Singletrack 6 presented by Transrockies was epic in more ways than one. Here’s a compilation of lessons learned.

Singletrack 6 Preview

To help get you faster for your next XC stage race and/or MTB adventure, the hosts of the Ask a Cycling Coach podcast signed up to race Singletrack 6, the epic six-day MTB stage race presented by Transrockies. Each day of their race adventure (which was unfortunately cut short, but more on that later) they recorded their insights and dished about their experiences.

Before taking off for the race, they recorded an episode dedicated to how they prepared themselves and their equipment for the race. Listen in and check out the full lists of their equipment below.

Jonathan’s Equipment

Bike: Yeti ASR (Size Medium); Tires: Maxxis Ardent Race 29×2.35 (21/23PSI); Suspension: Rockshox RS-1 (92 PSI), Rockshox Monarch XX (147 PSI); Drivetrain: SRAM XO1 (30t Absolute Black oval chainring, 10-42 XO1 Cassette); Power Meter: Stages Carbon; Pedals: XPEDO M-Force 8 Ti; Grips: ESI Racer’s Edge; Saddle: Specialized Phenom; Helmet: POC Octal; Glasses: POC Crave; Kit: Cuore Gold (Custom TrainerRoad); Gloves: Handup; Shoes: Specialized S-Works XC; Head Unit: Wahoo ELEMNT; HRM: Wahoo TICKR; Nutrition: Nature’s Bakery Fig Bar, Clif Bar Coconut Almond Butter, Skratch Labs Fruit Drops and Lemon Lime mix; Hydration Pack: USWE Airborne XC; Spares: Fabric Cageless Tool Keg, spare tube, Genuine Innovations Tire Repair Kit, CO2 nozzle, hand pump

Nate’s Equipment

Bike: Yeti 4.5 (Size XL); Tires: Schwalbe Racing Ralph 29×2.35 (26/28PSI); Suspension: Rockshox Pike 130, Fox Float X; Drivetrain: SRAM XO1 Eagle (30t chainring, 10-50 XO1 Eagle Cassette); Power Meter: SRM; Pedals: Shimano XTR; Grips: ESI Chunky; Saddle: S-Works Phenom; Helmet: POC Octal; Glasses: Oakley Jawbreaker (MTB Prizm Lens) Kit: Cuore Gold (Custom TrainerRoad); Gloves: Specialized Body Geometry; Shoes: Specialized S-Works XC; Head Unit: Garmin EDGE 520; HRM: Wahoo TICKR; Nutrition: Honey Stinger Chews and Waffle, Bonk Breaker Bar, Skratch Labs Lemon Lime mix; Hydration Pack: USWE Airborne XC; Spares: Fabric Cageless Tool Keg, spare tube, Genuine Innovations Tire Repair Kit, CO2 nozzle, hand pump

Chad’s Equipment

Bike: Yeti 4.5 (Size L); Tires: Maxxis Minion DHF 29×2.5, Minion DHR 2 29×2.35 (25/27PSI); Suspension: Rockshox Pike 140, Fox Float DPS; Drivetrain: SRAM XO1 Eagle (30t chainring, 10-50 XO1 Eagle Cassette); Power Meter: Quarq Eagle; Pedals: XPEDO M-Force; Grips: ESI Chunky; Saddle: Ergon SMR3 Pro Carbon; Helmet: Giro Montaro; Glasses: Oakley Jawbreaker (MTB Prizm Lens); Kit: Cuore Gold (Custom TrainerRoad); Gloves: Specialized Body Geometry; Shoes: Specialized S-Works XC; Head Unit: Garmin EDGE 520; HRM: Wahoo TICKR; Nutrition: Nature’s Bakery Fig Bars, Skratch Labs Lemon Lime mix; Hydration Pack: USWE Airborne XC; Spares: Fabric Cageless Tool Keg, spare tube, Genuine Innovations Tire Repair Kit, CO2 nozzle, hand pump

Day 1, Stage 1 Recap

During Stage 1, Coach Chad suffered from near-debilitating cramps among the vast number of elements in such a rigorous event. Following sheer and loose descents, steep climbs, and sustained technical descending, TrainerRoad’s Head Coach, a master’s athlete, discusses in this episode his plans to take a day to recalculate before moving into Stage 3.

Nate: 305 FTP – 184 lbs. – 3.65 W/kg

  • Duration: 3:44:28
  • Distance: 38.95 kilometers
  • Normalized Power: 224 W
  • Training Stress Score: 200
  • kJ expenditure: 1,919

Jonathan: 295 FTP – 145 lbs. – 4.49 W/kg

  • Duration: 2:42:18
  • Distance: 38 kilometers
  • Normalized Power: 246 W
  • Training Stress Score: 193
  • kJ expenditure: 1,850

Chad: 315 FTP – 179 lbs. – 3.88 W/kg

  • Duration: 3:46:03
  • Distance: 45.03 kilometers
  • Normalized Power: 178 W
  • Training Stress Score: 132
  • kJ expenditure: 1,667

 

Day 2, Stage 2 Recap

Jonathan flew solo and ended up taking a wrong turn in the midst of dusty conditions and rugged terrain during Stage 2. Despite his setback, there proved to be a lot to learn from navigating Stage 2’s technical climbs and rough landscapes. In this episode, the guys discuss how Jonathan was able to pass riders on climbs to make his way back into the pack.

Jonathan: 295 FTP – 145 lbs. – 4.49 W/kg

  • Duration: 2:41:12
  • Distance: 30 kilometers
  • Normalized Power: 237 W
  • Training Stress Score: 183
  • kJ expenditure: 1,699

 

Day 3, Stage 3 Recap

Coach Chad makes his comeback in another big day of descending on Stage 3.
Technical singletrack through rocky terrain presented the need to manage fear, among other things, in today’s day of racing. In this episode, the guys explain how aggressive tire choices in a speedy stage with nearly 100% singletrack played to their advantage.

Jonathan: 295 FTP – 145 lbs. – 4.49 W/kg

  • Duration: 2:36:00
  • Distance: 34 kilometers
  • Normalized Power: 213 W
  • Training Stress Score: 140
  • kJ expenditure: 1,366

Chad: 315 FTP – 179 lbs. – 3.88 W/kg

  • Duration: 3:23:49
  • Distance: 34.57 kilometers
  • Normalized Power: 168 W
  • Training Stress Score: 97
  • kJ expenditure: 1,317

 

Day 4, Stage 4 Recap

Stage 4, appropriately coined The Queen Stage, did not fall short of expectations. It proved to uphold its reputation as demanding, yet prestigious, as Coach Jonathan tackled another grueling day. In this episode, the guys discuss how to attack aggressive climbs despite dealing with nagging blistered hands.

Jonathan: 295 FTP – 145 lbs. – 4.49 W/kg

  • Duration: 3:11:23
  • Distance: 42 kilometers
  • Normalized Power: 216 W
  • Training Stress Score: 184
  • kJ expenditure: 1,923

 

Day 5, Stage 5 Recap

Stage 5 took an unexpected turn….right into a rock. Joking aside, Coach Jonathan struggled to maintain focus and ended up in a heap. Singletrack 6 has been full of lessons for the team and we wrap the final episode of this series up in dedication to one broken bike, a bruised-faced Coach Jonathan, and a thoroughly spent Coach Chad.

PS: For those asking, all was not lost … they were able to salvage Jonathan’s hair.

Jonathan: 295 FTP – 145 lbs. – 4.49 W/kg

  • Duration: 2:48:53
  • Distance: 35 kilometers
  • Normalized Power: 226 W
  • Training Stress Score: 173
  • kJ expenditure: 1,537

Chad: 315 FTP – 179 lbs. – 3.88 W/kg

  • Duration: 3:05:20
  • Distance: 36.82 kilometers
  • Normalized Power: 234 W
  • Training Stress Score: 171
  • kJ expenditure: 1,940

 

Singletrack 6 Recap

The dust has settled and Coach Chad, Jonathan and Nate share their final thoughts on Singletrack 6.

 

To learn more about Ask a Cycling Coach presented by TrainerRoad, visit the podcast’s homepage.


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Nick Kanwetz

Nick Kanwetz is a writer of all things cycling. Whether he's creating content, interviewing coaches or digging through studies, he's doing it all to make sure you become a faster cyclist and all around better athlete.