Oi @lukas - hope to catch up with you at the SEVEN. Yea my FTP number may be inaccurate as I use a dumb trainer and “virtual power” but the trend was certainly up with trainierroad training . I hope to one day get access to a calibrated power meter so that I can verify the accuracy ( or not) of my set up.
BTW are you located Perth?
I’ll keep an eye out for you up the front of the pack! Doesn’t matter the number as long as it is up.
Nah, not in Perth. In Bridgetown. I work in Nannup actually and work (Forest products commission) is a sponsor of the event so I’ll be in my best team kit for the day. 900 entrants so Nannup is going to be busy and fingers crossed it is a nice day.
Leadville is a 165k MTB race with 3600m climbing, taking place at an elevation of over 3000m. I finished that in less than 10 hrs with 3.low W/kg FTP. If you’re close to 5W/kg you should have no problems finishing your gravel race.
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Your story is just the sort of encouragement that I need - thanks mate!
Just as a courtesy feedback to all of you who encouraged me that the 125km was within my reach - I completed the ride in 7hr 26 and, thanks to all of you, I have redefined my riding limits.
I focused on pacing and nutrition ( ate a hang of a lot!) and I did not feel cooked at the end.
I now feel capable of tackling rides in the marathon category - a whole new world for me!
Cheers!!
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Nice of you to report back. Amazing what the mind and body can do isn’t it. Well worth pushing your boundaries from time to time.
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Nice one! Did you think you could have gone much faster? Something to work on for the next one perhaps?
Amazing to see how the fast the winners rode!
Hey lukas ; With there being so many unknowns in this race I proceeded cautiously so as not to blow up.
Could I have finished in a shorter time? Really not sure - it may be that if I had pushed myself harder in the firts 84km ( before checkpoint as Lewana cottages) I may have not had the legs to finish well. Having said that I didn’t feel spent at the end and I did go pretty hard the last 1.5km so I do think that I could have probably used that remaining energy over a longer expanse of course / time and possibly finished 15- 20 minutes sooner???
Blown away by how the top 5 riders performed - I cannot fathom how they can ride at that intensity and duration and barely stop and also carry ? nearly no food and water ( compared to the likes of me!)
What times did the top five do it in? What position did you come?
1 694 Craig Wiggins 1 4:38:07 - -
2 825 Bryan Staring 2 4:44:11 +0.06.04:0
3 671 Ryan Bailie 3 4:44:13 +0.06.06:0
4 486 Simon Billeau 4 4:44:17 +0.06.10:0
5 686 Jp Van Der Merwe 5 4:45:13 +0.07.06:0
All these boys were under 40 age category and 1,3,4 and 5 on gravel bikes - 2 was on a mtb.
I positioned about 300 behind them !! 
Have you got another event lined up?
I found it satisfying to finally put the training into practice and test my limits. I’m doing the Pemby trail fest next weekend but only the 53km. This should be easier than 88km!
I did 88km in 4:00:59 and it took 37 minutes for them to do 38km more!
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Didn’t read the thread.
Just send it. Either you get destroyed and you have a story to talk about or you crush it and you have a notch in your belt.
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Mate that was a very good effort - well done!