Pre Raid Corsica Breakfast

10 Top Tips for a Great Raid Corsica

1. Don’t overdo it on day 1.  There is plenty of time to prove who is going to be king of the mountains. Give into the pressure on the peloton!
2. It is impossible to ride up a mountain in a group or at someone else’s pace - so don’t try.  (There is no advantage to slipstreaming up hill and most people don’t feel too conversational on a 10% section).  Find your own rhythm and then regroup with your mates at the col if you would like to. You are going to be in the saddle for between 8 and 14 hours a day, so you need to pace yourself.
3. Ride a lot slower than you would at home. The hills are not ridiculously steep; they just go on for a long time. You need to have some energy left for the next hill!
4. If you find the ‘sub group’ that you are cycling with are pushing the pace a bit fast for you, then hang back and wait for the next group. 
5. Downhills – do them at your own pace and be especially cautious if you are not an experienced descender.  Consider the weather conditions and make sure you adapt your speed.  Never underestimate how cold you can get on a long descent, even on a sunny day, let alone in freezing fog!
6. Flat sections are a good opportunity to try cycling as a group and for slower cyclists to benefit a little from the speedier ones.
7. Stop often to eat and drink – not managing your food and hydration can kill a Raid (see section on food later). Eat before you are hungry / drink before you are thirsty.
8. Don’t worry if you are at the back of the group – someone has to be and there is fun to be had there!  
9. Remember that you are exercising at altitude so be kind on yourself.
10. It is a holiday – take time to enjoy the amazing scenery, village cafes and bakeries en route.

Courtesy of our RAID organisers, Marmot Tours  

The stealth machine is ready for the RAID Corsica

The bike is ready - with some new bling: check out those wheels:

Mountains, Bicycles & Blind Optimism on the Raid Corsica

Mark and Paul from Webmart in Bicester have been putting in the miles over the past few months in readiness for the Raid Corsica next week.

You can check out the full article via the link below - please donate to their worthy cause - Special Effect - a charity that enhances the lives of children with disabilities by adapting video games around each child's specific needs.

Mountains, Bicycles & Blind Optimism on the Raid Corsica'via Blog this'

A solid week's training for Raid Corsica

Five back to back quality sessions this week took my weekly TSS above 600 with 9 hours on the bike. I'd love to have this time every week, but I think my wife would kick me out and the kids would disown me.  


Time commitments, riding lessons, clients and shocking weather meant I was confined to the garage for three days. Nowadays, I look forward to my indoor sessions in the torture chamber with my companion and coach TrainerRoad.


Feeling refreshed on Coyote Wednesday; one hour of VO2max intervals, with a tasty little 12 minute Threshold session to round things off. 


Looking good on Thursday, I smashed Tallac; three evenly spaced 15 minute sweet spot sessions. Another good session. I fell like I could ride in that zone for hours, which is what I'll be doing in the mountains of Corsica come this time next month. 

Friday I thought I'd mix it up a bit with a TrainerRoad / Sufferfest combination - The HUNTED. This session is not for the faint hearted; children and adults of weak disposition need to be removed from the area. It gets ugly. Very Ugly.

Saturday was a gentle 30 miler, with a little lung opener to beat my PB on a local STRAVA segment. Not only did I smash a PB, I am now King of the Mountains. Check that baby out.
  

Come Sunday, I was starting to feel it a little in my legs, so I 75 mile club run  in heavy wind up to Ivinghoe and one of the highest points in the area was just the ticket. I felt great for the first 50 miles, then the hunger set in and I was going through the energy gels with increasing regularity. However, 4 STRAVA Achievements for the ride is not to be sniffed at. I earn't my Sunday roast after that.


So, over 9 hours of riding and a TSS nudging over 600; same again next week then.