I am planning to do a couple of big rides next year: the JetBlack 24h MTB enduro (as part of a team) in February near Sydney, and the 210km Around the Bay in a Day in Melbourne in October.

To pull these off without disgracing myself too much, there needs to be a Plan1, and the Plan is in two parts:

Part 1 – The JetBlack 24 Hour

The 24 hour enduro is far too close already, and I only have a good, but very old ’93 Marin hardtail. Most of it is pretty worn and I doubt it is up to the rigours of hard riding, so a new machine is in order (and definately overdue). There are about 5 weeks from when I get back to Australia after holidays so just enough time to get back some lost fitness, but not much extra time to gain more.

  1. Get a new mountain bike – hopefully I will be getting an Ibis Mojo (or SL) over Christmas, and with luck it will clear customs and be here before the race!
  2. Relearn how to ride off-road. Could be tricky, but hopefully I will get at least a weekend or two to get my eye in again!
  3. Get fit. See Part 2

Part 2 – Get Fit

I am by no means unfit at the moment; I can ride a solo 80km, 800m ascent road ride at a good pace and also have a reasonable short track turn of speed. However, if I am going to survive the 7.5 hours minimum for the ATBIAD, then a few 80km (albeit hilly) rides are not going to cut it. Also, two weeks away from the bike for a UK Christmas break is going to undo the few weeks training I can get in before I go.

The remaining week before I head off will most likely consist of 2×20 sessions (or just riding hard for an hour or so) along with a longer weekend ride.

It will be the same again for the first few days back, and after that it will be a process of continuous increases in distances (though probably keeping one or two 2x20s per week).

I have not come up with a precise post-Christmas training plan but am sure I can figure something out based on the ‘short hard rides mixed with longer slow ones’ regimen.

Since I have been slack in actually publishing this, I have started with some more serious training already:

  1. Tuesday December 1st – eight laps of Centennial Park ( 35.8km). Heart rate 165 – 173.
  2. Wednesday December 3rd – eight laps of Centennial Park, two with the ‘figure of eight’ hill (40.8km). Heart rate 168 – 180.
  3. Sunday December 6th – nine laps of CP (43.4km). HR 156-172

To augment the cycling I am planning to fit in some weight training on the off days which should also help to improve non bike specific fitness as well as undoing some of the tendon/ muscle shortening that comes from time on the bike.

  1. This might be considered to be a secret plan to fight inflation. ↑

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