Provincial RR - Tough!

[the Superstar]

If you want to get the adrenalin pumping, read the thread on the CC forum titled: Ontario Provincial RR Champ course ? This sounds like the mother of climbs, probably the hardest in my experience in Ontario.

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-Chuck Norris' tears cure cancer. Too bad he has never cried.

[Chuck Norris]

Chuck Norris will be parking at the top. His trunk will be loaded with lawn furniture and the beers. He will be handing out increasingly drunken doses of "encouragement" every time the M1 group hits the climb. Then, someone will have to drive him home.

[Chris Helwig]

Watts per kilogram will be crucial with that decisive of a hill. Winner of the 1/2 race I would think would be at least in the ballpark of 5 watts/kg or more and Master A fairly close to that. A power to weight of above 4 watts/kg will give you a chance of still being in it near the end.

[Blair]

So Chris,

Spell it out for me!!! Have I got a SHOT!!!!!

[Chris Helwig]

Take what you hope your best test number for power at threshold will be in August and divide it by your weight in kilograms. Here are a couple examples:

Rider A has a threshold power of 350 watts and weighs 168 lbs (76.36 kg) that puts his power to weight at 4.58. This should be good enough to be in the mix in Senior 1/2.

Rider B is a smaller rider who weighs 135 lbs (61.36 kg) and has a threshold power of 270 watts. His power to weight is 4.40 and should also put him in contention.

Assuming Blair can improve his threshold power from 280 in January to 300-310 in August at a weight of 150 lbs that gives a power to weight ratio of between 4.4-4.54 which is in a good range to be competitive at provincials

For heavier riders you have to be putting out some BIG wattage to handle this climb. My highest inseason threshold power in the past has been 280 watts, let's say I have a very good year and get up to 290 watts. With a bit of continued weight loss at 185 lbs (84.09 kg) that puts my power to weight at 3.45. This is why I will be handing out bottles in the feedzone for provincials and running race radios.

[Graydon]

Is threshold power to weight the right number here? We hear this tossed around in the Tour as being >6.0 required to win, but there we have 60min climbs? Isn't provincials about 3-5minute? Effingham is barely 1minute. So wouldn't a power to weight based off VO2max or MAP be a better predictor here? And then with the finish being at the top of the hill, Anaerobic Capacity being the second most important factor?

[Chris Helwig]

I used power to weight in threshold/kg mostly because it is the standard used when most people talk about power to weight ratio. I do agree that MAP power may be more important on a climb around 4-5 minutes, but threshold power to weight is also going to be a pretty darn good indicator of who can get over this climb. Assuming the finish is at the top of the hill someone with a decent but not extraordinary threshold to weight power may be able to survive and have good anaerobic capacity to oncork a good finish at the end. I still estimate if your thresold power to weight isn't over 4 you won't be in the mix at the end.

[old cervelo]

I remember training on this circuit many years ago. It is an extremely tough climb. Probably the toughest in Ontario as far as I can recall. It is probably 1km if you include the false flat at the bottom but the last 300 meter are~ 15%. Furthermore, unlike Effingham where the road is quite wide, the road narrows near the steeper parts of the climb. If you haven't chosen your gears correctly,or worse the person in front of you hasn't, then you will fall over.

[Wool]

Once Chuck does the "Devils Staircase" in South Carolina, Rattlesnake will be a piece of cake.

[Graydon]

Once Chuck does the "Devils Staircase" in South Carolina, Rattlesnake will be a piece of cake.

WHERE!!??? Where can I find these evil stairs?!

[Chuck Norris]

Chuck is bringing his 60/46 x 11-21 combo. Staircase schmaircase.

[Wool]

On the road to Cashiers. A nasty section of road.

[Wool]

Chuck is bringing his 60/46 x 11-21 combo. Staircase schmaircase.

I will trade you for my 53-52.

[Chuck Norris]

53/52? That's awesome. That'd rank high in The Stupid Collection. Right up there with my 60 ring, Darch's flack jacket, and Cavanaugh's tube sock booties.