[martinsynapse]

A rare “life window” has opened up that allows me to take a crack at riding the Stelvio from Prato. It’s a personal “New Years Resolution” I’ve so far failed many years in a row.

For those of you who awesome legends have done it in your middle years, what are you tips and advice?

About me:

– My goal isn’t to break any records, it’s to experience the wonder of getting up there. I’m going midweek August.

– I’m not an elite rider, I mostly commute about 3k miles a year but I’ve ridden the Ventoux (4x), Applecross and Mount Tiede from Puerto de la Cruz. They were hard but not impossible. I’m going to do reps on steep terrain in the coming weeks but recognise there’s too little time to truly move any needles.

– I don’t know that much about proper fueling, would love advice on how many gels would suffice?

(I got caught calorie-short on my last Ventoux ride when I added a bunch of miles via Saux and Gorge De La Nesque).

– Like the Ventoux & Tiede, I’m planning on bringing gloves, glasses and cycling jacket for a cold descent. What other specialist kit should I bring, if any?

– My low gearing is 34T on the front 32 on the back. Any risks of this not being low enough?

– Here’s the route I intend to follow: https://veloviewer.com/segments/15285259

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