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Is 5,500m too much climbing?

  • This topic has 21 replies, 16 voices, and was last updated 12 years ago by Hugor.
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  • July 30, 2014 at 7:53 pm #22029
    Jamesgraemer

    Ok, very subjective question. And depends on a lot of things. But hear me out…

    Planning a day of cycling in the alps at the end of August. Staying in switzerland but close enough to the Italian border to potentially take in Stelvio so feels like too good an opportunity to miss. I’ve planned out a 180km route, which strava says is 5,500m climbing, but just concerned I’m being a bit over ambitious!

    I do 100+ milers pretty regularly (about one a month at the moment) anyway so not too concerned about the distance. But I’ve topped out at about 4000m climbing in one day (The Fred Whitton) and definitely never done anything like Stelvio.

    So, based on your experience… how hard is Stelvio, really? How much of a step up is 5,500m in one day vs 4000m? Anyone ridden around here and got any other advice?

    Planned route is mapped here if you’re interested.

    http://www.strava.com/routes/709067

    All advice welcome! Thanks everyone.

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  • July 30, 2014 at 11:07 pm #806799
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    Flying Scot

    I ride a 39/28 at my weight,
    I ride a 39/28 at my weight, at that distance, in that gear, I can’t do much more than 7% without boiling my brain or having a CV meltdown at 70odd kg, I might manage it with a few 30 second stops.

    July 30, 2014 at 10:53 pm #806797
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    Simon E

    Otis Bragg wrote:Not sure how
    [quote=Otis Bragg]Not sure how much use it will be to you but when Graham Little was presenting the Cycle Show he did a bit about the Stelvio
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sW_aoTL-RBc%5B/quote%5D

    Ah! That is the feature I had half remembered, well done. Probably more useful than Dan’s piece.

    July 30, 2014 at 10:47 pm #806795
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    MartyMcCann

    Not sure how much use it will
    Not sure how much use it will be to you but when Graham Little was presenting the Cycle Show he did a bit about the Stelvio

    July 30, 2014 at 10:28 pm #806793
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    Jamesgraemer

    Reasonably lightweight (70kg
    Reasonably lightweight (70kg ish), I don’t fly up climbs but don’t mind them either. The grades question is one of the big ones for me as I just don’t know how I’ll find 24km at 7.6% average as I’m only really used to the shorter, sharper stuff in the UK. Anyone who’s done Stelvio and can give me an idea of what it’s like would be great!

    July 30, 2014 at 10:14 pm #806791
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    Flying Scot

    That’s a shitload of
    That’s a shitload of elevation, depends on the grades, or at least it does for a fat bastard like me. Most I’ve done recently is 3000m over 105 miles.

    Might have done more, but until the GPS era, we were all guessing.

    July 30, 2014 at 8:35 pm #806789
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    CXR94Di2

    Are you a big chap or a
    Are you a big chap or a lightweight. ? If you are doing 100 miles outing once a month you are obviously on the more serious end of cycling. I doubt you would have any problems at all.

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