Peaks challenge sub 9Hrs strategy

[ComradeSpear]

I signed up for my first peaks challenge and have been training since October. I'd like to complete it within 9Hrrs. I've ridden the climbs individually and when analysing my climbing splits and w/kg against other riders'times, it puts me in a 9hrs duration.

I understand there'll be many factors on the day; however, when thinking about a strategy,
1. join the 8hr or 9hr group?
2. Which Nutrition plan to follow?
3. How to handle weather changes whilst minimising carry?

Any feedback is most welcome, thank you.

[MichaelB]

Good luck !!

I'd love to even think about doing it. Buffalo & Falls Creek are great climbs.

I'd honestly say that even the individual climb times don't equal to overall energy requirement. Especially if they do the Back of Falls route.

I'd just say, pace yourself, fuel well, have the right kit and enjoy. The time is what it is.

Even really fit good riders that I know who have done it haven't hit the 10 hr mark.

Just enjoy !

[queequeg]

I signed up for my first peaks challenge and have been training since October. I'd like to complete it within 9Hrrs. I've ridden the climbs individually and when analysing my climbing splits and w/kg against other riders'times, it puts me in a 9hrs duration.

I understand there'll be many factors on the day; however, when thinking about a strategy,
1. join the 8hr or 9hr group?
2. Which Nutrition plan to follow?
3. How to handle weather changes whilst minimising carry?

Any feedback is most welcome, thank you.

The group leaders for each group will aim to bring you in under the target time. The 8hr group will be setting a blistering pace. I know in past years someone has published a breakdown of the number of finishers in each block of time, and the under 8 hour group is a very select group of riders. Even Sub-9 is a small group, and for those times you need to be doing the whole ride without stopping for any extended period of time. By that, I mean you stop to fill your water bottles then you go.

If you want to finish sub-9, you'll need to be arriving at the bottom of Say What Corner at around 7 to 7.5 hours elapsed time. That is also the 200km mark which has already included climbs up Tawonga and Hotham, plus the forgotten climb out of Omeo.

Weather changes on the day you will need to review the day before. You have the opportunity to use the bag drop to either send clothing ahead to Dinner Plain, or dump clothing at Dinner Clothing to return to Falls Creek. Don't underestimate the alpine weather though. A few years ago there was rain/sleet and washed out gravel section of road going to Dinner Plain and anyone not prepared had a very tough time.
In 2022 there were afternoon storms and some of the faster riders copped that going up Back of Falls creek, whereas the slower riders just got wet roads.
Personally, I take a lightweight storm jacket and waterproof full finger gloves, plus a helmet cover (you can use a disposable shower cap). These are all easily stashed on one jersey pocket and will stop you from freezing if the weather turns.

My training has been going rather poorly as I have been busy with work, then when I finally got some time off I got sick and lost 2.5 weeks, setting me back to the start. I was meant to build up some big kilometers this month but with kids on holidays and wife back at work it is proving difficult. I am doing the best I can with the time I have, but I suspect I'll be pulling the pin as I know I am nowhere where I need to be to get through the ride inside the time limit. Miracles could happen though!

[ComradeSpear]

Good advice, thank you both.

It sounds like there's more climbing out of Omeo to Say What?

I did an alpine ride a while back and I know all about weather changes... not pretty when the weather turned and hence the Q. It's a Good idea re bag drop off at DP.

How about food at the pit stops? Quality stuff or bring my own you reckon?

[queequeg]

Good advice, thank you both.

It sounds like there's more climbing out of Omeo to Say What?

I did an alpine ride a while back and I know all about weather changes... not pretty when the weather turned and hence the Q. It's a Good idea re bag drop off at DP.

How about food at the pit stops? Quality stuff or bring my own you reckon?

Yep. It's not a huge climb as such, and appears as a pimple against the big climbs, but it's still a couple of hundred metres and around 4km long.

https://www.strava.com/segments/6562704

There's also a small climb on the descent into Omeo from Dinner Plain that catches a few first time riders out.

https://www.strava.com/segments/620214

For the food, I have found it to be pretty terrible. That is just my personal opinion. They usually do some sort of wrap at the lunch stop, plus fruit. Grab a few bananas and go. The wraps have always been awful, at least for me. The chocolate brownies are Omeo are nice, as is the can of coke at Trapyard Gap, but if you are pushing for a sub-9 hour you really don't want to be making all these stops. Take your own food with you, stop for water and keep moving.

[g-boaf]

That description of the food sounds stingy.

Surprised they wouldn’t just have bottles of coke and whatever other drinks, disposable cups, etc.

[caneye]

when someone talks about the "8-hour group" - is that group targeting for sub-8 or 8+ hours?

[queequeg]

when someone talks about the "8-hour group" - is that group targeting for sub-8 or 8+ hours?

Yes, the 8 hour group aims to get you across the line with an 8 hour finish time. They usually pace for a few minutes under. If you want 8-9 hours, you need to either go with the 9 hour group and ride ahead at some stage, or you need to get in the 8 hour group and hang on as long as you can.

[ComradeSpear]

I joined two training sessions (90ishkm): 8Hr and 9Hr. The 8Hr ride was brutal whilst the 9Hr ride was manageable.
The pacing was helpful and it'll be interesting to see if it's possible to maintain the same w/Kg on a longer climb. A few more weeks to tweak for 9Hrs.

Any idea if trainer rides in ERG mode for the target w/kg are better than outdoor training rides?

[billy70]

I did the 2020 edition, was caught out by that sleet - absolutely miserable experience and never been in such a dark place on the bike. It all started well with the 8 hr group, but totally unravelled on the Hotham decent. Forecast was for warm, almost perfect conditions. If I ever had a brain-snap and decided to do it again, I’d stick with the group that aligns with your finish time target - that is, I wouldn’t go out with a faster group and then ease off towards the end (based on my own physiology - if I go too deep for too long, I don’t recover quickly enough to maintain a reasonable pace) … and obviously wouldn’t go with a slower group as I’d never regain the lost time.

[jasonc]

mark o'brien broke the course record yesterday with a 6:43

[warthog1]

mark o'brien broke the course record yesterday with a 6:43

Yep. Machine!

https://strava.app.link/aBTVn2ISRHb

Used to live up here for a while and get about in the bunches

[queequeg]

mark o'brien broke the course record yesterday with a 6:43

Yep. Machine!

https://strava.app.link/aBTVn2ISRHb

Used to live up here for a while and get about in the bunches

Some joker has flagged his ride lol I think they are jealous.

I mean, he's got video passing under the finish line with a big frigging clock showing the time on it.

On another thread, he said he'd done a 6:45 ride time in a previous year but had a double puncture at Back of Falls and wasted time fixing the flats and ended up going 7:09 as a result.

[find_bruce]

By all accounts the heat this year was stifling - up around 40 ℃ from Omeao to Anglers Rest

[jasonc]

Some joker has flagged his ride lol I think they are jealous.

I would like to know who flagged it. I would flag every ride they upload till they get a life elsewhere

[warthog1]

Some joker has flagged his ride lol I think they are jealous.

I would like to know who flagged it. I would flag every ride they upload till they get a life elsewhere

[queequeg]

By all accounts the heat this year was stifling - up around 40 ℃ from Omeao to Anglers Rest

Best way to avoid the heat - finish before lunch lol

[biker jk]

By all accounts the heat this year was stifling - up around 40 ℃ from Omeao to Anglers Rest

The heat had a huge effect on older riders. The DNF rate for 60+ males was 37%.

[familyguy]

Some joker has flagged his ride lol I think they are jealous.

I would like to know who flagged it. I would flag every ride they upload till they get a life elsewhere

It's inferred in the comments. His profile is private. No it's not, I got that wrong.

I still hope strava removes the flag.

[g-boaf]

Some joker has flagged his ride lol I think they are jealous.

I would like to know who flagged it. I would flag every ride they upload till they get a life elsewhere

It's inferred in the comments. His profile is private. I hope strava removes the flag.

On his biggest climb (by the profile) I cannot believe it's only 23 metres. Surely he must have done way more than that! The guy is clearly damn fast. Someone must be jealous or just trying to mess with him.

[biker jk]

I would like to know who flagged it. I would flag every ride they upload till they get a life elsewhere

It's inferred in the comments. His profile is private. I hope strava removes the flag.

On his biggest climb (by the profile) I cannot believe it's only 23 metres. Surely he must have done way more than that! The guy is clearly damn fast. Someone must be jealous or just trying to mess with him.

He won Melbourne to Warrnambool this year. He's a domestic pro rider.

[warthog1]

It's inferred in the comments. His profile is private. I hope strava removes the flag.

On his biggest climb (by the profile) I cannot believe it's only 23 metres. Surely he must have done way more than that! The guy is clearly damn fast. Someone must be jealous or just trying to mess with him.

He won Melbourne to Warrnambool this year. He's a domestic pro rider.

Been around quite a while. In road nats most years. Has raced some pro conti stuff overseas I believe. Getting to the back end of his cycle racing now.

[g-boaf]

He won Melbourne to Warrnambool this year. He's a domestic pro rider.

That means little in the online world these days where everyone is trolling or stirring for giggles, or worse, spamming for some organisation.

[find_bruce]

The heat had a huge effect on older riders. The DNF rate for 60+ males was 37%.

Not just the over 60s - my 59yo brother who has finished every time previously DNF'd at Omeo, while his 22 yo son pulled the pin at Anglers Rest.

Good to see our friend Rheicel ( Fix N Ride) finished in 9:47:53. IIRC this was a fair bit down on his previous times

BTW the official results show Mark O'Brien coming in at 6:43:13

[Imwit]

How did the OP go?