For many riders the second annual Snowy Classic, on April 1, will be the first major cycling trip of 2023.
With December almost upon us, and Christmas closing in fast, now is the time to seriously start planning not only the trip but the all-important training as well.
And with more than 1400 metres of climbing in the 110km Challenge Classic, and over 2800 metres in the 170km Maxi Classic, you’ll really need to be match fit for this one!
As the clock starts ticking – and the inevitable silly season cycling disruption looms – our tip would be to put together a plan and start preparing for the second Snowy Classic as soon as you can!
First things first, it’s important to ensure you are sitting properly on your bike and not losing potential power or wasting watts. A bike fit doesn’t last forever! It is well worth booking in time with a professional bike fitter and ensuring you are getting optimum performance form yourself and your steed.
Setting weekly time, distance and elevation targets is a wonderful way to prepare for a major cycling event.
Next is to work out weekly and monthly time, distance and elevation goals. Riding the 110km Challenge Classic? We’d suggest targeting a minimum of that same distance per week, and include some decent vertical meters as well.
So 110km week for Challenge Classic riders, and 170km for Maxi riders. This will taper up to several 100+ km rides closer to the Snowy Classic, but in the meantime it’s important to regularly get that weekly distance into your legs.
Vertical metres are another important aspect of training, particularly for alpine cycling. Problem is, there are not too many alpine climbs near the major population centres.
Our tip is to set weekly vertical metre targets and do whatever it takes to meet them. This may mean riding repeats of a local short climb or riding a regular loop that includes hills. An example would be a simple out ‘n back to West Head from Terry Hills, north of Sydney. Provided you include Akuna Bay on your way out and the trip back, you’ll cover just over 50km and take in 1050m of climbing!
Our tip is to set up a training group with cycling mates, then ride the second annual Snowy Classic together.
Other simple training tips include –
Ride With Mates
Arrange a weekly meetup with friends you are riding the Snowy Classic with. Set up a WattsApp or Messenger group, stay accountable, meet at a set time once or twice a week, and stick to the plan!
Ride Inside
Sometimes it’s impossible to get out and ride, but these days that’s no excuse to skip training. Virtual training on platforms such as Zwift are a wonderful way to build and maintain fitness. Some riders have even gone fully pro from Zwift! You can set weekly time, distance and verticle metre goals on Zwift – the App is a game changer and well worth including in your Snowy Classic training regime.
Cross Train
News Flash! Training for a major Grand Fondo is not all about spending countless hours out on the bike. Some training can be done with non-riders … even under the guise of a day out. Activities such as brisk walking, jogging and swimming are obviously great for cardio and will help your breathing and ultimately your cycling. Water sports such as kayaking and Stand Up Paddle boarding are great for the upper body, the core, the lungs, and general fitness. Plus it’s fun to mix things up occasionally.
Track Your Training
Set your goals and stick to them using helpful apps such as Strava, Garmin Connect or Map My Ride. We’d recommend setting a weekly goal of 150 to 200km and keeping track of your progress.
Bike-based training will always be important but strenuous off bike activities such as swimming, jogging and kayaking are great for cardio as well.
Pro Tip: Adding the Strava widget to your phone allows you to track weekly progress. At a glance you can see kilometres ridden and blocks for each day of the week. Get that number to triple figures, and strive for four out of the seven blocks, and you’re well on your way to Snowy Classic success.
We hope these training tips help with your 2023 Snowy Classic journey, and we look forward to seeing you on the startline in Jindabyne on April 1.
Haven’t registered yet? You can sign up here.
