail-out is reassuring. Still, after riding out here for just over 2 years, it’s the descents that get to me. I’m getting better, but that quick drop from the peak pushes my heart rate into no man’s land. Whew!
I have to ride the whole damn thing because I’ve only got a double and if I tried to unclip to walk, I’d fall over.