Biking with JAM

As many of you know I have become an avid, no dedicated, well maybe a crazed bike rider. I work-out 6 days a week riding and doing other exercises related to riding. The purpose of this blog is to write down my experiences training for the ETape on July 20. Some parts of the blog will be technical, like feeding schedules and equipment, but mostly the blog is for fun and to document my preparation for the ride.

Here is a brief description of the ETape.

"Mark 20th July 2009 in your diary if you fancy taking part in L'Etape du Tour featuring the infamous Mont Ventoux in a route that will be used on stage 20 of the 2009 Tour de France.

Beginning in Montélimar and finishing atop Mont Ventoux, the 172km stage packs in five climbs, passing earlier over Côte de Citelle, Col d'Ey, Col de Fontaube and Col de Notre-Dame des Abeilles to warm the legs up."

There is 19000 feet of climbing in a 107 mile ride. The final climb is 6000 feet in about 15 miles with an average incline of 8%. As you can see this is a BHAG, big hairy ass goal. The riders are give 12 hours to complete the ride. I would like to finish the ETape ride in less than 10 hours. (As a point of reference professionals will do the ride in 5 1/2 hours.)

I have already started training and planning. I have decided to ride a triple front crank with the chain rings being 5o, 34, 28. The rear cassette will be 11-28.

I hope you enjoy the ride or at least watching me suffer. I am really looking forward to the experience.

Have a great 2009. JAM